What are your thoughts on religion being used in video games? Note: I'm not necessarily referring to Christianity. For the sake of discussion, this thread is about whether or not religion is being portrayed as edifying or not.
Religion in games comes in various shapes and sizes. In fantasy games, there is typically a heavy emphasis on pantheism and duality, sometimes mixed together in Catholic imagery trappings (Oblivion). There is typically a heavy emphasis on Eastern philosophies, but that is to be expected as there's a going trend in the West about how Christianity supposedly 'failed' society. Some IPs that do have religion references fail to neglect them entirely (most Jedi-focused Star Wars games). But, very rarely, religion is either very overt or important to the character. Examples here would include the Hitman series (character is overtly Catholic) or Half-Life 2 which has an Orthodox church and Orthodox priest (sort of) mentioned. Half-Life 2's inclusion of an Orthodox church in "Lost Coast" is understandable considering the artistic director is Russian (even if its missing its iconostasis).
It does frustrate me at times that Christianity isn't protrayed more overtly. I believe, in most Assassins' Creed games, the character is a non-Christian. Other games that would, realistically, have Christians in it, are downplayed or neglected, or mocked entirely (many fictional or alternative reality RPGs).
Anyways, what are your thoughts?
Religion in games comes in various shapes and sizes. In fantasy games, there is typically a heavy emphasis on pantheism and duality, sometimes mixed together in Catholic imagery trappings (Oblivion). There is typically a heavy emphasis on Eastern philosophies, but that is to be expected as there's a going trend in the West about how Christianity supposedly 'failed' society. Some IPs that do have religion references fail to neglect them entirely (most Jedi-focused Star Wars games). But, very rarely, religion is either very overt or important to the character. Examples here would include the Hitman series (character is overtly Catholic) or Half-Life 2 which has an Orthodox church and Orthodox priest (sort of) mentioned. Half-Life 2's inclusion of an Orthodox church in "Lost Coast" is understandable considering the artistic director is Russian (even if its missing its iconostasis).
It does frustrate me at times that Christianity isn't protrayed more overtly. I believe, in most Assassins' Creed games, the character is a non-Christian. Other games that would, realistically, have Christians in it, are downplayed or neglected, or mocked entirely (many fictional or alternative reality RPGs).
Anyways, what are your thoughts?
