Play and Pray -- just don't lose soul points

[Turgonian]

Article in the Reformatorisch Dagblad (Reformed Daily) of today (15 December 2006), front page:

Discussion in US about 'Christian killer game'

HAMBURG - In America, trouble has arisen about a videogame in which 'born-again' Christians slaughter 'servants of Satan'. Critics protest, says the German Spiegel Online this week. The game would entail incitement to religious violence towards people of other faiths.

Left Behind: Eternal Forces, as the game is called, is based on the also very popular book series in the US, Left Behind.
The series is set in a post-apocalyptic America. God has raptured the believers to Himself. Remaining on the earth are the 'desperate', who are now engaged in continual battle with Satan and his troops.
According to critics, Left Behind: Eternal Forces is not just about the battle between good and evil, about those remaining on the earth who have to defend themselves against the power of Satan now, about the power of prayer; but also about digital murder. That is why they complain to the -- Christian -- makers of the game that they incite people to religiously motivated violence.
"Left Behind: Eternal Forces is a violent videogame, in which born-again Christians try to evangelize or kill all those who do not follow their extreme ideology," a spokesman of the organization Campaign to Defend the Constitution says in Spiegel Online. "If you have killed someone, you have to recharge your soul points again, by praying -- I think the message is exceptionally clear."
A priest of the Christian Alliance for Progress commented: "We try to make families see that this game contains religious violence and is not suited for families."
The producer of Left Behind Games is unhappy with the criticism, Spiegel Online writes in an article with the heading Believe or Die!. According to the Internet service, however, the "radical Christian killer game" was not marketed by a church or another organized community of faith, but by "conservative, Christian managers from the software industry and the TV business."
Those state that the game is not primarily about violence, but "that the game promotes prayer and worship of God." And, as the producer allegedly said: "Of course there is killing -- it's a videogame, after all."
Left Behind Games was set up in 2001 with the purpose of developing videogames and computer games based on the Left Behind books of Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. About 63 millions have been sold of these.
On the website eternalforces.com, the answer to the "frequently asked" question why the challenged game contains violence is: "Violence is not required to make a nice game. However, it is required to make a game about the end of the world in the Left Behind book series."
Great caution has been taken, though, as the site claims. "For example: unnecessary killing results in less 'soul points', which are essential to winning."

( This is supposed to promote prayer and worship? -- Turgy)

[Michelle]

I remember viewing something some time ago about this on a news broadcast. Personally, I see a game such as this as being very dangerous to young impressionable minds. There is an acute danger that an emotionally challenged young person might act out the scenarios in the game. Unlike other video games that market themselves on imaginary violence, this one promotes itself on 'goodness' so to speak, which makes it all the more of a concern.

What if someone is from a highly religious and Christian background but has a mental illness (such as schizophrenia) was to watch it; is there a likelihood that this could have an impact on them? These people are highly susceptible to the influence of this game and to actually act it out. We cant turn around and say everything will be alright just as long as they take their medication. Many of them don't (and often for a good reason) so they are at potential risk to themselves and others watching this game.

Aside from this I personally feel it is in appalling taste and is actually taunting the many people who are not going to be saved. It seems far too arrogant to me to have in my possession and promotes too much self-pride.

The critics are right too, there is a danger that it may incite violence toward people of other faiths. That is not what Christianity is about! It is not about irradicating people of opposing beliefs because they are not inline with yours (generally speaking of course). Other people are entitled to believe whatever faith they feel is right for them and no one has the right to prevent them from doing that. Even if we think we might be doing the right thing we still don't have any right to decide for other adult people what they are going to adhere to.

[Turgonian]

You're right. Although I was a lot more concerned about the effect the game might have on a vast number of skeptics. This foul game will be fair game for those who already hate Christianity for some reason.