“A Game of Faith: Role‚ÄêPlaying Games as an Active Learning Strategy for Value Formation and Faith Integration in the Theological Classroom”

Role‚Äêplaying games have been a part of scholarly conversations about pedagogy for several decades. However, more work is needed in understanding how gaming pedagogy can best fit with and augment particular disciplines. After providing two examples of role‚Äêplaying games that have been used successfully in teaching the New Testament, this article argues that role‚Äêplaying games contribute to theological and religious studies classrooms by forming positive values (e.g. openness to multiple viewpoints, civility, and empathy) and assisting students in integrating their faith and learning. Because of the low‚Äêrisk settings that games provide, students can practice skills that increase their achievement of learning outcomes and contribute to their value formation and faith formation.