Previously, We Discussed How Play is Non-Instrumental, Voluntary, and Unnecessary. And yet, as will discover this episode, it is a necessity for human flourishing. It is the "necessary unnecessity." Playfulness is ubiquitous for animal life Playfulness in Ubiquitous to Human Experience Since the Beginning - For Adults Too Royal Game of Ur (2500 BC)…

In this episode, Daniel and Kevin explore the concept of play and its distinction from work. They discuss how play is fundamentally non-instrumental, meaning it is not a means to an end. Play can generate its own purpose and goals, which are often short-lived and inconsequential but deeply meaningful. They reference the work of philosopher Bernard …

To define what play is, we have to define what work is. (This isn’t all that unusual – scholars do it with secular vs. religious, or prose vs. poetry.) Work or labor is intentional human activity to support our needs and wants, or those of others or our larger group. Work is something we do for another purpose – it is 2-eyed, 1 eye to the activity …

Daniel and Kevin attended Geekway to the West in St. Charles, Missouri, and bring you this special episode filmed live with their 3,500 best friends. Some special guests join us, and then we share some favorite convention moments and games, along with some special announcements. CALL TO ACTION Subscribe to our newsletter Support us on Patreon Inter…

Sam Macdonald of Garphill Games discusses his religious journey and board game philosophy. Sam explores the connections between board game design and religious faith, especially in the areas of community, self-expression, rules, fun, and the joy of discovery. We also take a stab at potential games based on Biblical stories. Takeaways Game design ca…

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 b…

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 …

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 game…

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 …

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 everyth…

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 de…

We discuss the concept of surviving in a post-apocalyptic world and how it relates to games and life. YouTube's @PeopleMakeGames explored Wasteland Weekend, a unique event where thousands of people role-play life in a post-apocalyptic setting. We delve into the idea of playing the wrong game and the importance of being present in the moment, the po…

In this episode, Daniel and Kevin continue their exploration of the Enneagram and its connection to board games. They discuss the unique personalities of each Enneagram type and suggest games that may appeal to each type. The goal is to understanding and respecting others' differences, as well as understand ourselves. They reflect on the background…

Holidays and games are great together – they provide an opportunity for social interaction and enjoyment. Board games can be a great addition to holiday celebrations, offering a break from work and a chance to connect with loved ones. Games can also serve as a reminder of the grace and unnecessary gifts in life. 00:00 Holidays and Games 02:12 Pax U…

By Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor

Intro to & History of Enneagram The origins of the enneagram are arcane and unclear. Relation to 7 Deadly Sins, Sufi Islam George Gurdjieff, Armenian spiritualist and teacher, 1865-1949 Oscar Ichazo (Bolivian) and Claudio Naranjo (Chilean) in 1970s developed it. It came into American practice through Naranjo in CA, and Catholics there, including Fa…

How do Christian theology and play intersect? Moltmann's seminal book, A Theology of Play, explores this, and we discuss pages 25-36. Christ Is More than a Remedy for Sin Christ became a human being not just to be a remedy for sin, but to create a new reality or a re-creation of the world. This tells us something about the nature of God: abundance,…

Introduction Shem Phillips is a board game designer from New Zealand. He founded Garphill Games in 2009 and is known for his medium to medium-heavy Euros such as the medieval trilogies (North Sea, West Kingdom, South Tigris) and Ancient Anthology series. He often works with S. J. (Sam) Macdonald. The use of trilogies in game design In your sermon o…

What your Rulebooks Say About You INTRODUCTIONS RULEBOOKS ARE … COOL? Roundtable vote: intense pre-read Read as you attempt to play Watch YouTube Have someone teach you Dial 1-800-Rules-Lawyer do you enjoy Rulebooks as a genre? Any special Rulebooks of note? KEVIN: Mage Knight is particularly loathed, even though it’s all in there KEVIN: Frostpunk …

Introduction We all know what it’s like to play games with other people. But did you know that more and more games every year give you the opportunity to play them by yourself? And we’re not just talking solitaire here. We’re talking multi-player games with a solo mode—as well as games that are designed to be played by only one person. They can be …

Defining sin What is sin in the Christian tradition? What do we mean by “7 Deadly Sins”? 7 deadly sins: pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth. Developed in the 300s with the Desert Fathers, especially Evagrius Ponticus. The 7 capital virtues were chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility. In Dante’s In…

Moltmann, A Theology of Play part 2 Pp 15-25 Did God create the world as an act of play? God is a free creator - could have made the world or not, yet is still divine so it can’t be just random. God did not have to create the world, but neither did God make something random. The world is meaningful but not necessary – and necessary labor will not s…

Context Held at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs, next to Garden of Gods 5 days and 4 nights Sponsored by Office of Congregational Excellence of the Missouri Annual Conference of United Methodist Church About 33 participants - mostly clergy, but some lay persons as well The fourth of a series of spiritual formation retreats known as “Soul Connections…

Who doesn't like a list? Everyone has a top 10 list of best games of all time, right? So we get in on the action, but our list has SPIRITUAL TRUTHS and SCRIPTURE REFERENCES! Take that YouTube Influencers. And we announce the awesome winners to our #boardgamefaith contest on Instagram! Remember to photograph yourself at your place of worship, with y…

Jamey Stegmaier reflects on his early experiences with board games, his Catholic upbringing, and his employment at the Catholic Student Center at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. The culture and values from his religious background and experiences have impacted his board game design. "At Stonemaier Games, we try really, really hard to …

Alice is the author of several books. http://aliceconnor.com/#about-the-author. She also writes for Daily Worker Placement, including a series titled “Playing at Religion”, and co-hosts the podcast "Table Talk." Defining a Religiously Themed Game Your definition: “One whose theme is primarily but not exclusively exploring the practice, history, or …

REMINDER ABOUT OUR CONTEST “SHOW US YOUR BOARD GAME FAITH” # BOARDGAMEFAITH on IG, by June 30th 2023! Cool prizes! Like us, subscribe to us, we are on YouTube and podcast networks, and check out our newsletter! And wash our cars and trim our hedges! Jürgen Moltmann, born 1926, German Reformed theologian who is Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theol…

Define Ameritrash and Euro, what is the experience like, how do they work? The promise and problem of player elimination (Monopoly, Chess, Checkers, Risk) Direct versus indirect competition Excitement of “dudes on a map” Ameritrash risk and explosive moments, Interaction, luck, can be mean War gaming is a variant (and how board games began) – Root!…

Mandi Hutchinson of Salt and Sass Games is a teacher and educator, and she explores ways that board games have shaped her life and work. Games help the art of teaching whether it's a middle school classroom or adults in their workplaces. We even take the time to dream of games that don't exist, and we learn more about Canada and especially Albertan…

Derek White is The Geek Preacher – a United Methodist pastor, D&D gamer, social media leader, and a major part of Satanic Panic documentary (streaming on TubiTV in the USA). Is Star Wars a work of sci-fi fundamentalism? What's so threatening about our imaginations to religious authorities? Are there limits to the imagination, such as the level of v…

Reports and Statistics! Average downloads per episode Downloads by country and US state Progress How we've grown and changed – yeah we miss the opening skit and clap but … Priorities The book! Curriculum! The movie! The Broadway play! CALL TO ACTION: Subscribe to our newsletter Support us on Patreon interact with us on Instagram Discord us Discord.…

Spiritual Lessons of Negotiation Games Healthy Rules and Freedom Existing Side-by-Side Helps Us to Be Creative and Joyful. The best part of negotiation games for me (Daniel) is the free for all, the creativity, especially in contrast to the rules. Think about the Apostle Paul writing about the joy of freedom against the backdrop of the law. Learn a…

Listener Spotlight "Kary" is a teacher from North Carolina She found out about Board Game Faith through Facebook! Game she's digging: Played "Sequence" for the first time and really enjoyed it. What is awesome about her? Waking up at 5 AM! Why do you listen to BGF? The awesome hosts. 🙂 Terra Nullius – a null land, or "nobody's land" TOPIC: Playing …

Board Games and Buddhism, with Takuya Ono 00:00 Introduction 01:23 How I became a Buddhist priest and jushoku 03:52 Duties of a Buddhist temple master in Japan 06:06 Board Gaming in Japan, and the Okuma Disaster 08:13 How I became a board game fan 12:32 Religion in Japan 15:39 Buddhism and games 21:06 My favorite board games 26:55 Buddhism practice…

Ideas behind the class What are board games, what is their history, how do they work, and why do they matter? Structuring the class I revisited some of our previous episodes – defining a game, Bernard Suits, Jane McGonigal Defining a board game history of board games mechanisms of board games (card drafting, worker placement, Euro, Ameritrash, bluf…

LISTENER HIGHLIGHT! Jim from Pennsylvania MAIL BAG! Episode 21 feedback - So grateful to @CampingMeeple's response to episode 21 - how to start a board game group: "We are trying to keep a Board game day happening more often at our church, but it was actually interesting listening to your last episode because it’s generally hobby people at ours and…

Daniel Thurot of the Space-Biff! newsletter and podcast discusses board games as devotion and religious exploration, Mormonism, and religious identity. What does it mean for board games to explore religious division, change, and history? CALL TO ACTION: Subscribe to our newsletter Support us on Patreon interact with us on Instagram Discord us Disco…

We examine the medieval Book of Games, King Alfonso of Spain's 1283 book about chess, dice games, and board games like Backgammon. There are rich insights here into medieval and modern board games – their types, challenges, wisdom, and benefits. Yay for history! CALL TO ACTION: Subscribe to our newsletter Support us on Patreon interact with us on I…

A regular board game group is a powerful way to build inter-generational relationships and community at your house of worship. But how and where to start? Daniel and Kevin share their experiences: what worked, what didn't, and what to watch out for. For a one-sheet on this process, subscribe to our newsletter here or email us at info@boardgamefaith…

This thoughtful conversation moves from traveling, gaming with parents, representation in board games, the stereotypes of Muslims as either extremists or as hijab enforcers, the common sense decency of Muslims that is rarely reported in the media, questions of Islamic theology and interpretation, and the place of Jesus Christ as a prophet of Islam.…

Here is the original Dice Tower's "Top 10 Enemies of Gaming" Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytUUQhKdzL0 Mechthild of Magdeburg (13 century German mystic poet and writer), “Clothe yourself with yourself." Rodney Smith (Watch It Played on YouTube): "I come to this table as a flawed human being.… The gift of this hobby is to learn to be better …

By Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor

Adrian Adamescu is a chemist (with a PhD in Chemistry) and board game designer (Sagrada, Dice Theme Park, 7 Summits, Speakeasy Blues, Creatures & Cupcakes). We interview him about growing up in Romania and Germany, an important family friend, and his faith experiences that have shaped him today as a father and board game designer. CALL TO ACTION: S…

OPENING GAME - Rock-Paper-Scissors/Roshambo CELEBRATION - Had first newsletter this week! INTRO TO MAIN TOPIC - what is an action selection game? GrenadierBG on Discord recommends Adam in Wales video MAIN TOPIC - Spiritual Lessons from Action Selection Games Taking initiative can be important. Taking actions can deny resources to others. Taking act…

INTRO IMPROV GAME: Characters in a classic Spaghetti Western film play the game Lord of the Rings: Journey in Middle Earth (currently #97 on Board Game Geek). Apologies for our ridicuous accents! Jane McGonigal's book Reality is Broken describes what we learn about human happiness through understanding the impact of games on human neurology and psy…

How do board games intersect with Orthodox Jewish religious and family life? We discuss how Sabbath observance impacts Alex's work, family life, and board game hobby, and how the Sabbath is defined and practiced for him and his synagogue. Be sure to check out Alex's excellent YouTube channel, BoardGameCo. NEXT EPISODE: We discuss Jane McGonagal's R…

Cold Opening: Through the Ages on a Doomed Spaceship OPENING GAME - Location: A doomed spaceship (from “www.can-i-get-a.com”). Game: Through the Ages - A New Story of Civilization – (#12 on BGG!) main topic Defining magic circles and liminal spaces, and how they relate to religious practice and faith. scriptures referenced Genesis 28:10-16 NEXT EPI…

By Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor

Kevin torments Daniel with a homebrewed Push Your Luck game based on Star Wars and Weird Al trivia (NOTE WE HAVE CHAPTER MARKERS NOW!). We then define push your luck games and glean some wisdom from these games: learning to take risks is good (and even Biblical, see Matthew 25:14-30); we can better understand ourselves and our comfort level with ri…

The goal of the Center for Play and Exploration is to encourage adults to be more curious, more divergent in their thinking, and empowered to fail. Dave argues that curiosity and imagination are ways to dismantle anxiety and fear. We respond to listener feedback and speculate whether God does indeed play dice with the universe, because creation is …