What games should Christians not play?

[earthenvessels]

Yeah, I love how people say stuff like that. Most times, they've never even seen the games! They're just like "OH NOES!!! T3H MAGIX!!!111" and start trying to rub their paranoia on other people. Seriously, who is going to have their faith ruined by a couple figures saying the word "fire" and some fire appearing? It doesn't even resemble what people call "real magic".

No offense to your friend meant, by the way. I'm just expressing general frustration with people who share the same beliefs as your friend.

Hey! No offense taken...I was kinda tiffed at what he said...he said he used to play the games, but that he stopped because of the magic casting...here is his exact words: "I mean God tells us to run from anything dealing with magic or the occult...and final fantasy is one such thing we are to avoid and run from...I used to look at it as a game...then I looked at the effects that such things have in a persons life...people who play them or read harry potter book etc . are more likely to buy wicca and witches and magic books"...I told him that I dont read anything harry potter and he says "yet you play a occult game??...I used to play it till I saw it from Gods perspective"

I have been playing final fantasy games for 7 years now and no one has ever told me anything like that before...I just thought that it was kind of weird...I dont look at final fantasy as an occult game...I look it as an entertainment for me when I am stressed or whatever...I love video games and it calms me...I just didnt like what he said...makes me mad...but i wont let it stop me from playing...sheesh....

Thanks for the comments! Im glad I am not the only one who thinks that way!

 

[WhirlwindMonk]

Hey! No offense taken...I was kinda tiffed at what he said...he said he used to play the games, but that he stopped because of the magic casting...here is his exact words: "I mean God tells us to run from anything dealing with magic or the occult...and final fantasy is one such thing we are to avoid and run from...I used to look at it as a game...then I looked at the effects that such things have in a persons life...people who play them or read harry potter book etc . are more likely to buy wicca and witches and magic books"...I told him that I dont read anything harry potter and he says "yet you play a occult game??...I used to play it till I saw it from Gods perspective"

I have been playing final fantasy games for 7 years now and no one has ever told me anything like that before...I just thought that it was kind of weird...I dont look at final fantasy as an occult game...I look it as an entertainment for me when I am stressed or whatever...I love video games and it calms me...I just didnt like what he said...makes me mad...but i wont let it stop me from playing...sheesh....

Thanks for the comments! Im glad I am not the only one who thinks that way!

People who read those things are no more likely to buy magic books or magic wands or whatever. There was a comment in another thread that I find covers these sort of things very well. "The people who have the hardest time seperating fantasy from reality are the ones who try to tell everyone else the fantasy is evil."

 

[earthenvessels]

People who read those things are no more likely to buy magic books or magic wands or whatever. There was a comment in another thread that I find covers these sort of things very well. "The people who have the hardest time seperating fantasy from reality are the ones who try to tell everyone else the fantasy is evil."

I agree with you...I mean, it is just a game, and like my other friend said, it is ridiculous to have that kind of mindset about just a game. She said it is just a game...I just wanted to make sure that I wasnt doing anything wrong by playing final fantasy incase he tries to attack me again with his ridiculous comments...Now I have other people who agree with me!

 

[SteelDisciple]

Hey! No offense taken...I was kinda tiffed at what he said...he said he used to play the games, but that he stopped because of the magic casting...here is his exact words: "I mean God tells us to run from anything dealing with magic or the occult...and final fantasy is one such thing we are to avoid and run from...I used to look at it as a game...then I looked at the effects that such things have in a persons life...people who play them or read harry potter book etc . are more likely to buy wicca and witches and magic books"...I told him that I dont read anything harry potter and he says "yet you play a occult game??...I used to play it till I saw it from Gods perspective"

I have been playing final fantasy games for 7 years now and no one has ever told me anything like that before...I just thought that it was kind of weird...I dont look at final fantasy as an occult game...I look it as an entertainment for me when I am stressed or whatever...I love video games and it calms me...I just didnt like what he said...makes me mad...but i wont let it stop me from playing...sheesh....

Thanks for the comments! Im glad I am not the only one who thinks that way!

Some people can't distiguishe occult magic from Mickey Mouse magic.

 

[Xtra]

I have a criteria when choosing whether I should get the game or not:

1)If it protrays a God or Goddess other than the one true God, then it's instantly on a "Do not buy" list

Examples:Most Legend of Zelda games, Tales of Symphonia, Final Fantasy X.

2)If it has excessive violence, blood, nudity, etc, it also makes the list (SSBM-style violence is okay)

Examples:GTA, Dead Rising, Resident Evil.

Magic I can handle, unless the entire game is centered around it. And mild violence is okay. Also, if there's some mild swearing, I'll be okay as well (unless they swear every other sentence or something).

 

[willard3]

I have a criteria when choosing whether I should get the game or not:

1)If it protrays a God or Goddess other than the one true God, then it's instantly on a "Do not buy" list

Examples:Most Legend of Zelda games, Tales of Symphonia, Final Fantasy X.

2)If it has excessive violence, blood, nudity, etc, it also makes the list (SSBM-style violence is okay)

Examples:GTA, Dead Rising, Resident Evil.

Magic I can handle, unless the entire game is centered around it. And mild violence is okay. Also, if there's some mild swearing, I'll be okay as well (unless they swear every other sentence or something).

I can respect that. At least you give good reasoning. Kudos.

 

[Drizzt44]

I also respect what your saying, but I myself have justified playing Resident Evil when I really need to blow of some steam. I'm a guy shooting dead things that try to eat innocent people, but I can see where you say that its bad for the really gruesome parts.
I have to say that my favorite game of all time is "The Bible Game." Its basically a game show that uses old testament trivia for games.

 

[Dannager]

I have to say that my favorite game of all time is "The Bible Game." Its basically a game show that uses old testament trivia for games.

Didn't that game get absolutely horrendous reviews? One of my friends worked on the QA team for The Bible Game and said it was awful.

 

[The-Doctor]

Interesting idea.

I dont think games are evil and playing them is not in my oppinion "sinful". I'm sure this debate has gone on down through the ages probably someone thought board games were evil at one point.

I agree that one should not spend too much time playing games to the detriment of their life, health, work etc ( wasnt there a guy who died in china after playing online continually?)

Computer games are just that games they are not real and if people start thinking they are real perhaps they should stop playing. I agree that games with adult themes such as nudity, sex and violence should be packaged in a game in a way that prevents young children from being able to access them. This is provided of course that their parents/guardian or the shop staff ensure that they do not sell them to children or allow their children to have access to them.

Thats my view anyway.

For the record I play apparently "non christian" games with no ill effects.

 

[Tariel]

Well...

the whole "false gods" thing in games is fine with me...so is violence. I've actually never encountered a game that I've had to put away because of content, but I suppose that a certain level of sexual content would do it...

 

[Indi]

god (blah) has control over the digital realm now, does he?

did he create the computer appliance? I think he did not. i think that WE have created computers, as such WE are able to control "our creation". How do you explain inventions, if there was the idea before? (thank goodness for those philo courses!)

ow man, i'm out of these forums... existentialist and border-atheist as i am, I may destroy something here. 00ps.

cya, and dump me an e-mail if some of my points offend or interest you.

i am sorry, but I am a conceptions challenger. where there is old traditions, I challenge the ideas. sorry again and good-bye.

@jsrlepage

First of all i think your a bit of a hypocrite saying your both an atheist and a christian. I really hope you'll get more living towards God soon, i hate to see a good soul lost in worldly stupidity, as if God doesn't know you doing stuff behind the pc (which isn't BEYOND his control) as much as he know's i got a weakness in sexual content on internet (which is my greatest sin, that i regret very much)

Don't be that way. Being a Child of God reflects in everything you do. I'm having a hard time keeping it up myself.

but to be clear i wasn't offended

To the rest, i think a list would be great, but bear in mind that the laws and rules we make up as human being can also create a barrier for those who have problems accepting their christianity by seeing all this do's and don't .

IMHO i think a list will be great, but more as a guidadance rather than RULE or LAW. for myself i've had my thoughts on games. like my favorite one Neverwinter nights, which involved monsters fantasy and magic... i don't really want to open a discussion about it again, but i'm open to it

I found myself at peace with the way i am playing it. without bothering the background idea's with can vary alot from person to person. Even if the bible says that magic beyond anything is an evil thing, like with the king solomon and the witch which ultimately led to his death.

I am sure of myself this isn't the same thing. but this can be a discussion on it self again...

I like to read more

Indi

 

[Lumen]

As a general rule, anything that causes you to sin. If the game has violence and near nudity in it, you have to ask, "Is this what God wants me doing with my spare time?" If it takes over your life to the point where you choose your game over spending time with friends and family, it obviously isn't a good influence in your life.

Not exactly, the question is:

"Is the violence and nudity going to cause me to sin?"

You imply that if a game has that material in it, that it is sinful.

 

[Lumen]

whoah, calm down there little tiger. What Jesus would do is a perfectly legitimate question. Would Jesus drink pepsi or Dr Pepper isnt the right question. That is like asking if Jesus would Play Halo or Unreal Tournament. They are both sodas. You are in error in your analogy man and it destroys your whole rebuttal. Want to try again?

The question isn't weather or not Jesus would play videogames. The question is, what would Jesus NOT play and why would he not play them. And, from reading about his life, it appears that those he wouldnt play would be due to his purity and his desire to be pure. I mean, why did he not party with the sinners? It is cause he is Holy and he set an example for us. The bible says not to be in the path of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful. What we allow to get fed into our head through influences affects us. And, if what we are seeing is ungodly, then it is most likely at war against our spirit. THe bible also says that the carnal man is always at war with the spirit. It is rather obvious that some games totally feed our carnality. Amped2 doesnt really cause it is more of a nature game but games where you enact violence does feed the flesh mentally. Remember when Jesus was asked about adultery? What did he say? He said that even if a man commits it in his mind, it is sin. Actions in the mind can be as sinful according to Jesus. Lets reword that question. "Jesus, is a game of murder a sin?" Probable response "To kill someone in your thoughts is just as if you killed them." Right?

Now, don't get me wrong. I play first person shooters from time to time but I do feel a convition against it in some of the games. And, I know that eventually I'll end up giving them up as I get more serious with God.

Your information is incorrect I believe, Jesus did eat with sinners.

And violence in games is in no way a sin. You're not murdering someone in your thoughts, you're murdering polygons.

 

[Tariel]

Your information is incorrect I believe, Jesus did eat with sinners.

And violence in games is in no way a sin. You're not murdering someone in your thoughts, you're murdering polygons.

 

[SteelDisciple]

What we have here is a debate between legalists who follow the LETTER of the law vs those who follow the HEART of the law. Two very big differences.

There are two types of sins. Those which the Bible specifically states are infact SINS against God. (homosexuality, lying, cheating, murder, etc..)
And sins against the conscience, which is what God gave us to determine which is right and wrong for individual peoples. If something is not out right sin as determined by God's Word, then the 2nd question you need to ask yourself "Is it a sin for me or a stumbling block for others?"

The problem is...legalists force THEIR personal sins onto other people.

If playing a violent game will lead you into sin, if it makes you feel guilty or makes another stumble. Then it is a sin to you or another.
If your conscience is not effected by playing a violent game...if you don't feel guilty. Then it's NOT a sin. God created the conscience for this very purpose, to determine what is right and wrong in HIS eyes and cannot, WILL NOT lead you onto a bad path unless you manipulate your own mind into believing something else.

One mans sin is not ALL mans sin in this case.

 

[jonpantomime]

nothing magical for me.

 

[Ringo84]

Okay, I will start the list:

1. Manhunt
2. Any 3D Grand Theft Auto
3. Resident Evil (all)
4. Legacy of Kain: Defiance
5. Maybe the new Ninja Gaiden
6. Guilty Gear X and X2
7. Castlevania PS2
8. Anything Spawn (game or not)
9. Magic The Gathering Battlegrounds
10. Dead or Alive: Extreme Beach Volleyball
11. Bloodrayne


those are the games I would think a Christian should not play. It's my opinion. I can already see you guys saying, "Well, you can't say I can't play this or that game, God can use all things together for good."
Ok, I can see where you're coming from, but shouldn't we draw the line somewere? Is there anything bad enough for someone to stand up and say that that game is to bad for ANYONE to play?

There's nothing wrong with any of those games. I play GTA: San Andreas almost every day and I'm just as normal as you.
Ringo

 

[Dannager]

nothing magical for me.

I'm not aware of any magical video games. Are you? If so, I'd like to see what they're like. Indeed, I'm pretty sure a magical video game would revolutionize the way people play games, period.

 

[Steezie]

I have HUNDREDS of games and I have played probably 10 straight years (if all my game time was put end to end). Many of these games are violent. Over my gaming lifetime, I've probably killed in excess of a hundred million people over my gaming career (Including strategy games as well as FPS).

I have yet to actually kill anyboddy or needlessly harm anyone for the pure pleasure of doing it. My girlfriend says I am one of the gentilest men she's ever been around. I work at a daycare/afterschool program with small children (ages 4-8 usually).

I have a good grip on reality, I understand that what I am playing is fantasty. I can mow down a crowd of people with a chainsaw in GTA and understand that this is not something I want to do or should do in real life. It does not have an effect on me as a person because I understand what is real and what is not.

In my entire career of gaming, I have found one game that I refused to play on religious grounds, and that was God of War. Not for violence or anything like that, but the idea that your character KILLED Ares, the god of war is something I am not entirely comfortable with. Ares is a tempermental god who has blanketed his bed with the skin of men he has killed so I prefer not to possibly anger him. Im sure the game itself is an amazing game, its won many awards and Ive heard amazingly high praise for it. However I would prefer not to possibly anger Ares.

Basically, if you know that you have a grip on reality and can separate yourself from a gaming world then you can take in any level of violence and questionable material from a game. I think that people who blame games and things for causing negative behavior are people who do not feel that they have the mental stability to make that separation and do not understand that not everyboddy suffers from the same problem

 

[ProGoddess]

I have never thought that being a christian has a limitation in playing games. Is this an issue?

I play lots of games and the most popular games in the market are mostly the fighting ones. I usually would try out a game and if I feel comfortable, I would carry on.

Why restrict yourself from an entertainment you enjoy?