i was wondering where the game of ChutesNLadders founder got his inspiration!
ChutesNLadders has an interesting history. It was originally Snakes N Ladders--a traditional game from ancient India, which was brought to the UK in 1892. Here's a description of Snakes N Ladders: "Players travel along the squares sometimes using ladders, which represent good acts, that allow the player to come closer to nirvana while the snakes were slides into evil."
Hmm...Grig's description of Mormonism kind of sounds similar to ancient India's "old age" movement. The whole concept of an eternal regress/progress is tied directly to beliefs of karma & reincarnation & sliding backwards & recycling souls along endless paths. (Note, too, Joseph Smith's similar belief that matter is eternal & had no beginning)
This "kick back to the start" (Grig's description) is pretty common for games with names like "Snakes," "Monster," and "Wolf": A fantasy game, Monster Quest, kicks you back to the start if you lose all your HP ("Hit Point"). "Sorry" is another game to use this concept. A game for 5-9 year olds, What's the Time, Mr. Wolf has a part where if you get too close to the wolf at dinner time, you have to go back to the start.
Let's play a game of "Jacob's Ladder," shall we? (It's a trivia game)
First question: In Jacob's dream, was there ever any suggestion or implication that this ladder of staircase to heaven was of human construction?
Second question: In Jacob's dream, were any men or women shooting up and down the ladder/staircase?
Third question: According to Genesis 28:13, was the Promised Land (a symbol of the eternal Promised Land to come) (a) purchased by Jacob and his descendents by means of a downpayment secured through a Middle East real estate agent? (b) Earned by Jacob based upon a Flintstone-type temple recommend rock signed by Isaac? or (c) Given to Jacob and his descendents by God?
“Grig’s description of Mormonism kind of sounds similar to ancient India’s “old age” movement. The whole concept of an eternal regress/progress is tied directly to beliefs of karma & reincarnation & sliding backwards & recycling souls along endless paths.”
Only by totally ignoring all the meaningful differences, twising some superficial aspects to make them fit, and ignore the scriptures I’ve already pointed out.
The ‘straight and narrow path’ is a metaphor for the path leading to exaltation, The gate at the start of the path is a metaphor for baptism, and excommunication cancels out a person’s baptism but doesn’t prevent them from being baptized again, so metaphorically they are at the gate. There are no multiple lives or recycling of souls, just one life that progresses through various stages (one and only one of them being our mortal life here) and by sinning can stray off the path a little or a lot.