web01.fireside.fm Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:14:34 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Play Saves the World - Episodes Tagged with “Teaching” https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/tags/teaching Sun, 20 Aug 2023 15:00:00 -0400 Daniel and Kevin explore the meaning of play for human flourishing – what it is, what it means, and how people create and maintain playful lives. We explore books, people, places, and ideas committed to engendering play in the midst of busy, working lives. en-us episodic On games and spirituality Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor Daniel and Kevin explore the meaning of play for human flourishing – what it is, what it means, and how people create and maintain playful lives. We explore books, people, places, and ideas committed to engendering play in the midst of busy, working lives. no play, gaming, game theory, work, human flourishing, the meaning of play Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor thomaskevintaylor@icloud.com Episode 37: A Theology of Play Retreat https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/37 c3483499-5811-44f2-ba78-65c7eb1a4dcf Sun, 20 Aug 2023 15:00:00 -0400 Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor 37 A Theology of Play Retreat full Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor Daniel led sessions on the theology of play at a recent religious retreat, and he shares his thoughts on the sessions, his outlines, his hopes and expectations, and participant feedback. 59:44 no 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” - this one was on the theme of “Enchantment” Stayed in a lodge, ate meals in the castle, hiked through surrounding hills and mountains Asked me to lead three 2-hour sessions on “Theology of Play” Day 1 - Introduction to Play Bernard Suits’ definition of game – “the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles” Talked about my own journey into gaming Research into gaming Games and play are essentially the same thing Play has been an essential part of the human condition (including adults) since the beginning of history Theologians interested in play too! Play as salvation Played “Just One” Reflect on how games help us be present to each other, gives us sense of agency Play as grace Parker Palmer - Play as sign of calling - asked folks to reflect Day 2 - Barriers to Play Told them Monopoly history If play is so good for us, why are we resistant to it? Told story of Bernard Suits' The Grasshopper except for the ending - including haunting dream Historical roots of barriers to play Reformation, Age of Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution “Earning” salvation was replaced with “proving” salvation Being productive was sign of virtue; being unproductive was sign of immorality “Morality of achievement” - Moltmann Turns human into cogs in machines “Pushback on idea of play as work which we want to do. Someone shared story of “workaholic” who said “my work is my play.” Played Wits & Wagers - reflection Reflection on Genesis 3:1-6 - Adam & Eve & serpent Sin was thinking we didn’t need God or anyone else. We could prove our worth through our achievement. The greatest barrier to play is “practical atheism” - the belief that we can’t rely on God, not really. We have to prove our worth and value by achieving and producing. Ending of the Grasshopper - everything is unnecessary from a utopian point of view (or cosmic scale), so all is play Day 3 - Toward a Playful Life 2 tools to help us move toward a playful life: Sabbath - Looked at the book The Sabbath by Joshua Abraham Heschel Sabbath hallows time like temples hallow space Just as a Sabbath is the end unto itself (not to “recharge”), so too is play. It is not in service to work. Jane McGonigal - Reality is Broken The opposite of work is not play, it is despair, hopelessness. Work is about having agency. So work is just play we want to do. So how can we make work more into something we want to do - gamification of life! How will world view us if we move toward a playful life? 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Holy Fool Tradition Filling out “Character Creation Sheet” - make your own Holy Fool Self (Mandi Hutchinson) General Reflections 1. Made me wonder whether it would be helpful to lay out 3 terms, not just 2: 1. Play - voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles 2. Work - obligatory attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles 3. Rest - refraining from both of the above 2. More barriers to play for women than men 3. Character sheets - some were reluctant. Maybe pass out the day before to get people time to work on it. 4. Wits & Wagers didn’t quite work as well as I hoped. Would replace next time with the Mind. 5. What seemed to resonate with people: 1. Suits’ definition of games 2. Ending of Grasshopper - everything is unnecessary 3. Play as calling WE WANT TO DO THIS MORE! If you would like Kevin or Daniel or both to teach about the theology of play on your context, or serve as a resource in any other way, please let us know! teaching, game theory, spirituality, play, clergy, retreat, games 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” - this one was on the theme of “Enchantment”
  • Stayed in a lodge, ate meals in the castle, hiked through surrounding hills and mountains
  • Asked me to lead three 2-hour sessions on “Theology of Play”

Day 1 - Introduction to Play

  • Bernard Suits’ definition of game – “the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles”
  • Talked about my own journey into gaming
  • Research into gaming
    • Games and play are essentially the same thing
    • Play has been an essential part of the human condition (including adults) since the beginning of history
    • Theologians interested in play too! Play as salvation
  • Played “Just One”
    • Reflect on how games help us be present to each other, gives us sense of agency
    • Play as grace
  • Parker Palmer - Play as sign of calling - asked folks to reflect

Day 2 - Barriers to Play

  • Told them Monopoly history
  • If play is so good for us, why are we resistant to it?
  • Told story of Bernard Suits' The Grasshopper except for the ending - including haunting dream
  • Historical roots of barriers to play
    • Reformation, Age of Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution
    • “Earning” salvation was replaced with “proving” salvation
    • Being productive was sign of virtue; being unproductive was sign of immorality
    • “Morality of achievement” - Moltmann
    • Turns human into cogs in machines
    • “Pushback on idea of play as work which we want to do. Someone shared story of “workaholic” who said “my work is my play.”
  • Played Wits & Wagers - reflection
  • Reflection on Genesis 3:1-6 - Adam & Eve & serpent
    • Sin was thinking we didn’t need God or anyone else. We could prove our worth through our achievement.
    • The greatest barrier to play is “practical atheism” - the belief that we can’t rely on God, not really. We have to prove our worth and value by achieving and producing.
  • Ending of the Grasshopper - everything is unnecessary from a utopian point of view (or cosmic scale), so all is play

Day 3 - Toward a Playful Life

  • 2 tools to help us move toward a playful life:
  • Sabbath - Looked at the book The Sabbath by Joshua Abraham Heschel
    • Sabbath hallows time like temples hallow space
    • Just as a Sabbath is the end unto itself (not to “recharge”), so too is play. It is not in service to work.
  • Jane McGonigal - Reality is Broken
    • The opposite of work is not play, it is despair, hopelessness.
    • Work is about having agency.
    • So work is just play we want to do.
    • So how can we make work more into something we want to do - gamification of life!
  • How will world view us if we move toward a playful life? 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
    • Holy Fool Tradition
  • Filling out “Character Creation Sheet” - make your own Holy Fool Self (Mandi Hutchinson)

General Reflections

  1. Made me wonder whether it would be helpful to lay out 3 terms, not just 2:
    1. Play - voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles
    2. Work - obligatory attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles
    3. Rest - refraining from both of the above
  2. More barriers to play for women than men
  3. Character sheets - some were reluctant. Maybe pass out the day before to get people time to work on it.
  4. Wits & Wagers didn’t quite work as well as I hoped. Would replace next time with the Mind.
  5. What seemed to resonate with people:
    1. Suits’ definition of games
    2. Ending of Grasshopper - everything is unnecessary
    3. Play as calling

WE WANT TO DO THIS MORE! If you would like Kevin or Daniel or both to teach about the theology of play on your context, or serve as a resource in any other way, please let us know!

]]> 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” - this one was on the theme of “Enchantment”
  • Stayed in a lodge, ate meals in the castle, hiked through surrounding hills and mountains
  • Asked me to lead three 2-hour sessions on “Theology of Play”

Day 1 - Introduction to Play

  • Bernard Suits’ definition of game – “the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles”
  • Talked about my own journey into gaming
  • Research into gaming
    • Games and play are essentially the same thing
    • Play has been an essential part of the human condition (including adults) since the beginning of history
    • Theologians interested in play too! Play as salvation
  • Played “Just One”
    • Reflect on how games help us be present to each other, gives us sense of agency
    • Play as grace
  • Parker Palmer - Play as sign of calling - asked folks to reflect

Day 2 - Barriers to Play

  • Told them Monopoly history
  • If play is so good for us, why are we resistant to it?
  • Told story of Bernard Suits' The Grasshopper except for the ending - including haunting dream
  • Historical roots of barriers to play
    • Reformation, Age of Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution
    • “Earning” salvation was replaced with “proving” salvation
    • Being productive was sign of virtue; being unproductive was sign of immorality
    • “Morality of achievement” - Moltmann
    • Turns human into cogs in machines
    • “Pushback on idea of play as work which we want to do. Someone shared story of “workaholic” who said “my work is my play.”
  • Played Wits & Wagers - reflection
  • Reflection on Genesis 3:1-6 - Adam & Eve & serpent
    • Sin was thinking we didn’t need God or anyone else. We could prove our worth through our achievement.
    • The greatest barrier to play is “practical atheism” - the belief that we can’t rely on God, not really. We have to prove our worth and value by achieving and producing.
  • Ending of the Grasshopper - everything is unnecessary from a utopian point of view (or cosmic scale), so all is play

Day 3 - Toward a Playful Life

  • 2 tools to help us move toward a playful life:
  • Sabbath - Looked at the book The Sabbath by Joshua Abraham Heschel
    • Sabbath hallows time like temples hallow space
    • Just as a Sabbath is the end unto itself (not to “recharge”), so too is play. It is not in service to work.
  • Jane McGonigal - Reality is Broken
    • The opposite of work is not play, it is despair, hopelessness.
    • Work is about having agency.
    • So work is just play we want to do.
    • So how can we make work more into something we want to do - gamification of life!
  • How will world view us if we move toward a playful life? 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
    • Holy Fool Tradition
  • Filling out “Character Creation Sheet” - make your own Holy Fool Self (Mandi Hutchinson)

General Reflections

  1. Made me wonder whether it would be helpful to lay out 3 terms, not just 2:
    1. Play - voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles
    2. Work - obligatory attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles
    3. Rest - refraining from both of the above
  2. More barriers to play for women than men
  3. Character sheets - some were reluctant. Maybe pass out the day before to get people time to work on it.
  4. Wits & Wagers didn’t quite work as well as I hoped. Would replace next time with the Mind.
  5. What seemed to resonate with people:
    1. Suits’ definition of games
    2. Ending of Grasshopper - everything is unnecessary
    3. Play as calling

WE WANT TO DO THIS MORE! If you would like Kevin or Daniel or both to teach about the theology of play on your context, or serve as a resource in any other way, please let us know!

]]> Episode 25: Reflections on Teaching a College Class on Board Gaming https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/25 f822758b-e79a-407f-b07a-8f70aa6f976b Sun, 05 Mar 2023 15:00:00 -0500 Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor 25 Reflections on Teaching a College Class on Board Gaming full Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor Kevin reflects on his experience teaching a college class on board game theory and religion. He and Daniel unpack what he's learned from the experience of selecting material, teaching game mechanisms, and exploring game theory. 52:21 no 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, bluffing, player elimination, trading, set collection) Games that teach history or lessons Games that are roleplaying and open-ended (TTRPG like D&D) Games and life, such as McGonigal Reality is Broken Magic circles: games and religion Board Game Lab: the experience of playing board games Documents in your syllabus that are familiar to the BGF community (The Grasshopper, Reality is Broken, Theology of Play, Meditations on Tarot), but a new addition is Nietzsche’s Zarathustra. Games that we have played Kingdomino – Euro and set collection Secret Hitler – deception and social deduction Coup - deception and social deduction Pandemic (couldn’t finish) – co-op game and so influential Freedom (couldn’t finish) – a game that teaches Dune Imperium (couldn’t finish) – card drafting, a race, worker placement, hand management Happy Salmon – silly party game that is fun but kind of pointless (which is part of the fun) Bohnanza – trading, set collection, hand management Things I have learned - What are you taking away from it? Spending time with young people is pretty wonderful It’s great to do theory and then experience/practice, especially in a small group/pod setting People are different – one dude loves the social deduction and bluffing element of Coup, while someone else loves the soothing Euro game Kingdomino Youths catch on quickly, and they love games game theory, teaching, magic circles, board games 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

  1. Defining a board game
  2. history of board games
  3. mechanisms of board games (card drafting, worker placement, Euro, Ameritrash, bluffing, player elimination, trading, set collection)
  4. Games that teach history or lessons
  5. Games that are roleplaying and open-ended (TTRPG like D&D)
  6. Games and life, such as McGonigal Reality is Broken
  7. Magic circles: games and religion

Board Game Lab: the experience of playing board games

Documents in your syllabus that are familiar to the BGF community (The Grasshopper, Reality is Broken, Theology of Play, Meditations on Tarot), but a new addition is Nietzsche’s Zarathustra.

Games that we have played

  1. Kingdomino – Euro and set collection
  2. Secret Hitler – deception and social deduction
  3. Coup - deception and social deduction
  4. Pandemic (couldn’t finish) – co-op game and so influential
  5. Freedom (couldn’t finish) – a game that teaches
  6. Dune Imperium (couldn’t finish) – card drafting, a race, worker placement, hand management
  7. Happy Salmon – silly party game that is fun but kind of pointless (which is part of the fun)
  8. Bohnanza – trading, set collection, hand management

Things I have learned - What are you taking away from it?

  1. Spending time with young people is pretty wonderful
  2. It’s great to do theory and then experience/practice, especially in a small group/pod setting
  3. People are different – one dude loves the social deduction and bluffing element of Coup, while someone else loves the soothing Euro game Kingdomino
  4. Youths catch on quickly, and they love games
]]> 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

  1. Defining a board game
  2. history of board games
  3. mechanisms of board games (card drafting, worker placement, Euro, Ameritrash, bluffing, player elimination, trading, set collection)
  4. Games that teach history or lessons
  5. Games that are roleplaying and open-ended (TTRPG like D&D)
  6. Games and life, such as McGonigal Reality is Broken
  7. Magic circles: games and religion

Board Game Lab: the experience of playing board games

Documents in your syllabus that are familiar to the BGF community (The Grasshopper, Reality is Broken, Theology of Play, Meditations on Tarot), but a new addition is Nietzsche’s Zarathustra.

Games that we have played

  1. Kingdomino – Euro and set collection
  2. Secret Hitler – deception and social deduction
  3. Coup - deception and social deduction
  4. Pandemic (couldn’t finish) – co-op game and so influential
  5. Freedom (couldn’t finish) – a game that teaches
  6. Dune Imperium (couldn’t finish) – card drafting, a race, worker placement, hand management
  7. Happy Salmon – silly party game that is fun but kind of pointless (which is part of the fun)
  8. Bohnanza – trading, set collection, hand management

Things I have learned - What are you taking away from it?

  1. Spending time with young people is pretty wonderful
  2. It’s great to do theory and then experience/practice, especially in a small group/pod setting
  3. People are different – one dude loves the social deduction and bluffing element of Coup, while someone else loves the soothing Euro game Kingdomino
  4. Youths catch on quickly, and they love games
]]> Episode 6: Board Games that Teach https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/6 a895303f-037b-4054-bb1b-603c05e8ee14 Sun, 29 May 2022 15:00:00 -0400 Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor 6 Board Games that Teach full Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor What can, and should, board teach us? We explore didactic board games that have a message, and what sort of indirect messages board games can also give us. 1:04:24 no What can, and should, board teach us? We explore didactic board games that have a message, and what sort of indirect messages board games can also give us. We discuss Caverna, Bibleopoly, the forgotten didactic orgins of Monopoly, magic circles, and the controversial game Train. Join us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/boardgamefaith) and Patreon (https://patreon.com/boardgamefaith). board games, education, teaching, morality What can, and should, board teach us? We explore didactic board games that have a message, and what sort of indirect messages board games can also give us. We discuss Caverna, Bibleopoly, the forgotten didactic orgins of Monopoly, magic circles, and the controversial game Train.

Join us on Instagram and Patreon.

Links:

]]> What can, and should, board teach us? We explore didactic board games that have a message, and what sort of indirect messages board games can also give us. We discuss Caverna, Bibleopoly, the forgotten didactic orgins of Monopoly, magic circles, and the controversial game Train.

Join us on Instagram and Patreon.

Links:

]]>