Jesus Christ in a video game?

brudspirea

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Depicting Christ in media is some awkward territory, particularly where improvised/non-biblical dialogue is involved. Even if the game doesn't stray from Biblical scripture, there's an interesting discussion to be had around "playing as" Jesus, for sure. Rubs me the wrong way, I suppose.
The game looks kind of corny and dated nonetheless LOL. I think a better and more tasteful format for them to go with would've been a visual novel of some sort?
 
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AvisG

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My wife is a Russian Baptist (i.e., a Baptist from Russia). The Russian Orthodox Church is, of course, Icon Central. Having grown up in this atmosphere, my wife is vehemently opposed to any depiction of Jesus. My understanding from my study of Orthodoxy is that icons are not objects of worship but rather "windows" of spiritual communion. As such, I as a former Southern Baptist have no problem with them. I happen to love the Eastern Orthodox ones and have even managed to smuggle a couple into our house for precisely the intended purpose.

Some of my favorite DVDs are the historically accurate Gospels in which Selva Rasalingham plays the most believable Jesus I've ever seen: The Gospel of Mark, DVD Are these problematical? Is the Shroud of Turin problematical?

It all depends on context, on whose ox is being gored. Jesus in an LDS video is probably an offense to some, but obviously not to millions of others. A faithfully biblical video game might be highly educational. At least we don't yet have Jesus selling cars, as we do Abe Lincoln and George Washington (give it time, we will).
 
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Phronema

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My wife is a Russian Baptist (i.e., a Baptist from Russia). The Russian Orthodox Church is, of course, Icon Central. Having grown up in this atmosphere, my wife is vehemently opposed to any depiction of Jesus. My understanding from my study of Orthodoxy is that icons are not objects of worship but rather "windows" of spiritual communion. As such, I as a former Southern Baptist have no problem with them. I happen to love the Eastern Orthodox ones and have even managed to smuggle a couple into our house for precisely the intended purpose.

Some of my favorite DVDs are the historically accurate Gospels in which Selva Rasalingham plays the most believable Jesus I've ever seen: The Gospel of Mark, DVD Are these problematical? Is the Shroud of Turin problematical?

It all depends on context, on whose ox is being gored. Jesus in an LDS video is probably an offense to some, but obviously not to millions of others. A faithfully biblical video game might be highly educational. At least we don't yet have Jesus selling cars, as we do Abe Lincoln and George Washington (give it time, we will).

I'm Eastern Orthodox, and so as such I have zero issue whatsoever with icons of Christ, though depictions of the Father are a no go. That said I didn't want to mention it much as I didn't want this to turn into a General Theology type debate :)

I agree though that icons are beautiful, and are never to be worshipped, but used as an object to aid in prayer, or as a reminder of things (such as judgement day - to keep us reminded of the awesome judgement of Christ to come), and to be merely venerated.

With that I am thankful for others responses, opinions, and input on the game. Thank you for the response :)
 
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JohnClay

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The video in the original post was amazing:

It would be hard for me to be more disappointed in the more recent gameplay videos....

YouTube - Talking to Mary

YouTube - John the Baptist - the lip sync and water effects were pretty good.... but it doesn't seem interactive at all... perhaps it is pre-rendered because there is no loading screen and it looks a lot better than normal

YouTube - regular John the Baptist
No lip movement, poor graphics, etc.

When Jesus fasts in the desert they didn't have any gameplay to do with the temptations...

YouTube - Jesus fighting Satan in. the desert

The framerate is horrible even though the graphics aren't impressive. You have to fight a ball of fire that is in the sky. The player died many times and was unable to beat Satan....

YouTube - beating Satan

That video has no sound though....

This is what the fight with Satan was meant to look like:

satan.jpg
 
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Sunshinee777

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As an artist I have been very wary of painting Jesus. I tried once and I felt that I just can’t do it. It didn’t make justice for Him. And trying to do the impossible wasn’t for me, I knew I could never do it. Im very very wary when it comes people presenting their artistic view about Jesus. No matter the medium. I wouldn’t play a game which has Jesus in it. I wouldn’t buy a painting of Jesus unless it looks completely divine. (Propably not going to happen) I have problems to digest some of the pictures I have seen in lutheran church so..

I think it can really fast turn into mockery, if you know what I mean.

Sorry I don’t want to even look that game but it’s just me.

A buddy happened to send a link to the game below to me as he knows these types of topics are of interest to me. It has the player going through the acts of the New Testament as Jesus Christ from the time of His baptism until the time of His resurrection.

I'd like to know other Christian's thoughts on Jesus Christ being depicted in a video game? Is this sort of thing tasteful so long as it keeps to the New Testament? Could it be used as an informative, or educational tool for children/adults? Or is it distasteful due to depicting Him in any way?

I Am Jesus Christ is a 'realistic' sim where you fight Satan | PC Gamer
 
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Going_Nowhere

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As an artist I have been very wary of painting Jesus. I tried once and I felt that I just can’t do it. It didn’t make justice for Him. And trying to do the impossible wasn’t for me, I knew I could never do it. Im very very wary when it comes people presenting their artistic view about Jesus. No matter the medium. I wouldn’t play a game which has Jesus in it. I wouldn’t buy a painting of Jesus unless it looks completely divine. (Propably not going to happen) I have problems to digest some of the pictures I have seen in lutheran church so..
Faustina Kowalska supposedly saw Jesus. And there's a painting based on her vision.


Kazimirowski_Eugeniusz%2C_Divine_Mercy%2C_1934.jpg
 
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The Liturgist

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This is a very limited example, but one thing I appreciated about the original four SimCity games by Will Wright was the inclusion of churches, which added a realism and also facilitated more visually interesting aesthetics.
 
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Sunshinee777

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Any depictions of Jesus is wrong,IMHO.

I think so too.. I mean I don’t think there is nobody who can do justice for Him. Absolutely nobody. I haven’t seen any paintings which would look anything like Him.
 
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Phronema

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Surely that view would be contrary to the second council of Nicea?

In a sense I suppose. A video game isn't the same as an icon as icons, and iconography depict Him in a consistently positive manner whereas a video game could be used to poke fun at Christ, and the Gospel though I see what you're getting at. It matters what the depiction of Him is being used for, and how it's depicting Him to be in line with the 7th Ecumenical Council. That said my wording was admittedly poor.

For the record I of course affirm the 7th Ecumenical Council.

Ultimately this game doesn't look like something I'd be interested in, and at no point will I be playing it.
 
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Alistair_Wonderland

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Yeah, well, any depictions of God is more than distasteful, it is pure idolatry (see Exodus 20:4-6).

Now, if that had the Acts of the Apostles, that may be interesting! There are ways of avoiding the depictions of Christ, especially with Paul's vision. Especially if you added dialogue.

Any depictions of Jesus is wrong,IMHO.

that's not a humble opinion, that a humble FACT!

The Exodus quote says Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness [of any thing] that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them, for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, 6 and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
By the standard you give, a depiction of the Apostles would be sin, as would photography and paintings of any sort.
"Graven" is to mean engraved, or to be more specific, carved in the form of an idol. Moreover, the verse has more context to it. To quote verse 4 without acknowledging verse 5 is akin to taking the verses which prohibit promiscuity in Proverbs 5:16-17 (Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.) and saying that it implies that sexual activity in its entirety is evil, rather than acknowledging the context in verse 18 (Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.) which shows such activity to only be sinful when outside of marriage.
Likewise, Exodus 20:4-6 is not condemning the creation of pictures, art, or any sort of thing, but rather the worship thereof. While refusing to craft a physical depiction of Jesus out of respect is admirable, it is by no means forbidden. And I must reiterate that without the context of Exodus 20:5, verse 4, as you interpret it, would forbid all pictures of any sort, including family photos and driving licenses, as the verse is not exclusive to the forbidding of depictions of Christ or any of The Trinity, but in fact to all things.

That said, I do find the premise of avoiding the creation of imagery of Jesus admirable to some degree, as it shows a sense of respect for keeping Jesus's image as something free from human bias. It is not one I necessarily agree with, but I understand it and applaud the mentality behind it nonetheless.
I apologize if I come across as rude; I have received a good deal of that in the past, and my intent is not to judge you, but to show you that you are more free in God than you realize and should celebrate His mercy and love in the freedom He gives us.


Oh. Wait. Video games? I was here for something other than a long and rather cringey lecture, wasn't I? Okay, actually any video game about Jesus made by a Christian company is probably going to be boring, cringe-worthy, and downright offensive (as per the depiction of human bias as to popular church culture's depiction of Jesus rather than His actual appearance and behavior.) I would actually trust a non-Christian company more, because as offensive as they might be, at least nobody would take their depiction seriously and think poorly of the real Jesus for it.
 
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