Dungeons, Dragons, and the Devil! episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 7, 2026 · 1H 34M

Dungeons, Dragons, and the Devil!

from /ˈno͞oˌänst/ (Nuanced) Podcast

It’s Satanic Panic at the Disco! In this episode, we dive into the 1980s Satanic Panic and its infamous crusade against Dungeons & Dragons, exploring how a game of imagination became the target of nationwide moral hysteria. We trace the origins of the Satanic Panic to show how D&D was unfairly labeled a "Satanist recruitment tool" and take a look at the rise of B.A.D.D. (Bothered About Dungeons and Dragons), the organization that led the charge to ban the game. Finally, we provide a much-needed rebuttal by discussing why the fantasy realm is a positive force for storytelling and morality. If you play this episode backwards - you’ll hear a secret message…ReferencesBlog Post Young, J. (2021, October 29). The origins and lessons of Satanic Panic of the 1980s. Competitive Enterprise Institute. https://cei.org/blog/the-origins-and-lessons-of-satanic-panic-of-the-1980s/Online Article History.com Editors. (2023, August 11). What was the "Satanic Panic"? History. https://www.history.com/articles/what-was-satanic-panic-1980sWikipedia Entry Wikipedia contributors. (2024). Satanic panic. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanic_panicMagazine/Web Article Gajewski, R. (2023, October 24). How Satanic Panic almost banned Dungeons and Dragons. Knights Digest. https://knightsdigest.com/how-satanic-panic-almost-banned-dungeons-and-dragons/Blog Post Mockaitis, P. (2021, July 14). Catholicism and fantasy novels. Homeschool Connections. https://homeschoolconnections.com/catholicism-fantasy-novels/Web Article Larkin, L. (2014, September 10). Why Christians should read fantasy. Geeks Under Grace. https://www.geeksundergrace.com/books/why-christians-should-read-fantasy/Educational/Organization Article Schoonover, K. (2022, November 1). Is the magic in fairy tales and fantasy books a problem for Christians? Memoria Press: Exordium. https://classicallatin.org/exordium/is-the-magic-in-fairy-tales-and-fantasy-books-a-problem-for-christians/

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Dungeons, Dragons, and the Devil!

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This episode was published on April 7, 2026.

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