Abstract
Within Warhammer 40,000 (40K), the Emperor of Man sought unity, a single truth, and eradication of alternative beliefs . After his entombment, the Imperial Cult proclaimed him God-Emperor and became increasingly rigid and stagnant over time. Diversity and understanding eroded under a single edict maintained under eternal warfare. Despite the diverse influences evident in earlier editions, some communities of 40K enthusiasts have shown a strong adherence to particular narrative iterations. Deviations are frequently condemned, unlike many fan communities.
Historical-critical studies of the Christian scriptures emphasize the evolution of manuscripts. Discrepancies between manuscripts are readily documented in modern translations. Despite this, North American White Evangelicalism has long emphasized a uniform canon and praxis that erases divergent or novel readings. Communities of 40K enthusiasts and North American Evangelical Christians have a parallel devotion to a perceived settled canon. That rigidity may leave both communities unable or unwilling to recognize and adapt through new interpretations or understandings of authoritative texts.
The proposed study will examine and critique the idea of a unified and coherent canon, and associated fundamentals that members of these communities often ascribe to, evident in how select communities of 40k enthusiasts and White Evangelical Christians utilize the texts in their derivative creations. This may hinder the growth of these communities, perhaps leading to their eventual decline. We will argue that there needs to be an openness to new interpretations and understandings of the text, in order for the systems to survive.
Author bio
Dr Daniel Jesse is a practical theologian working on emotional formation in Christian culture who enjoys tabletop rpgs and board games.
Dr Michael Scholz is a clinical psychologist who loves tabletop gaming.
