Board Game Faith Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor

The conversation explores the idea that faith is often associated with restrictions and limitations, but it should actually set us free. The Spirit of God works through play and games to bring about freedom. The conversation also touches on the article 'Play and Freedom, Patterns of Life and the Spirit' by Simeon Zahl, which discusses the tension between law and grace in Protestant Christianity. It highlights the need to understand the freedom that comes with the Spirit and the danger of idolizing past patterns of faith. The conversation also delves into the popular notion of destiny and how it can hinder the freedom of the Spirit. In this conversation, Daniel and Kevin discuss the concept of play and its relationship to grace and work. They explore the idea that play is an attitude and an activity that brings joy, freedom, and creativity. They emphasize the importance of play in living a meaningful life and how it can help us overcome the burden of seriousness and unrealistic expectations. They also announce a transition in the podcast to focus on the intersection of play and meaning, with the new name 'Play Saves the World.'


Soundbites

"What if the point of faith is to set us free for something better?"
"The Spirit of God makes freedom a reality through play and games."
"Is grace something that removes us from the law or empowers us to keep the law?"
"The spirit is playful, meaning that it causes joy and delight."
"Play is grace that expresses itself through play."
"Play is the overcoming of unnecessary obstacles."


Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Faith and Freedom
07:30 The Tension Between Law and Grace
13:25 The Freedom of the Spirit
27:56 The Spirit of Play and Freedom
34:17 The Unimportance of Play's Goals and Purposes
45:45 Play as an Attitude to Life


Takeaways


Faith should set us free rather than restrict us.
The Spirit of God works through play and games to bring about freedom.
There is a tension between law and grace in Protestant Christianity.
Idolizing past patterns of faith can hinder the freedom of the Spirit.
The popular notion of destiny can limit our understanding of the freedom of the Spirit. Play is an attitude and an activity that brings joy, freedom, and creativity.
Play helps us overcome the burden of seriousness and unrealistic expectations.
Play is an essential part of living a meaningful life and being fully human.
The concept of play can be applied to various aspects of life, not just board games.
The podcast will transition to focus on the intersection of play and human flourishing, with the new name 'Play Saves the World.'
Links:
Colonoscopy prep: Liquid-only diets unnecessary, GI doctor saysPlay and Freedom: Patterns of Life in the Spirit - Zahl - 2024 - International Journal of Systematic Theology - Wiley Online Library

We explore the concept of seasons in the context of board gaming and life, and discuss the origins of the phrase "this too shall pass" and its relevance to the changing nature of emotions and experiences. Daniel and Kevin share their personal gaming stages and how their approach to board games has evolved over time. The conversation concludes with a reflection on the importance of selectivity and finding contentment in the games we already own. We discuss their evolving gaming preferences and the stages of faith. We explore the enjoyment of lighter and quicker games, the appreciation for simple solo games, and the adaptation to changing gaming preferences. We also draw parallels between stages of faith and stages of gaming, reflecting on the journey from zealousness to a holistic approach. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the continued enjoyment of games and the avoidance of jadedness.


Takeaways


Gaming preferences can evolve over time, with a shift towards lighter and quicker games.
Simple solo games can provide a peaceful and meditative experience.
Adapting to changing gaming preferences and finding enjoyment in different types of games is important.
There are parallels between stages of faith and stages of gaming, with a journey from zealousness to a holistic approach.
Continued enjoyment of games requires avoiding jadedness and appreciating the role of play in the larger human experience.


Chapters

00:00 Introduction
02:01 The Origins of the Topic
03:02 The Concept of Seasons
04:22 The Story of "This Too Shall Pass"
06:21 The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes
09:17 Personal Gaming Stages
12:22 Discovering Board Game Geek
13:34 The Magic of Board Games
15:17 Rediscovering the Magic
24:16 Transition to Selectivity
28:02 Realizing the Need for Selectivity
30:12 Preference for Lighter and Quicker Games
30:57 Enjoyment of Simple Solo Games
33:18 Adapting to Changing Gaming Preferences
36:18 Appreciation for Game Setup and Learning
37:35 Stages of Faith and Stages of Gaming
46:15 Connecting Games to Life and Faith
49:07 Reflections on Becoming the Person You Once Judged
53:08 Continued Enjoyment of Games and Avoiding Jadedness
57:13 Upcoming Episode: Book Club and Special Announcement


Daniel's stages/approaches of gaming


Trusting - You just trust what others tell you (games are for kids)
Zealous - You dig deep into the particular details and embrace them and defending them as world-defining. (Tell others about types of games.)


Sectarian - This thing unites and defines your particular people. (You find your peeps and you celebrate what makes your group unique.)
Personal - You own this thing for yourself. You question it, make it your own. (Finding your own gaming style; doesn't have to be like others.)
Connecting - You see how this thing is connected to other things. It doesn't exist in a vacuum. (How do games relate to other things in life.)
Holistic - This thing is just part of a larger whole. (Gaming is part of a the larger mystery of life)



NEXT TIME - Book Club: Simeon Zahl Article, "Play and Freedom: Patterns of Life in the Spirit"


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In this episode of Board Game Faith, we discuss the topic of role play, both in games and in real life. We explore the benefits and risks of role play and dive into a video from the YouTube Channel @PeopleMakeGames about the popular role-playing game Jubensha in China, with its deep character development and commitment involved in role-playing games and share personal experiences with role play. We also highlight the power of role play in building empathy and connection with others.


In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss the social dynamics of playing Jubensha and the emotional dimensions of role-playing games. They explore the idea that playing Jubensha creates a sense of connection and intimacy among players, even with strangers. They also discuss the satisfaction of solving logic deduction puzzles and the self-discovery that can come from playing a role. The hosts delve into the topic of violence in games and the different reactions to murder versus assault. They question why murder is often seen as acceptable entertainment while other forms of violence are not. The conversation ends with a discussion on the potential marginalization of women's experiences in gaming and the need for further exploration of these topics. In this conversation, Daniel and Kevin discuss the benefits of role-playing in games and in everyday life. They explore the idea of assuming different roles and how it can lead to personal growth, catharsis, and self-understanding. They also touch on the potential threats to games, such as increasing state interference and censorship. The conversation delves into the parallels between role-playing in games and in religious life, highlighting the idea of playing our best selves and the potential for personal transformation. They also mention the use of role-playing in therapy and the positive impact it can have. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the value of role-playing and its potential for building community and personal development.


Takeaways


We all play different roles every day, whether it's in games or in real life.
Role-playing games involve deep character development and commitment, allowing players to - explore different personas and motivations.
Role play can be a powerful tool for building empathy and connection with others.
The popular role-playing game Jubensha in China has gained massive popularity and has many dedicated shops.
There are both benefits and risks associated with role play, and it's important to approach it with intention and awareness. Playing Jubensha creates a sense of connection and intimacy among players, even with strangers.
Role-playing games provide satisfaction through solving logic deduction puzzles and self-discovery.
There is a discrepancy in society's acceptance of murder as entertainment compared to other forms of violence.
The marginalization of women's experiences in gaming may be reflected in the different reactions to murder versus assault. Role-playing in games and in everyday life can lead to personal growth, catharsis, and self-understanding.
Increasing state interference and censorship pose threats to games and their appreciation in different parts of the world.
Role-playing in religious life can help individuals play their best selves and foster personal transformation.
Role-playing can be used in therapy as a therapeutic tool.
Role-playing has the potential to build community and create positive social connections.


Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Roles We Play in Life
01:19 Welcome to Board Game Faith
12:37 Personal Experiences with Role-Playing Games
15:59 Benefits of Role-Playing Games
27:45 The Cozy Murder Genre
28:22 The Comfort of Murder
29:28 The Acceptance of Murder as Entertainment
32:12 The Role of Conflict and Risqué Elements in Fiction
33:21 The Influence of Patriarchy on the Perception of Violence
34:48 State Interference and Censorship in Role-Playing Games
36:25 The Benefits of Role-Playing in Everyday Life
40:10 The G

In this episode, Rev. Dr. Casey Sigmon, Professor of Preaching and Worship at St. Paul School of Theology, discusses the importance of play and imagination in combating burnout and enhancing preaching. She shares her background in film and theater and how it influenced her approach to worship. Casey also introduces the Pause/Play Center for Clergy Renewal, which focuses on providing rest and healing for pastors. The conversation highlights the power of well-preached sermons and the need for pastors to prioritize their own well-being, the importance of taking a leap of faith in preaching, and the connection between imagination and play. The conversation explores the resistance to play and the counter-cultural nature of play. Casey shares her favorite games, Killer Bunnies and Cards Against Humanity, and discusses shows that are not good until they're suddenly good.


Takeaways


Burnout is common among those in caring roles, and play can be a transformative tool to combat it.
Imagination is a crucial aspect of preaching and worship, allowing for creativity and connection with the audience.
The Pause/Play Center for Clergy Renewal provides a space for pastors to rest, heal, and develop new habits for preaching and pastoral care.
Well-preached sermons that engage the imagination and connect with the human condition have a greater impact on listeners.


Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Burnout and the Power of Play
03:14 Special Episode Milestones
06:43 Guest Introduction: Casey Sigman
08:03 Casey's Background and Journey
13:14 Influence of Film and Music Videos
21:39 The Creation of the Paws Play Center
25:06 The Importance of Imagination
27:31 The Impact of Well-Preached Sermons
29:25 The Importance of Taking a Leap of Faith in Preaching
33:04 The Connection Between Imagination and Play
37:25 The Pause Play Center and Its Offerings
44:32 Resistance to Play and the Counter-Cultural Nature of Play
49:07 Why People Are Unaware of Their Need for Play
53:02 Favorite Games: Killer Bunnies and Cards Against Humanity
56:03 Shows That Are Not Good Until They're Good
57:45 How to Connect with Casey and the Pause Play Center
Links:
Pause/Play CenterDr. Casey Sigmon - SPST

Oliver Burkeman's 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals (2022) is our pick for our monthly book club. We loved how it made us think about our modern drive to master time and efficiency, and how this debilitates human happiness. Rethinking our lives and our use of time means more time for flourishing, games, and play, even if we don't get everything done (because we never will).


We explore the concept of time and our relationship with it, highlighting the illusion of time management and the artificiality of modern time. We also discuss the idea of embracing our limits and the futility of trying to battle against time. Overall, the book challenges the notion that we can control time and encourages a deeper reflection on how we spend our limited time on Earth. It delves into the flawed attempts to be efficient and the instrumentalization of time in modern society. The conversation also highlights the importance of living in the present moment and the dangers of constantly living for the future. It discusses the measurement of time and how it contributes to impatience and restlessness. The conversation draws from various spiritual traditions and emphasizes the need to let go of future expectations. It explores the joy of settling and the joy of missing out, as well as the pressure to choose a path and the depth of commitment. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of focusing on the next step rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity. We emphasize the need to make time for play and challenge societal expectations that prioritize work over play. We explore the idea that play is an end in itself and can resist the Protestant work ethic. We also discuss the value of hobbies and the role of play in grounding us in the present moment. Finally, we reflect on the importance of using our time and talents well to make life more luminous for others.


Takeaways


Embrace the nature of time and avoid trying to make it something it's not.
Beware of the dangers of efficiency as an idol and the instrumentalization of time.
Learn to live in the present moment and let go of future expectations.
Develop a curiosity and openness towards challenges and problems.
Settle and commit to a path, finding joy in depth and commitment. Break down projects into smaller steps and focus on taking the next right step.
Make time for play and challenge societal expectations that prioritize work over play.
Recognize that play is an end in itself and can resist the Protestant work ethic.
Engage in hobbies and embrace the value of weird and unique interests.
Use your time and talents well to make life more luminous for others.


Chapters

00:00 Introduction: The Battle with Time
03:13 Lent and Time
08:23 Animals and Time
11:27 The Illusion of Time Management
13:29 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
19:36 The Artificiality of Time
21:20 The Battle with Time
22:43 Embracing the Nature of Time
23:19 The Flawed Attempt of Efficiency
24:26 The Instrumentalization of Time
25:33 Living for the Future
26:37 The Present Moment
27:31 The Measurement of Time
28:38 Impatience and Restlessness
29:52 Expectations and Frustrations
30:50 Drawing from Spiritual Traditions
31:47 Letting Go of Future Expectations
32:28 The Joy of Settling
35:20 The Joy of Missing Out
36:42 The Pressure to Choose a Path
39:38 The Depth of Commitment
40:55 Focusing on the Next Step
41:47 Taking the Next Right Step
42:21 Breaking Down Projects into Smaller Steps
43:04 Making Time for Play
43:35 Play as an End in Itself
44:02 Letting Go of Societal Expectations
45:18 The Importance of Hobbies
46:16 The Present Moment in Play
47:26 Resisting the Protestant Work Ethic
48:37 The Value of AT-like Activities
49:24 Embracing Weird Hobbies
56:56 Using Time and Talents Well


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You might think death and gaming are not connected. But loss is always a part of games as pieces and elements are lost. Some elements of games are fairly abstract (Uno cards or chess pieces), but other elements can be very personal, such as a character you've played for years in D&D or in a legacy type game such as Gloomhaven. Games also address death through theme and content: One Night Werewolf has players killing each other; Village has meeples age and die, to be moved to the graveyard; Endurance face nearly certain death even as a miraculous escape remains possible (Shackleton achieved it, after all!). Such gaming experiences give us vital ways of thinking about and discussing death and grief, as well as suggesting ways of facing our own mortality.


How is death represented in games?



It is the nature of games to abstract reality. How to abstract death?
Simplest example perhaps is chess - the piece is removed from the board for the rest of the game
The state is permanently changed for the rest of the game
But we don’t care about chess pieces - we care about humans and living creatures (maybe trees?), so games that evoke humanlike characters make us feel loss in powerful ways


A word about grief



Grief is a natural & important and unavoidable response to loss
This is not a look at grief, except perhaps tangentially.


Interesting examples of death in games



Village - cemetery, legacy
Werewolf - you are out of the game and watch what is happening to everyone else
Games that poke at death in a humorous or horror way - Zombies, etc.
Legacy games where the state is permanently changed even from one game to another
Art games (like the kind Alice Connor enjoys) that represent the emotions of death? Train and Endurance.


How do we feel about death in games? When we die or kill off another player?


Lessons of faith from death in games



The importance of being present to the moment


Parent and child with potentially fatal cancer playing games together during treatments. Forgetting the treatments. The gift of games is to anchor us in the present.

The permanence of death - Ways of coping when states permanently change
On the other hand, the impermanence of death - Perhaps what Buddhists call the illusion of death?? Life continues. Another wave forms on the ocean.
Reminder of John Glynn
How easily we can become numb to death—precisely by abstracting it—in real life.


Another discussion of each in games from the “Two Wood for a Wheat” podcast - https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/135031/death-board-games


00:00 Introduction: Death in Gaming
12:12 Lightening the Mood with Wordplay
13:12 Abstracting Death in Games
18:20 Games that Deal with Mortality
23:04 Examples of Death in Games
26:54 Village: Generations and Legacy
29:30 ISS Vanguard: Memorial Wall
31:51 Death and Remembering
32:27 The Changing Nature of Funerals
34:08 Using Games as a Eulogy
35:33 Art Games and Emotional Impact
36:16 Legacy Games and Permanence
39:36 Lessons of Faith from Death and Games
48:19 The Importance of Memory
49:21 Death as a Doorway
53:28 The Ocean and Impermanence
56:36 Wrapping Up


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