Is Playing Violent Shooting Games a Sin?

[Friendly Eagle]

is it sinful to play shooter games like counter-strike?

 

[Q2004]

No.

 

[Helo]

Nope

 

[Anduril]

is it sinful to play shooter games like counter-strike?

Nah, I don't think so. I've been playing them for years and believe it's only a sin when you waste too much time with them, which isn't hard to do because gaming can be pretty addictive.

 

[savvy]

Why do all fun things have to be sinful?

 

[Ampoliros]

I wouldn't think so. Its only pixels, you know.

 

[FreezBee]

is it sinful to play shooter games like counter-strike?

Well, sin is by definition to transgress one of God's commandments, so God would needed to have made a commandment that said "do not play shooter games", and I do not know about any such command. You can of course try with analogy, e.g. "you may have no other gods" would imply that you should not make playing shooter games control your life. Basically, if you are not totally addicted to playing, then you should be ok.


- FreezBee

 

[ChristianCenturion]

is it sinful to play shooter games like counter-strike?

I hope not... I'm relatively good at them.

 

[xAtheistx]

Why do all fun things have to be sinful?

Because having fun is the eigth deadly sin.

 

[shinbits]

Why do all fun things have to be sinful?

Let me ask it this way: why do we find so many sinful things fun?

We LOVE movies with killing, stabbing, shooting, and like to actually do them ourselves in video games.

Is it a sin? No. But, WWJD? He probably wouldn't play them.

That being said.....

I really need to give up playing Street Fighter 3: Third Strike.

No, not all of these games are sinful in of themselves (some are), but even if it's not, it's still in our best interest not to play them.

 

[fantochechaussette]

Yes it is a sin for two reasons:

1. You should be playing games that involve thinking rather than just making it a contest to see who can get to the rocket launcher or sniper rifle first.

2. Because I say so!

 

[shinbits]

Yes it is a sin for two reasons:

1. You should be playing games that involve thinking rather than just making it a contest to see who can get to the rocket launcher or sniper rifle first.

you would say that.....

you're a girl.

 

[nahtanojmal]

well any form of immoral act that is viewed (unrealistically)
numbs you to the real effects and consequences of real shooting
but I'm sure none us really go around thinking its alright to shoot people.

 

[nahtanojmal]

And I think you should do what fantochechaussette says
even if she is a newbie

 

[The Gregorian]

is it a sin in itself: no. But people can consider it wrong (validly) if you play it, and enjoy the blood 'too much' and enjoy being cruel and play it to see all the death everywhere (put 16 people on the 'wizard/warlock' maps of Halo 1/2 starting with rocket launchers.... to see what I'm talking about.)

If you play it to test your reflexes/hand eye coordination, etc.... and you happen to blow up a few alians... nothing really 'sinful' about it. Just don't go out and do it in real life.

I think the point is, you should enjoy killing... even if it's just pretend.

 

[Helo]

Yes it is a sin for two reasons:

1. You should be playing games that involve thinking rather than just making it a contest to see who can get to the rocket launcher or sniper rifle first.

2. Because I say so!

Actually FPS games can provide a certain level of intellectual stimulation.

It requires timing and mental reflexes to be able to shoot and scoot without getting hit. Judging distance, physics, resource management, hand-eye coordination, all of these can be taught by an FPS and all are required skills if your going to be good.

 

[Moros]

Yes. God hates FPS so much that he will send you straight to hell for manipulating some pixels on a screen. It's just that deadly serious.

 

[Lifesaver]

I don't think it is sinful. Though if one indulges in excessive gaming (whatever the game), then yes it is.

 

[Jacob4Jesus]

I've never played one before, but don't see how it could be sinful.

 

[Abbadon]

well any form of immoral act that is viewed (unrealistically)numbs you to the real effects and consequences of real shooting

I honestly don't think that's an absolute, but it is possible to be OVERsensitive to such things. People back in the dark ages were a good bit more violent than we were. They had the Bible, and no video games. We have both. It depends on the person, and to a some extent the game. I probably would be desensitized to shooting zombies, aliens, and stormtroopers, but I couldn't shoot people unless they're shooting at me - which is self-defense, not a sin.

but I'm sure none us really go around thinking its alright to shoot people.

Especially almost all of the people that play FPSs (any indicents on the news are the exceptions)

Yes it is a sin for two reasons:

1. You should be playing games that involve thinking rather than just making it a contest to see who can get to the rocket launcher or sniper rifle first.

A good many of them train split second decisions, not mere reflex, as you imply. Subtle difference being that I actually have to think about what I'm going to do, and what the consequences of those actions will be, especially in single player games, particularly Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines, where you have to talk with characters, and are given multiple choices that will affect the story line. Saying one wrong thing, ducking behind one wrong corner, using the wrong item, or doing these correctly but at the wrong time, can result in major setbacks in (possibly losing) the game. In XIII, you're often forced to fight against a large number of trained soldiers, all as powerful as you are. You can't simply just walk in, and start shooting to win, you actually do have to think about it.

2. Because I say so!

Who are you, and what authority do you have?