Hi Laura,

Thanks for the question.

You said:

• If we know it is pretend and do not practice magic or devil works in real life, is such role-playing is still evil?
  

It depends.

As Catholics, we look to the Saints as models of virtue and holiness to follow.
That said, for this or any similar question, ask yourself:

• WWStTAD?
  
• What Would St. Thomas Aquinas Do?
  
• Would St. Thomas Aquinas role-play a magical creature just because it is pretend and not real?
  

I don't think so.

That said, while I have not been involved in any role-playing like you are describing, I have played other on-line video games that follow a similar pattern. There is no doctrinal Yes, or No answer to this question as it is a matter of prudential judgment.

In my opinion, it's a question of whether it damages or desensitizes you and your Christian morals or values. Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I have a firm understanding of my Catholic faith?
• Do I practice what I preach when I call myself a Catholic?
  • Do I renew my covenant every Sunday with the Lord at Mass?
  • Do I go to Confession on a regular basis, like once a month?
  • Do I pray daily/regularly?

Our behavior can be easily swayed into a unhealthy spirituality if we are not sacramentally grounded in the faith with a good prayer life.

In a college or university setting it can be very easy to rationalize such behavior as not sinful. Because your questions are similar to those we have received on video games, I've pulled these web postings from our database in the hope they may provide additional help and advice:

• Are viewing video games a sin if they contain nudity or language that I would never be drawn into?
• Is there is anything wrong with playing violent video games?

You said:

• Also, on a similar note, is it evil to write fantasy stories if there are evil characters in the book?

My book is a fantasy one and my evil character is a devil who has magic.

Sounds to me, you are looking for an approval on a decision you have already made. Personally,
I can't condone writing fantasy stories with evil characters in the book, though my colleagues may see it differently.

I hope this helps,

Mike

Hi, Laura —

You said:

• Also, on a similar note, is it evil to write fantasy stories if there are evil characters in the book?

It is certainly not advisable. I don't go so far as to say that it is evil — as the person doesn't usually get into this sort of thing thinking in terms of wanting to do something evil, but it is a gateway.

We have to be careful not get too fundamentalistic about these things. Some people would go to the extreme of saying that the Harry Potter movies are sinful to watch. Well, the next stem would be saying science fiction movies like Star Wars or Star Trek are evil.

Fantasy literature and stories that contain magic, like the Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of Rings, or The Hobbit, for instance, have clear Christian overtones. They were written by Christian authors and serve as allegories.

The people that get involved in these games aren't evil but as I said, these sort of games become gateways. People can get lost in their characters and they may start to experiment with magic.

Then it becomes a real problem because you are inviting the demonic into your life so I would stay away from them but I would also be careful about labeling them as evil. When you do that, you turn people off to the message that they should stay away from them and they won't take you seriously.

John