Arkham Horror got a few parts where Christian is the main religion (mostly seen in the South Church encounters, but also as the Cross and Holy Water items). I have a friend who is not Christian. Would he enjoy the game given these things?

I've never heard anyone having issues with this game and their religious orientation.

Probably depends on what you mean by "non-Christian". The vast majority of our gaming group are non-Christian atheists (myself included) and these kind of issues have never come up. But if you were to play with someone who is actually offended by Christian symbolism or terminology on something as harmless as games then, well, you might want to look for new playmates anyway.

-Villain

Besides, with all these Elder Gods and other pagan stuff, if anyone, it's the Christians who might feel uncomfortable with these themes. Remember I said "if anyone", I'm a Christian myself and don't mind this stuff.

Atheists sure don't mind. Holy water and stuff is common in movies and other popular culture against vampires and demons so nothing new here.

Christianity is stronger in the game than in the books. The Blessing alone makes a strong presence. Gaining a Blessing by killing may bother some pacifists. OTOH the mythos regularly defeats the priests and ministers of earthly religions in popular culture.

As a non-christian, if someone has problems with this game on religious grounds, I hereby grant you full permission to smack them upside the head. That would be the silliest thing ever, to have your religious viewpoints taint your enjoyment of a board game. As a matter of fact, I don't think that the "G-word" ever shows up in the game, outside of uses such as 'elder gods', etc, which are usually plural and always not referring to Mary's baby-daddy. A case could be made (though, I'm not sure I see the point in it) that Arkham Horror is a wholly secular game. I mean, it says things like Father Micheal blesses you, now if you want to take that as 'The powah o Christ compels ya!' then go ahead, but Father Micheael could just be your friendly resident white wizard who hangs out at the church for some reason.

Speaking of wizards, I agree with the previous poster, that it's usually the Christians who have the issues. Actually it's always the Christians who have the issues. With wizards/witches as full-out main protagonists (any 'caster' character) other gods to be venerated (Bast, for example), unholy artifacts (all unique items), etc, etc, etc... you'll get the occasional person who might rant and wail. But these are generally the people who want to ban games like d&d and books/movies like Harry Potter for supporting witchcraft. They're silly too.

Now then, as aforementioned, atheists have little issues with the game. I couldn't imagine a Hindu having issues, as they have many gods, and often times, the good ol Christian Triforce is among them. Bhuddists play very nicely with other religions, so no issues there. So of the big ones, Judaism and Islam are left. I think you'd only have problems with these people if they are part of the aforementioned body of silly people. Chances are, if they're willing to give Arkham Horror a go, they won't be offended, especially if they know anything at all about lovecraft. If they are offended, tell them to get over it, it will be good for them.

err..its a game.... im sorry if this offends someone, dont know who, but its a game have fun, there no im going to kill all you (your god/religeon here) IN IT i say again...ITS A GAME

i cant see anyone taking offence and have never heard of it.

awp832 said:

Its ok if your viewpoints taint YOUR enjoyment, as long as they dont taint MINE. (you as in you the religious asshat, not you efidm)

awp832 said:

A couple of decades ago I played D & D with a Baptist minister. He wouldn't play with anyone else. He had to park his car in back, so no one who might know him would see it and ask questions. He would not discuss any of the theological issues that came up in the game. The experiment only lasted 3 sessions, because he felt so guilty, he couldn't go on.

I also played with some Methodist ministers who always kept insisted on keeping the shades drawn. But that might have to do more with the beer than the theology.

Knuckles Eki said:

::Blink blink:: I was so shocked to see this topic, I decided to come out of lurk-mode (the forums haven't been very busy lately so I haven't had much to say). Wow. It never even occurred to me that the game might be offensive to non-Christians. First of all, Lovecraft was an atheist (so if anything, I sometimes worry a little that the game might be offensive to theists— most of the people I play with are agnostics, atheists, or Orthodox Jews, so I really only have problems on the latter front, but sometimes I play with liberal Catholics too). Then you have the whole issue of Other Gods (which the earlier poster mentioned). Really not exactly standard monotheistic symbolism. I never really had a problem with the cross, blessings, and Sister Mary's high luck ;') I just assumed that the "God" being worshipped is some sort of eldritch horror that will eventually exact its price in blood and souls (or possibly doughnuts— doughnuts are good too).

And now back to the lurkness...

--

P.S. The Baptist Minister story, *very* funny. I used to know one Rabbi who apparently had a secret taste for fantasy novels— not quite as closeted (since the issue's not that big a deal in the Orthodox Jewish community), but still kindof hush hush about it since it's not entirely respectable (after all, why read David Eddings when you could read the Torah). Heh... I found out about it because he visited my parents once and saw my fantasy shelf and commented positively on my collecting. Also amusing, but not nearly as amusing as your Baptist story :')

Knuckles Eki said:

....wow. Some people DO bother.

Me happy ducky. No bother. Kwak-anathoa