are certain games spiritually harmful?

[lutherangerman]

Hi there,

I have this game, it's called Dominions 3. It's a turn based indie strategy game that lets you play as one god amongst many on a quest to be the only god. For that purpose you can recruit an army and various commanders, including mages, undead knights, demons, spirits, etc. There is no blood and gore or anything of that kind, it's really tame graphically. I used to enjoy this game a lot, because of its strategic depth, but lately my conscience is alarming me that the game's reliance on magic might be wrong for me as a christian. Today I was in a bad mood about this the whole day, and now in the evening I decided that the game isn't worth these bad moods. I don't want to stay in doubt about that game stuff. So I deleted the game from my hard drive and threw the CD and the manual away.

Now, I have some other games which also have magic, the role playing games Baldur's Gate 1+2 and the Icewind Dale series. It's not as bad as Dominions which had blood magic and death magic, but still. I've been trying to play righteous games with good characters in my party only ... but still my conscience gives me trouble. I've been trying to practice discernment, it's only games and I don't have any desire for magic or occult stuff in real life. But I'm simply getting no peace and I want peace in my life. So should I throw out such games too?

I've got some harmless games such as Sims 3, Civilization 4, Colonization, various football games, and some shooters. But if I look into them in detail, they have similar problems as the games above. For example, in Civilization I often wage wars, and they're no just wars lol. I'm out to conquer the world. In the shooters I kill people. Literally, with a gun or a knife. Wouldn't that be kind of like practicing murder? I am trying to practice discernment, again, but basically, either games are just entertainment and never harmful because they're only imaginary, or they're nearly always harmful because you practice evil stuff in them. I really have only a few games which are ENTIRELY harmful, such as the card games that come with windows and perhaps some adventures or sports games.

What do you think about this?

 

[Steezie]

Wait wait wait, how are games like Sims or Civilization classified as non harmful?

In the Sims, you manipulate the movements and actions of lesser beings and in Civilization, you slaughter and kill other people so that your civilization may dominate.

 

[CDROIx]

games with magic in it is not bad.But the thing that disturbs me is that you play as a god amongst gods.The first thing: there is only one god.Two:you should not play as God.

 

[Breakaway_republic]

Without going into religion to the point of doing a Jack thompson, ANY game can become spiritually dangerous. you can become so addicted that you begin to "ignore" God [as in play games when the spirit is saying "Hey, shouldn't you be going to church?" or "hey, let's talk!" then choosing to play the game when it's best to do something else... namely something productive. like doing your homework, cleaning up the house, etc...]

BUT, if you play it in moderation [all things in moderation is a good policy], you shouldn't have a problem.

that's just my take on it.

 

[Gale]

There's nothing wrong with playing video games unless you allow them to become more important to you than God (which would be practising idolatry) or if you allow them to impact your real life judgement.

I might have fun setting off the nuke in Megaton, killing a whole town's worth of NPCs on Fallout 3 as created by Bethesda Game Studios, but that doesn't mean I would ever murder even a single real human being as created by God.

tl;dr: Video games are only harmful if you allow them to be.

 

[Meep]

It's a tossup really. If life is hell as a kid, games are a great escape. If anything they discourage productivity. =P

The only game I've played that made me feel bad for the poor lil pixels was WoW with the Death Knight class quests. Poor lil critters...
Wow came also create a lot of rage for me with battlegrounds so I don't do those anymore. Once I got my pre-kara set for my warlock in TBC I was done with it for good. Hellish place those BGs are... =P

 

[kerplin]

That is a truly tough question. And that is one that every individual must make for themselves. If you feel as though you shouldn't be playing a certain game, then don't play it. If you don't have a problem with it, and you don't get a conviction one way or the other, then it's ok. I've heard a lot of people say when it comes to entertainment, "don't do anything that you would be ashamed of if Jesus were to walk in." Obviously that would be different for everyone. So that is a decision everyone must make for themselves.

 

[Holypeta]

In my honest opinion you need to play video games in moderation at its finest. I myself play WoW and I have to say I am having trouble myself with getting off the darn game. I am not saying WoW is evil because it keeps me from God but basically I myself and doing this to myself which is not good. I have been starting to play it less and a bit more with the Lord. WOOT!

 

[holyorders]

There are many great tactics rpgs that don't use magic or have 'gods'. I play all kinds of games and most don't bother me. I'm more offended about games that seem completely demonic (which are quite rare). Fantastic fake religions in games are pure fantasy. Like greek and roman mythology for example.

 

[seeingstars]

If you dig deep enough, you can find things in every game which are spiritually "harmful". You need to know your limit.

 

[SAint Mark]

"are certain games spiritually harmful? "

I am certain that certain games are .

 

[lawtonfogle]

There's nothing wrong with playing video games unless you allow them to become more important to you than God (which would be practising idolatry) or if you allow them to impact your real life judgement.

I might have fun setting off the nuke in Megaton, killing a whole town's worth of NPCs on Fallout 3 as created by Bethesda Game Studios, but that doesn't mean I would ever murder even a single real human being as created by God.

tl;dr: Video games are only harmful if you allow them to be.

Just remember, there is not a total disconnect between how you play and the sum total of your life.

 

[Hypersonic]

the game's reliance on magic might be wrong for me as a christian. Today I was in a bad mood about this the whole day, and now in the evening I decided that the game isn't worth these bad moods. I don't want to stay in doubt about that game stuff. So I deleted the game from my hard drive and threw the CD and the manual away.

What do you think about this?

Computer games are created to allow you to do things that aren't possible (like being a god). These are things that you would not do in real life otherwise you would be doing those things now. You could carry on with any games you find enjoyable because they are but a simulation and do not relate to real life, you could only play fantasy games that don't seem like real life at all, or quit computer games and take up a hobby like BB gunning

It's just a sim.

 

[SuperSaint4GodDBZStyle]

Just exercise self control when playing for long hours

 

[vortigen84]

What do you think about this?

I think the most dangerous thing spiritually about videogames is that they can be an addictive waste of time that robs you of sanctification because you're spending large amounts of time in a fantasy land. There are real demons needing to be fought in the real world, and real people needing real salvation. Let's not put all that effort into conquering a virtual world.

 

[Steezie]

I think the most dangerous thing spiritually about videogames is that they can be an addictive waste of time that robs you of sanctification because you're spending large amounts of time in a fantasy land. There are real demons needing to be fought in the real world, and real people needing real salvation. Let's not put all that effort into conquering a virtual world.

No one has yet been able to explain to me just how videogames are addictive.

 

[Ed Luva]

L, thanks for your post and being open and sincere. I have similar struggles with games that put me in an aggressive mood. I feel you. I love to play shooters but I often find myself falling on old habits like swearing - rather than using the opportunity to build the people I'm playing with up.

First, anything can be spiritually harmful. It's not these things themselves but how we react to them. For example: Magic, sorcery and false gods - we are commanded to stay away from these things so that we do not place anything above the truth - above God. These idols only have power if you believe them to be anything other than purely fictitious, or if they misrepresent your faith, or the gospel.

In humility, I can only suggest that you pray and invite God to play with you, because when he is with us, nothing can lead us astray - the path will be made clear. In that way, no mere game has any other meaning than being an entertainment.

A long time ago, I played a game called "Actraiser," where you play God. I wasn't a believer back then but it had occurred to me that I was somehow participating in blasphemy. But I had a moment of revelation, where I was trying desperately to save all my fictitious believers in the game, and it broke my heart that some just couldn't (or wouldn't) be saved. In that moment, I realized that was how God must feel - and it opened my heart.

So, I would say not to close yourself to any experience, but bring God with you.

 

[dunjunn]

no.

are certain games spiritually harmful?

 

[Lady_Firehawk]

I've found them to be far more harmful when I've questioned myself about them ad nauseam. These days I'm pretty well inured-- there are much bigger things to worry about, like, oh, helping my fellow man?