It was interesting, but I'll admit I don't agree much with the fella's world views about religion...or acting out fantasy. He's scholarly, but ultimately (despite being an academic studying religion), very dismissive of religion---at his core, a non-believer.
On the other hand, he is an avid D&D player, and totally dismissive of the satanic-panic criticisms. But let's be honest, who isn't these days?--it's mainly brought up to be used as a veiled attack on religion. But mainly it's the whole
"my Paladin wouldn't put up with how my boss is treating me" (always goes hand-in-hand with that class!) that rubs me the wrong way, as usual. I guess ultimately I've always been a bit disgusted and frightened by people playing out their will-to-power over the world via fantasy games. Pride is
the cardinal sin (if you believe in such things)---why indulge it? In fact, he does at some point in the interview argue in favor of such indulgences as a "release mechanism", while using the usual academic's mechanic of "so-and-so suggests that..." to cloak his own opinions.
D&D was never about that for me, nor those I played with.
...or, if it was, we were colossally inept in the execution!
Probably the best bit was learning about Tolkien's belief that when all seems lost, salvation arrives in an unexpected way. "The Eagles!"