Here is yet another example that extremism and militancy can be in any culture or religion, as well as the commercialisation of religion is a common ever occuring theme.
There is a a Christian computer game called Left Behind: Eternal Forces based on the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, portraying an end of times scenario.
In the games, Christians shoot Jews, Muslims, Catholics, gays and other "infidels" while shouting "Praise the Lord!".
Links
- Talk To Action: Part 1: The Purpose Driven Life Takers and Part 2: Violent videogames marketed through mega-churches. Blog coverage in BoingBoing and Digg.
- LA Times: Converting Video Games into Instruments of God.
- BBC: Spiritual Challenges For Gamers.
- Left Behind Games.
Contents:
Comments
Khalid
Controversy
Sat, 2006/07/08 - 18:46An anonymous reader writes to us about this page on the controversy at Left Behind Games.
Anonymous (not verified)
Misconceptions & Propaganda relating to Left Behind EF Game
Fri, 2007/01/12 - 15:27This statement is posted from an employee of Left Behind Games on behalf of Troy Lyndon, our Chief Executive Officer.
There has been in incredible amount of MISINFORMATION published in the media and in online blogs here and elsewhere.
Pacifist Christians and other groups are taking the game material out of context to support their own causes. There is NO “killing in the name of God” and NO “convert or die”. There are NO “negative portrayals of Muslims” and there are NO “points for killing”.
Please play the game demo for yourself (to at least level 5 of 40) to get an accurate perspective, or listen to what CREDIBLE unbiased experts are saying after reviewing the game at www.leftbehindgames.com/pages/controversy.com
Then, we’d love to hear your feedback as an informed player.
The reality is that we’re receiving reports everyday of how this game is positively affecting lives by all who play it.
Thank you for taking the time to be a responsible blogger.
Jim (not verified)
I am a pacifist Christian of
Fri, 2007/01/12 - 16:39I am a pacifist Christian of sorts. I do not take the game out of context. I have no cause to promote. I do recognize that God has created different people to believe and act differently -- and differently from myself.
That being said, According to your website, "unnecessary killing" is discouraged. This implies that necessary killing is not discouraged or may be encouraged. The creators of the game have thus decided which "people" it is necessary to kill. That is a decision best left to God.
I reject the logic that "You must try it before you pass judgement." This same argument has been used before to promote experimenting with drugs and sex. This argument raises alarm bells for me. You judge the tree by its fruit. You do not need to eat the fruit before you can tell if it is poisonous.
The link you gave does not work.
It is unfortunate that you will not value feedback from those who have not played the game. I guess you will not value this input.
God Bless.