Sep 08 2009
Ariana Tobias
Final Project Statement:
Doom and Salvation: An Apocalyptic Up and Down Game
For my creative project, I decided to give the board game Chutes and Ladders: An Exciting Up and Down Game for Little People an apocalyptic makeover. Designed to function as a literal representation of the dualistic values of the Book of Revelation, Doom and Salvation would be a perfect addition to the toy box of any young fundamentalist Christian.
Doom and Salvation is primarily an interactive retelling of Chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation. In these chapters, Jesus (through John of Patmos) speaks to seven churches in Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea (Revelation 1:11). He praises them for their achievements and rebukes them for their failings. Accordingly, in Doom and Salvation, the game pieces are seven candlesticks (“the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches” – 1:20) with the name of one of the churches on each piece. Each praiseworthy deed is on a “ladder spot” with its corresponding reward at the top, and each sin is on a “chute spot” with the appropriate punishment at the bottom.
On the empty spots are quotes from Chapters 4-22 of the Book of Revelation, to keep players aware of the story’s progression as they navigate through the ups and downs of the game. By focusing on Chapters 2 and 3, however, the game teaches traditional morals, and the peril that results from flouting these values. Taking up the mantle of one of the seven churches and playing the game teaches children to take responsibility for their own actions in real life. Unlike other apocalyptic fundamentalist games, Doom and Salvation does not promote violence against nonbelievers.
For example, in the video game based on the popular Left Behind series by Tim LaHay and Jerry Jenkins, players conduct “physical and spiritual warfare” against all infidels to turn America into Christian theocracy. The game features high-tech military weapons, and players must kill or convert Catholics, Muslims, Jews, and others who have not yet been saved (Talk2Action.org). The game has come under fire for promoting religious intolerance from more moderate Christian organizations, including Christian Alliance for Progress (Becker).
Doom and Salvation avoids this problem by encouraging players to act for their own spiritual improvement. Each chute represents one of things Jesus chastises the seven churches for. Although the illustrations on the board are literal drawings based on the text, modern-day equivalents can be found easily. For example, Jesus rebukes the church of Ephesus for having “left thy first love” and if they do not repent, he threatens to “remove thy candlestick” (Revelation 2:4-5). In a fundamentalist commentary on the Book of Revelation, it is explained, “Our first love, if we are believers, is putting Jesus ahead of everything else” (DiscoverRevelation.com). If one fails in that, one will cease to “be a true light and witness to the world” (DiscoverRevelation.com).
By encouraging players, especially children, to learn about rewards and consequences in a literal, dualistic, unambiguous fashion, this game can be a valuable teaching tool for young Christians, and a lot of fun for the rest of us!
References
Becker, David. “Christian Groups Oppose Apocalypse Games.” Gadget Lab, Wired.com (http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2006/12/christian_group/)
Talk2Action.org “The Purpose Driven Life Takers.” (http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/5/29/195855/959)
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