Religious reactions to games

In 1452, a huge bonfire was set up in the German city of Nuremberg. It was initiated by the Franciscan priest, theologian and inquisitor John of Capistrano, who was later canonised as a saint. Thankfully, the fire was not to burn humans, but game equipment. 3,640 backgammon boards, 40,000 dice, and an equal number of cards were burned in one day. This was neither the only nor the first case of destroying games in public rituals.