I'm going to just skip the comments and reasonably assume that there's a lot of irrational and ignorant anti-religious sentiment. So let me say this:

I apologize, on behalf of these people. It was a dick move, and we should've graciously accepted it. The end.

"You should have known what any topic about a Christian group vs. a gaming group would have devolved into"

Oh I did.

I just don't want it said that Jim never explained things clearly enough for those at the back of the class.

This is a bunch of bullshit. I could maybe understand it if they turned down the money if it came from Satan's Return to Earth Charity Fund, but this is Dungeons & Dragons, people! There's more brutality and "acts of evil" in the Bible than there is in the average tabletop game. To turn down that money is just quite silly and backwards, and the Christian Children's Foundation should be ashamed of themselves.

What's most unfortunate to me, is that the CCF is more or less denying a dying wish, in an indirect sort of way.

Because of the medium of the contribution, a person that wished to help a specific group of people cannot aggregate that money to those specific people.

Ideologies are what they are, but there's got to be some consideration for the children (no pun intended). So much black and white for a grey world . . .

"I can understand why they turned it down. I don't like it, but I understand. I imagine they get a great deal of money from the sort of people who still see D&D and the like as Evil. They have to be careful with their endorsements because it might end up costing them a good deal of potential donation money which, in turn, will hurt their cause."

Or they could have used this opportunity to enlighten their ignorant followers. Shown them that, not only does it NOT lead to Satanism, but the folks who do it are actually pretty swell dudes who EVEN donated some cash.

They instead took the easy way out and at the same time continued to support their followers ignorant notions.

But you know what, I wouldn't have expected any different. Sadly, this is the way it operates most of the time. Which is why they are always in the dark.

Here is the stated reason the CCF turned down the money:

"As [with] many non-profit organizations, CCF is selective in its endorsements or support in order to maintain the integrity of its name and logo. We cannot lend our name to an event for which we have no involvement. This decision should in no way be interpreted as CCF holding an opinion on Mr. Gygax, gaming enthusiasts or the game Dungeons and Dragons."

To assume anything else is to project your own religious beliefs on the organization. That goes for non-christians as well. If you think the CCF SHOULD have taken the money, you are imposing your beliefs on the CCF. If you think the CCF SHOULDN'T have taken the money because you think D&D is evil, you are imposing your beliefs on the CCF.

Whether you like the decision or not, the reason they made the decision was stated. Judging the decision for anything other than the stated reason is ignorant, unless you can point to proof that the stated reason is false.

As for the argument that they should have taken the money because "need is need", I would question the logic behind this. From a non-believers point of view, would you accept help from a Christian organization that made a point of letting people know they had given you help, in an effort to further their name and vision? A name and vision you DON'T believe in?

"But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing," Matthew 6:3

In this case, maybe the Gygax fund should have given anonymously if their concern was for the recipients and not for the act of giving.

In the same way, the Christian needs to determine what their motivation is to have an organization that helps the needy, and whether they are promoting their own name or the name of God.

Finally, I wonder what platform this comes under, Jim? Is D&D a Wii game? PS3? Maybe we change the tag line of Destructoid from "Hardcore Video Game Blog" to "Hardcore Video Game Blog until Jim Sterling Chooses to Voice his Political and Social Agendas"?

I'm joking, of course. Jim has NO agendas. Ever. ;-)

Let's play devils advocate here for a minute.

What if NAMBLA had offered to donate CCF $10,000 and CCF turned them down? *Nobody* on this board (I hope) would be at all outraged. Why? Because it would be a consensus that NAMBLA is awful and we the Destructoid community don't approve of them. There would be no comments on "how dare they turn away money no matter who it's from".

Now, in reality, CCF has turned down money from Gygax. Detoiders are all in a nerd rage over it because we like Gygax. Well I'd guess CCF doesn't share our love for him. How does that not make Detoiders hypocrites?? "You can't turn down money from causes we like, just one's we dont like!"

<end devils advocate>

chadandjody:

I'll resist the urge to tear into that comment and just state that I am invoking the South Park "Dude, you fuck kids" clause. The clause that suggests that everything is thrown out of the window when it involves dudes who want to fuck kids.

The GenCon organizers don't advocate kiddy fiddling. NAMBLA does. Really, that's reason enough.

Perhaps they should just create the "Gary Gygax Children's Foundation".

@Jim: The point isn't Nambla (although the court does accept your South Park defense) or GenCon, the point is most people are upset because they like Gygax and since they like Gygax they jump on the bandwagon of "CCF should take the money no matter where it comes from".

I'm merely trying to point out that it's not always okay to take the money, thus the extreme example of Nambla. Not everyone has our fondness of Gygax so who are we to nerd rage over when CCF doesn't want his money. Just because we like him doesn't mean everyone else has to.

Sooo... why not give the money to another, more deserving charity? Religious charities ultimately exist for one reason: religious conversion. Secular charities actually want to do some genuine good.

@ BIZZNET

That shit is hilarious! Back in college I worked with this nut who was always passing me little books like that.

"I'm merely trying to point out that it's not always okay to take the money, thus the extreme example of Nambla. Not everyone has our fondness of Gygax so who are we to nerd rage over when CCF doesn't want his money. Just because we like him doesn't mean everyone else has to."

So because the dude was involved with some books that have fake magic in them, the kids have to do without the money? Please tell me you are fucking joking man. Seriously.

You know the truth is that the church demonized D&D just like they demonize everything and it has bitten them in the ass. Of course they won't admit they were wrong! So the alternative is to turn it down.

@ Extacet

So you are telling me that:

(a) Christian groups have been demonizing D&D since I was a baby.

(b) Someone related to D&D has money raiseed in his name and attempts to donate.

(c) They refuse the money, saying that it hurts the integrity of their name.

(d) This is in no way related to their history of demonizing D&D.

Well. That is brilliant. I love how you come to that conclusion.

This is why I'm always hesitant when people ask me if I'm a Christian. Not the best represented religion...

@ Jim: Good point. GenCon ranks for sure. I was just adding to the snark. My bad. You STILL have no agendas. <3

@ necrozen:
"You know the truth is that the church demonized D&D just like they demonize everything and it has bitten them in the ass. Of course they won't admit they were wrong! So the alternative is to turn it down."

First off, the CCF does not represent "The Church". That's like saying you, as a gamer, represent "The Gamers". Secondly, CCF is not withholding money from anyone. They are choosing not to accept and redirect the GenCon money. They did not take it then burn it, or spend it on something unrelated. The money was redirected, by the group, to another charitable org. that I'm sure is thankful.

Now, for my part: I do not condone the CCF's take on the subject. I don't see GenCon or Gygax or D&D representing anything that goes against the Christian Gospel. Just because I see the logic of a reason doesn't mean I agree, and I think this pertains to the other "apologists".

Necrozen, and much or Destructoid, you seem to have a strong sense of social justice. What are you involved with to further that? Do you have any ideas for alternatives?

@GigaMach and Extacet,

It's pretty obvious by now this is just a chance for people to transpose their preconceived notions about Christianity onto an article that is really more about a business decision then anything else. Best to just move along.

@ GigaMach

If they are a Christian Fund, how can their actions NOT speak for Christians? Why have it in the name then?

I, as a gamer, DO represent Gamers to Non Gamers - we, as humans, compile information based on observation. So while they do not, alone, represent Christianity, their actions get lumped in with all the actions of Christians I observe and I then form an opinion about it. I can't believe I have to explain this.

I understand that they didn't burn the money. But why redirect it? Why not take it? Why make a big deal about it then? Why put a negative spin on this positive gift of giving? That man wanted to leave a legacy and instead the charity makes it into this negative ordeal by not accepting it! Why?

And finally, you seem to speak negatively of Destructoid's strong sense of justice? Why? Is that wrong? Should we not be upset by this? Since you are the charity police, do I have to report my duties to you? Fine. I donate time, especially in the winter, to a small, non-religious soup kitchen and homeless shelter in Covington Ky. During the coldest nights we take turns staying open all night so they don't freeze to death. Is that good enough for you? Do you need more examples of my community action? I don't talk about it because I do it to better the world, not to brag. And I certainly wouldn't ask other people to give ME proof of their community action. That is really rude, I think.

I don't see that refusing a donation shows a lack of integrity - they believe for whatever reason that D&D is teh debil, and accepting handouts from an associated organisation is definitely in line with their beliefs.

Whether they are nutcases or not is another story, but hey, it's their charity.

Wow. I just realized that Destructoid has CCF ads. How ironic. At least we know Jim is willing to stick it to the man; even when that man is paying his bills.

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/109257/CCF.PNG

Haha, wow. I own that Dungeons and Dragons box set that the image came from. That's oldschool stuff.

What the hell? I've never gotten the crusade against by D&D by SOME Christians. You aren't supposed to be demons and devils in that game. They're enemies. You *kill* them. Come on.

My mom had always gotten on my case about playing D&D, but she wasn't some crazed zealot who banned me from playing it.

(I guess you could label me as) a Christian, but I never saw any demonic things with D&D, or Lord of the Rings, etc. But then, I'm a geek, so I guess not...

...my Slayer CDs on the other hand...

I guess a way to tell if their excuse is legit is to see what other donations were either accepted or rejected. I'd do the research, but I'm lazy.

/shrug