Wednesday, 16 September 2009

The Science v Religion Game

As the nights draw in our thoughts start to turn towards the Autumnal Equinox, to falling leaves, and to board games.  We've bought the latest exciting board game - "Science v Religion" which you can all feel free to play in the Library.  No violence please.  Complete rules are below.

The Basic idea

The players take up a position on either side of the fence.  They take it in turns to throw their cards over it.  The aim of each card is to trump the other team's previous card.  For example, if the Science player plays the "Spanish Inquisition" card, the Religion team might play the "Darwinian eugenics" card.  Likewise a "Homophobia" card might be met by a "Gays will burn in Hell" card - or possibly by a "My vicar's gay actually, but he just doesn't shout about it" card.  Although the latter card is rare, and only available in the limited Edition "C of E" game pack, where you're allowed to sit on the fence.

Special Cards

The "Voltaire converted on his deathbed" card is of doubtful worth.

The "Bible says" card is worth either a million points or none, depending upon which side of the fence you are. 

"Sister Wendy" is better than " Jimmy Carr".

The "Bono" card scores highly but everyone's a bit embarrassed to play it.

Two "Problem of Suffering" cards are equivalent to three "Original Sin"s.

The "Hitler" cards are powerful but have different effects - depending on whether you are playing the "Anthropology of the 3rd Reich" card, "Catholic Hitler" or the "Hitler was an atheist" card.  If you play "Vegetarian Hitler" you're in the wrong game.

The "Richard Dawkins" card can be played by either side at any time.  It scores 100 points, but doesn't really make any difference to the final result, although occasionally it will make someone turn the board over.

The "Fossils are an invention of the Devil" card is no use whatsoever to anyone.

The "Hubble Telescope" card is lovely. 


How to Win the Game

Nobody ever does.

7 comments :

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. I would conjecture that each side thinks they are the winner.

    (Previous comment removed for stoopid html formatting error.)

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  3. I would agree that each side thinks they are the winner, but we all know that only science really is the winner.... ;-)

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  4. if "science" is the winner, then there is no real game, because we all lose forever.

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  5. @Anonymous: "if "science" is the winner, then there is no real game, because we all lose forever."

    That's quite possibly the stupidest thing anyone has ever said...*ever*.

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  6. What I love about Science vs Religion debates is how rarely anyone actually discusses Science or Religion. Instead, it usually becomes a cross between a bizarre sort of public historical therapy session, (very uncomfortable to witness if you're not actually debating) and an opportunity for people to embarrass themselves, like an intellectual (dare I even use the word) equivalent of the X-factor.

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  7. Splendid idea, but...

    This isn't science v religion it's more like "battle of the straw men", for example, what has Jimmy Carr got to do with science, other than he's probably got O level chemistry?

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