Christian Theocracy - The Game!

[Kamalot]

The ever eye-opening Boingboing.net is showcasing an upcoming game (http://www.boingboing.net/2006/05/31/left_behind_christia.html) based on the Christian "Left-Behind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_Behind_%28series%29)" science fiction novels about futuristic battles on Earth after the 'good' have gone to heaven. The game is reportedly a a violent, bigoted video-game based on the stories.

You are on a mission - both a religious mission and a military mission -- to convert or kill Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, gays, and anyone who advocates the separation of church and state - especially moderate, mainstream Christians. Your mission is "to conduct physical and spiritual warfare"; all who resist must be taken out with extreme prejudice.
Apparently, the game will be a real-time stragety title for PCs.

The title has interesting suggestions for using games to further political and ideological beliefs.

[Nim]

Your mission is "to conduct physical and spiritual warfare"; all who resist must be taken out with extreme prejudice.

That's from the book of Psalms, right?

Reminds me of Matthew 15:12 too: "73h P0\/\/3r 0f <hR157 <0mP315 j00, |\|00b!!!"

[xcalibur]

Another example of some extremist wackjobs that give Christians a bad name.


-X

[bone_matrix]

Ya know, killing hookers is one thing, calling upon gamers to kill pretty much everyone that doesn't agree with one opinion is just stupid. Where is the politcal banhammer now? Oh government, how you hath failen me!!!!

[absolut taco]

Since only Rush Limbaugh will buy it, this will die almost as quickly as it should have.

[Atepsflame]

Since only Rush Limbaugh will buy it, this will die almost as quickly as it should have.

Wrong. I personally know five people who will jump on this game. The evangelicals are everywhere, lurking in the shadows with their fundamentalism and their intolerance.

[Tohoya]

I'm as stridently opposed to fundamentalist Christians as anyone you could care to mention, but I have read a few books of the Left Behind series, and unless the game strays considerably from its source material it will not urge its players to destroy the infidels (though you may end up having to fight traditional authority; IIRC the anti-christ takes control of some governmental organizations).

[Akeldama]

I met the developers at E3 and a nicer bunch of people you couldn't hope to meet. The game has some good ideas (one being a detailed biography written about every single character - which you can read even once they are a corpse). It lacks some detail in the tactical aspects though.

And frankly the way Left Behind has managed to spread like a cancer within my faith scares the bejesus out of me. It's strange theology really has very little to do with Christianity and is more about right wing paranoia.

[XxSATANxX]

If a man still prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall say to him, "You shall not live, because you have spoken a lie in the name of the Lord." When he prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall thrust him through. (Zechariah 13:3 NAB)

Ya know that's the thing about dogma............................................. ....

Is this the next MMORPG? Well guess I already got my gamer nick!

[Freethis]

Yeah, only a small, marginalized extremist minority of Christians believe this stuff. I mean, the books have only sold 62 million copies...

[balamoor]

I'm as stridently opposed to fundamentalist Christians as anyone you could care to mention, but I have read a few books of the Left Behind series, and unless the game strays considerably from its source material it will not urge its players to destroy the infidels (though you may end up having to fight traditional authority; IIRC the anti-christ takes control of some governmental organizations).


Ummm yeah I think that Boingboing.net is doing their usual over the top spin on this. I'm an agnostic and not a fan of the books but even I can tell you, they’re not about killing people of other faiths and sexual orientations.

That article is as ridiculous as any Chick publications tract..

[Varsity]

Ummm yeah I think that Boingboing.net is doing their usual over the top spin on this.
As I said when I got sick of reading that site a few months ago, if I wanted to read the Daily Mail I would go out and buy it...

[Kamalot]

Ummm yeah I think that Boingboing.net is doing their usual over the top spin on this. I'm an agnostic and not a fan of the books but even I can tell you, they’re not about killing people of other faiths and sexual orientations.

That article is as ridiculous as any Chick publications tract..
It sounds like the quote is from the game site itself, not written by BoingBoing.net. I'd check out the site for myself, but it's be slashdotted (or EvilAvar'tard. ;-))

[Tohoya]

Yeah, only a small, marginalized extremist minority of Christians believe this stuff. I mean, the books have only sold 62 million copies...

Not everyone who reads it believes it. Hell, I'm a strident agnostic and I enjoyed a few of the books. They're decent fiction. It's not like everyone who reads Harry Potter thinks they can cast magic spells...

[balamoor]

It sounds like the quote is from the game site itself, not written by BoingBoing.net. I'd check out the site for myself, but it's be slashdotted (or EvilAvar'tard. ;-))

Wrong. :rolleyes:

linky http://www.leftbehind.com/channelnews.asp?pageid=1285&channelID=17

[Grifter]

What we need is a huge battle between the fools who believe in the Left Behind series and the dipshits that believe the Da Vinci Code to be true. Easy way to get rid of all the people who lack common sense and the ability to think for themselves.

[Xerxes]

futuristic battles on Earth after the 'good' have gone to heaven.

See this has potential... It's like where dealing with what's considered the scourage, you can dabble into Christian and other religous mythologies (is calling my own religon a mythology, blasphemy? O_O), and what not... Even have demon coming through to Earth to claim what's left.

It had potntial but then it got bad from there....

[GunnyMo]

Yeah, only a small, marginalized extremist minority of Christians believe this stuff. I mean, the books have only sold 62 million copies...

You're right. Just like Dianetics and all of the other L.Ron Hubbard stuff are "best sellers". It doesn't take much for cultists to all run out and buy fifty copies of a book. Religious people who fall for this obvious money pandering authoring are sheep and nothing more. Hmmmm, maybe that's why the Bible continually calls it's followers "sheep". FYI: sheep are some of the dumbest creatures on the planet. :D

The Bible Game (http://www.gamestop.com/search.asp?sortby=default&searchtype=quicksearch&searchcount=12&Keyword=bible+game&platform=0&find.x=0&find.y=0&find=Search) teaches kids to throw rocks at those who are different from them. I'm sure Left Behind is a bastion of tolerance, compassion and humility.

:rolleyes:

[balamoor]

The Bible Game (http://www.gamestop.com/search.asp?sortby=default&searchtype=quicksearch&searchcount=12&Keyword=bible+game&platform=0&find.x=0&find.y=0&find=Search) teaches kids to throw rocks at those who are different from them. I'm sure Left Behind is a bastion of tolerance, compassion and humility.

:rolleyes:

Yeah cause that was what the story of David and Goliath was all about? :rolleyes: That is as stupid a comment as the idiot Reporter for the SF Chronicle that claims all the X-men comics and movies are thinly veiled Gay Rights manifestos.

[pomeroy]

But I heard Bryan Singer's gay!

[Kefkataran]

That is as stupid a comment as the idiot Reporter for the SF Chronicle that claims all the X-men comics and movies are thinly veiled Gay Rights manifestos.

That's pretty arguable, I'd say. I mean, maybe not all ever, but certainly many modern X-Men comics can be interpreted in the light of gay rights the same way they original '60s/'70s X-Men comics were interpreted as pro civil rights.

[balamoor]

You know I think what most folks fail to see is that everyone is just as intolerant as the other. The hypocrisy is so thick you would need a sturdy Pouland Chain saw to cut it.

I have friends of different sexual Orientations and Faiths, and one thing I have found all of them are intolerant and bigoted in one form or another. No one is clean were all little Hitlers in one form or another.

[Freethis]

Not everyone who reads it believes it. Hell, I'm a strident agnostic and I enjoyed a few of the books. They're decent fiction. It's not like everyone who reads Harry Potter thinks they can cast magic spells...

I'm not saying everyone who reads this book is ready to pick up a rifle and kill a secular humanist for Christ, but even if the number is closer to 1% it's still a scary ass number of people, and I'm betting the number is higher than 1%.

And no, the books are not decent fiction. They are utter shite on the level of a Danielle Steel novel for people with an 8th grade reading level.

[ddbrown30]

This is obviously satirical. The game is meant to make fun of the extremist Christians. I wouldn't be surprised if the game itself is full of political commentary.

[Xerxes]

Yeah cause that was what the story of David and Goliath was all about? :rolleyes: That is as stupid a comment as the idiot Reporter for the SF Chronicle that claims all the X-men comics and movies are thinly veiled Gay Rights manifestos.


WE'RE HERE, WE'RE MUTANT, GET USE TO IT...

Prof. X: She's the only known level 5 homosexual alive.
:rolleyes:

[balamoor]

That's pretty arguable, I'd say. I mean, maybe not all ever, but certainly many modern X-Men comics can be interpreted in the light of gay rights the same way they original '60s/'70s X-Men comics were interpreted as pro civil rights.



X-men promotes being acceptance of differences so anyone can use those comics to attach their pet Agenda to, form Gay rights, To Civil Rights, to Teen Rebellion, to Wiccans. And all of them are missing the point. Tolerance of those with different viewpoints than yours, no one is all good or all evil, it's the decisions we make that make us who we are and it's never to late to change that for good or bad.

Simple message...lost in social Bullshit.

[balamoor]

WE'RE HERE, WE'RE MUTANT, GET USE TO IT...

Prof. X: She's the only know level 5 homosexual alive.
:rolleyes:



Yes and the Paint chip eaters in my English lit class were Right too.

Frodo and Sam were "Queer" :rolleyes:
Walt Whitman wanted to fuck his brother
Lewis Carol was a shroom head.
Hess was "Queer" (Not English lit but correlations were made between him and Poe..who as also "Queer")
And Steinbeck was a Fucking Pinko Commie. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Oh I almost Forgot Earnest Hemmingway, was the last great Americian writer. :rolleyes:

[GunnyMo]

Yeah cause that was what the story of David and Goliath was all about? :rolleyes: That is as stupid a comment as the idiot Reporter for the SF Chronicle that claims all the X-men comics and movies are thinly veiled Gay Rights manifestos.

Um, I was actually talking about the part of the game where the characters, who are children throw rocks at Philistines.

Nowhere did I mention David and Goliath.

And didn't you hear? Colossus is gay! Manifesto ahoy, girls!

Ass. :rolleyes:

[Rirath]

That's pretty arguable, I'd say. I mean, maybe not all ever, but certainly many modern X-Men comics can be interpreted in the light of gay rights the same way they original '60s/'70s X-Men comics were interpreted as pro civil rights.

Ya know, I couldn't help thinking about that during the 3rd movie. It just seemed so blatantly obvious. I really wanted some serious Mutant vs Sentinel all out battling for survival type stuff from that movie, not some 'cure for the disease' vs 'we're how we were made' social garbage.

As for this game, bleh. I'm a 'mainstream' Christian and I don't find this particularly offensive, just stupid. If I found it offensive I wouldn't be much better than the people who find Manson or GTA offensive. Violent and bigoted stuff can be fun... like Maddox. The real difference is when it's not entertainment, it's a mission statement. This and the books fall strictly into 'entertainment', though you can argue all you'd like about the quality of that.

And yeah, I've been insulted by evangelical types before. Nothing new, they're as against /everyone else/ as they can be. They're proud of it, and they sleep well at night knowing they're in the right. Same deal as just about any other fundamentalist. Scary, but nothing new.

[absolut taco]

I'm sure Left Behind is a bastion of tolerance, compassion and humility.

:rolleyes:
Surely something that the kid from Growing Pains endorses can't be all bad...
By the way, here he is proving that god exists:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5479410612081345878
:rolleyes:

[Kefkataran]

No one is clean were all little Hitlers in one form or another

You said Hitler in a forum thread! You lose the internet! (Also, there's a difference between being somewhat prejudiced or having preconceived notions about people in certain groups and being "little Hitlers". Seriously.)


X-men promotes being acceptance of differences so anyone can use those comics to attach their pet Agenda to, form Gay rights, To Civil Rights, to Teen Rebellion, to Wiccans. And all of them are missing the point. Tolerance of those with different viewpoints than yours, no one is all good or all evil, it's the decisions we make that make us who we are and it's never to late to change that for good or bad.

That's correct, but how are they missing the point? I mean they'd miss the point if they'd say that's the ONLY reason X-Men exists, but I still think calling it "social bullshit" is, well, bullshit at best.

And wait, wait, wait, Lewis Carroll wasn't a shroomhead, but he probably used opium at LEAST sometimes. Man, I don't even know what you're being sarcastic about any more.

[GunnyMo]

You said Hitler in a forum thread! You lose the internet! (Also, there's a difference between being somewhat prejudiced or having preconceived notions about people in certain groups and being "little Hitlers". Seriously.)


lol Kef. Nice. I believe these days it is pronounced Hilter for those who are more sensitive.

[Xerxes]

Surely something that the kid from Growing Pains endorses can't be all bad...
By the way, here he is proving that god exists:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5479410612081345878
:rolleyes:

Holey Shitz... Kirk Cameron? This is as bad when Buddy from Charles in Charge turned into Bibleman, then somehow turned into a "bad ass" on the VH1 show about has beens...

[Kamalot]

Wrong. :rolleyes:

linky http://www.leftbehind.com/channelnews.asp?pageid=1285&channelID=17
Oh good. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Kamalot]

That's pretty arguable, I'd say. I mean, maybe not all ever, but certainly many modern X-Men comics can be interpreted in the light of gay rights the same way they original '60s/'70s X-Men comics were interpreted as pro civil rights.
I just saw the latest X-Men movie last night. It was funny, part-way in I realized you can substitute "mutant" with "gay" in most of the conversations and get the same meaning across.

[GunnyMo]

I just saw the latest X-Men movie last night. It was funny, part-way in I realized you can substitute "mutant" with "gay" in most of the conversations and get the same meaning across.

Wow, I completely missed that. Seriously, that is so true. lol :D

[Kamalot]

And this is the link that BoingBoing.net referenced...

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/5/29/195855/959

Time magazine has described Mr. Warren as one of the nation's most influential Evangelical Christian leaders. He describes himself as a "stealth evangelist" and describes his training programs as "a stealth movement, that's flying beneath the radar, that's changing literally hundreds, even thousands of churches around the world." He claims that he has sold tens of millions of copies of The Purpose Driven Life by developing a worldwide network of pastors.

This game immerses children in present-day New York City -- 500 square blocks, stretching from Wall Street to Chinatown, Greenwich Village, the United Nations headquarters, and Harlem. The game rewards children for how effectively they role play the killing of those who resist becoming a born again Christian. The game also offers players the opportunity to switch sides and fight for the army of the AntiChrist, releasing cloven-hoofed demons who feast on conservative Christians and their panicked proselytes (who taste a lot like Christian).

Is this paramilitary mission simulator for children anything other than prejudice and bigotry using religion as an organizing tool to get people in a violent frame of mind? The dialogue includes people saying, "Praise the Lord," as they blow infidels away.

As part of its marketing pitch, Left Behind Games hypes the realism with which it portrays the neighborhoods of New York City. There is, for the most part, a remarkable verisimilitude except for one detail - all of the ambulances have 911 painted on their roofs. In the reality-based world, most ambulances have a red cross on top. Yet the game designers make prominent use of these 911 ambulances to evoke the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The historical context of 911 is invoked as if to say, We are living in the End Times, and Muslims are among the kinds of infidels whom you should fear, whom you should be prepared to kill for your cause.

For game enthusiasts, there is also a multi-player mode, in which you can go online and battle to take territory from other players. If you happen to blow away a neutral party - and collateral damage is inevitable in the End of Days - then you will lose "Spirit Points". But you can power back up with merely a brief timeout for prayer, or by converting one of New York's terror-stricken citizens.

On the one hand, this video game is anti-American, because it endorses roving death squads engaged in faith-based violence without any regard for Constitutional law. On the other hand, the video game is anti-Christian, because it argues that the Kingdom of God can be advanced by using the methods and tools of the kingdoms of this world, namely guns and bombs.

[GrinR]

This whole post is a mess. The cited article quotes another article (dead link) which is making editorial comments about the game?

Here's my question: What is the game actually like?

I'm amazed at the response here to (apparently) something JACK THOMPSON said as if it were a meaningful comment about a videogame. "murder simulator" anyone?

[balamoor]

You said Hitler in a forum thread! You lose the internet! (Also, there's a difference between being somewhat prejudiced or having preconceived notions about people in certain groups and being "little Hitlers". Seriously.)

I was going to use Stalin or McCarthy...but nothing says Troll like Hitler. :rolleyes:



That's correct, but how are they missing the point? I mean they'd miss the point if they'd say that's the ONLY reason X-Men exists, but I still think calling it "social bullshit" is, well, bullshit at best.

That's the basic point Kefkster some folks are saying it's only about the plight of the gays myopic no?

And wait, wait, wait, Lewis Carroll wasn't a shroomhead, but he probably used opium at LEAST sometimes. Man, I don't even know what you're being sarcastic about any more.

:cool: Yeah... I have a tendency for that.

[Xerxes]

I just saw the latest X-Men movie last night. It was funny, part-way in I realized you can substitute "mutant" with "gay" in most of the conversations and get the same meaning across.

And with Jugs looking like a giant penis, who would know the difference if you dubbed the word mutant to homosexual?!?!

He looked like a fucking mascot.

[balamoor]

Holey Shitz... Kirk Cameron? This is as bad when Buddy from Charles in Charge turned into Bibleman, then somehow turned into a "bad ass" on the VH1 show about has beens...

Yeah it seems to be happening all over...someone told me Ann Rice has joined the God squad? :rolleyes:

[Sternn]

I'd only play it if I could play this character

http://www.rickybones.com/shotgun_jesus.png

or at the very least this guy

http://www.brownalumnimagazine.com/photos/1199elms.preacher.white.jpg

"And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious
rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall
lay my vengeance upon them" BLAM BLAM BLAM

[Xerxes]

Why not, it's just some random hispanic dude.

[Butters66]

Yes and the Paint chip eaters in my English lit class were Right too.

Frodo and Sam were "Queer" :rolleyes:
Walt Whitman wanted to fuck his brother
Lewis Carol was a shroom head.
Hess was "Queer" (Not English lit but correlations were made between him and Poe..who as also "Queer")
And Steinbeck was a Fucking Pinko Commie. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Oh I almost Forgot Earnest Hemmingway, was the last great Americian writer. :rolleyes:

1. Frodo and Sam - Damn straight. If they weren't packing each other's dumpster, then no one is gay, ever.

2. Hemmingway - Not really. There are no great American authors, well maybe Mark Twain, if he wasn't so gay. (See below.) The last good author was Jonathan Swift.

3. You forgot about Huck and Jim and how they got it on on the raft. Interracial sex no less.

[balamoor]

1. Frodo and Sam - Damn straight. If they weren't packing each other's dumpster, then no one is gay, ever.
We had an extremely knowledgeable scholar of the works of Tolkien a J. Paul Iossi Phd. who Visited our campus (This was way back in 84 before the movies were even talked about)

The relationship between Sam and Frodo was allegorical of the Relationship of the Bateman (SP?) (An English Officers assistant) and the average English officer of WW I, in today’s society both Gay rights advocates and homophobes are really quick to jump on the "He's gay!!!" bandwagon of any form of close friendship between two men. So yeah the average Joe today yells gay…but that wasn’t the intent. Still the public demands Brokeback Bilbo. :rolleyes:

Just as the pipeweed wasn’t Marijuana , that derived out of Tolkiens obsession with Tobacco, but Revisionist insist on having both of these topics thier way …scholars however know better. So Frodo was a Dope smoking Ass Pirate. and always will be in ignorance that is western pop culture.



2. Hemmingway - Not really. There are no great American authors, well maybe Mark Twain, if he wasn't so gay. (See below.) The last good author was Jonathan Swift.

3. You forgot about Huck and Jim and how they got it on on the raft. Interracial sex no less.

Yep let’s just say that everyone is either drilling the Hershey highway or seriously considering it and leave it at that...welcome to Gayworld population us. :rolleyes:

[Kefkataran]

That's the basic point Kefkster some folks are saying it's only about the plight of the gays myopic no?

In that case, I agree. Yeah, if people say it's ONLY about one thing, that's crazy. Nothing is ever only about one thing. Hell, even if the author supposedly intended it to be, that just never works.

The last good author was Jonathan Swift.

Hahaha. Butters66 should win an award for taking anti-contemporary nostalgia-mongering to the next level.

[gzsfrk]

It never fails to sadden me (as a Christian and a human being) when most any article with a reference to Christianity comes up, how many posters quickly generalize all Christians as being intolerant, bigotted, haters of those who do not believe as they do, when the very act of generalizing Christians as such makes said posters guilty of exactly that for which they accuse the Christians.

[Returner]

It never fails to sadden me (as a Christian and a human being) when most any article with a reference to Christianity comes up, how many posters quickly generalize all Christians as being intolerant, bigotted, haters of those who do not believe as they do, when the very act of generalizing Christians as such makes said posters guilty of exactly that for which they accuse the Christians.

I don't know what it's like where you live but here in Orange County most Christians are assholes. Not all of them mind you but most of the ones I meet are some of the rudest people I have ever met.

[Butters66]

We had an extremely knowledgeable scholar of the works of Tolkien a J. Paul Iossi Phd. who Visited our campus (This was way back in 84 before the movies were even talked about)

The relationship between Sam and Frodo was allegorical of the Relationship of the Bateman (SP?) (An English Officers assistant) and the average English officer of WW I, in today’s society both Gay rights advocates and homophobes are really quick to jump on the "He's gay!!!" bandwagon of any form of close friendship between two men. So yeah the average Joe today yells gay…but that wasn’t the intent. Still the public demands Brokeback Bilbo. :rolleyes:

Just as the pipeweed wasn’t Marijuana , that derived out of Tolkiens obsession with Tobacco, but Revisionist insist on having both of these topics thier way …scholars however know better. So Frodo was a Dope smoking Ass Pirate. and always will be in ignorance that is western pop culture.





Yep let’s just say that everyone is either drilling the Hershey highway or seriously considering it and leave it at that...welcome to Gayworld population us. :rolleyes:


1. I don't really think that they were gay, especially in the books. I think it is one of those things that gets translated poorly to the big screen. I thought the way Sam talked about Frodo in the movies was a bit much.

2. Now to put on my Devil's avocate hat... I wish I could remember what author this was, but he hated growing up in the British school system of isolating Boys and Girls from each other at prep school. He said, and I have no way of knowing if this was true, that that prep system lead to a lot of homosexual activity between the students that would often carry on in life.

3. Now taking the hat off again... God, I wish I could remember this better, but there is a latin term that equates to what you are talking about. People say all the Greeks were gay, especially the Spartans, but really only a few were... The type of love you are talking about was first "classifed" relating to them. We just lost that in the rush to say everyone was gay throughout history.

4. We forget how important smoking (tobacco) was in the past. It was central to being a gentleman. Thank goodness we lost that habit, and smoking is for stoners on the grassy knoel.

Personally, I like to have fun with this type of topic. It pushes buttons in a good way, as long as no one gets really offended or too serious about it.

Peace.

[Blue]

First off, I like what gzsfrk just said, even if I can't pronounce his name.

Anyhow, I read the first three books and thought they were okay. I have a good friend who loves them, but I just couldn't get into the series. The writing isn't very good, even for "popcorn book" standards and it was like crawling uphill trying to get through it, so I stopped. That and the fact that - like watching Titanic - I know how it ends, my interest dropped altogether. If people find solace, hope, whatever in the books, I say more power to them. My personal problem came when the series was over (can't remember the title of the last book) and then, less then a year later, they released a prequel about the Antichrist's mother and his birth. It was already bordering cash-cow (though, mind you, I don't know the authors nor their actual intentions, so I won't get into personal attacks), but that really put it over the edge to me.

Just went on a bit of a rant there....anyhow:

I'd be curious to see how the game turns out. Not entirely sure how it would work within the world the authors created, but I wouldn't be opposed to downloading a demo to give it a whirl. Not a huge RTS person to begin with though. My only real beef with this game, is that we're edging, again, into that prequel territory where it's no longer making some of the prophetic books accessible to people who don't want to wade through Revelations but rather - it seems - being done simply to drive sales. I suppose I can't fault someone for wanting to give their audience more of something they obviously enjoy, but the motives seem suspect to me. I dunno.

[Kamalot]

It never fails to sadden me (as a Christian and a human being) when most any article with a reference to Christianity comes up, how many posters quickly generalize all Christians as being intolerant, bigotted, haters of those who do not believe as they do, when the very act of generalizing Christians as such makes said posters guilty of exactly that for which they accuse the Christians.
Don't people vilify many people based on a movement's most extreme, and noticeable, factions?

Environmentalists are a bunch of tree-huging, blood-slinging, PETA hippy freaks?

Pro-life people are terrifying doctor-killers?

Americans are assholes cause they invade other countries.

All mutants are ‘bad’ because Magneto and his brotherhood are scary terrorists?

I'm not stating these as fact, but as perceptions brought about by extreme actions of a few.

[Blue]

Don't people vilify many people based on a movement's most extreme, and noticeable, factions?

Environmentalists are a bunch of tree-huging, blood-slinging, PETA hippy freaks?

Pro-life people are terrifying doctor-killers?

Americans are assholes cause they invade other countries.

All mutants are ‘bad’ because Magneto and his brotherhood are scary terrorists?

I'm not stating these as fact, but as perceptions brought about by extreme actions of a few.

I don't get what you're saying. Are you giving the okay for furthering that mindset? Cause that doesn't make a bit of sense.

Do some people do that? Sure. Do I care what PETA does? Not really. More often than not, the ones who get face-time with the media are the ones that are interesting and, by most human standards, interesting usually consists of being way left of center. I mean seriously, are we really that uneducated to be that terribly influenced by the actions of a few? That's like it being okay to attack Muslims because - obviously - some of them are crazy so the whole religion must be bunk.

[Kamalot]

I don't get what you're saying. Are you giving the okay for furthering that mindset? Cause that doesn't make a bit of sense.

Of course not. I'm simply saying that the most extreme branches of a train of through always seem to discolor the whole perception of the movement. Good or bad, that's the way it is.

My understanding of Christianity has never involved slaying infidels, but I could have been misinformed. I thought Christianity involved 'turning the other cheek'.

[gzsfrk]

I don't know what it's like where you live but here in Orange County most Christians are assholes. Not all of them mind you but most of the ones I meet are some of the rudest people I have ever met.

I live in Tennessee (as you can see underneath my name to the left) and my experience is that the vast majority of Christians I deal with are compassionate, helpful, friendly, and easy-going.

On the other hand, most of the northeasterners ("Yankees", if you will) or Left-Coasters I run across who are either visiting or have migrated here are generally some combination of rude, angry, ill-tempered, elitist, discourteous, and/or antagonistic. Do I then use that to justify myself generalizing that most if not all New Yorkers and Californians are obnoxious heathens? No--I don't make that assumption about any individual or about the group as a whole. I give them the change to prove themselves either way based on what they do or say. My experiences with them are simply anecdotal, and very well may not represent the whole fairly. It would be a fallacy on my part to draw strong conclusions about a group based on my limited interaction with a few of its members.

Inversely, suppose my only knowledge of the KKK revolved around some members of the group coming and helping rebuild my grandmother's home following Hurricane Katrina (not that this happened to me specifically, but the group does perform some charitable work amongst their own). Would my perception of them as a noble, charitable group be either justified or correct? Certainly not.

[Blue]

Of course not. I'm simply saying that the most extreme branches of a train of through always seem to discolor the whole perception of the movement. Good or bad, that's the way it is.

My understanding of Christianity has never involved slaying infidels, but I could have been misinformed. I thought Christianity involved 'turning the other cheek'.

Ah, gotcha. That I agree with. And right, any Christian who wants to run around killing people for whatever reason needs to do a serious self-check and not allow themselves to get on television.

[gzsfrk]

My understanding of Christianity has never involved slaying infidels, but I could have been misinformed. I thought Christianity involved 'turning the other cheek'.

"Turning the other cheek" is not, by my understanding, synonymous with sitting idly by and allowing yourself to be slaughtered. I've never read the Left Behind series, but from what I understand, the battles in this game will revolve around a Christian "resistance" (the Tribulation Force) who fight back against the Anti-Christ who is attempting to destroy the Judeo/Christian presence from the world.

While there is certainly very little in the way of Biblical accuracy in these movies, the Bible -does- contain a story of God's people fighting back to defend themselves; try reading the book of Esther (it's actually a great read, regardless of your spiritual affiliation, or lack thereof).

Again, I haven't read any of the books, but I very much doubt that in any of them the "resistance" is seeking to destroy Catholics, Buddhists, Atheists, et. al.. That quote from the article sounded very much like sensationalism in an antagonistic review. Of course, we won't know for certain until the game is released.

[Vallo]

I just have to say, I'm really surprised how many people joined in on villifying this game without bothering to follow the link trail and find out what was really going on. Really, it's not that tough. If you do follow the links, it's easy to see how the original article being quoted is just more fanatic misinformation on the Jack Thompson level, overreacting about a videogame with violence in it. It even directly quotes him to support their point. The only interesting thing about this is that Jack has transitioned from bashing stuff by Rockstar to going after a "Christian" game, because the makers dared to do a game with religious elements but don't subscribe to his particular brand of beliefs. The actual game isn't even news anymore, it's been talked about quite a bit by now. Looks interesting too, considering it's practically nothing like what that article describes. I mean, come on, this quote alone is totally made up:

"The game rewards children for how effectively they role play the killing of those who resist becoming a born again Christian."

From what the designers have said, you actually suffer a penalty every time your units have to resort to combat, since the point is to avoid as much killing as possible. And "role-playing"? It's an RTS game, for crying out loud! Obviously whoever wrote that is just doing exactly what we all loathe ol' Jack for doing. In other news, something good has come of it all! If you notice, the article mentions that Jack has severed ties with his publisher, Tyndale Publishing, due to their licensing the project. Less JT books in print ftw!

PS. C'mon Kamalot, you can do better than this. Check it out before posting, man!

[absolut taco]

Environmentalists are a bunch of tree-huging, blood-slinging, PETA hippy freaks?

Pro-life people are terrifying doctor-killers?

Americans are assholes cause they invade other countries.

All mutants are ‘bad’ because Magneto and his brotherhood are scary terrorists?
Thanks, man. Stereotypes are a real timesaver.

[GunnyMo]

It never fails to sadden me (as a Christian and a human being) when most any article with a reference to Christianity comes up, how many posters quickly generalize all Christians as being intolerant, bigotted, haters of those who do not believe as they do, when the very act of generalizing Christians as such makes said posters guilty of exactly that for which they accuse the Christians.

It is a sad fact of humanity that you have to live the the stereotype your are given by your choices.

Am I an angry white supremicist male who dominates women? Not in the least but it's what I have to deal with. Black people at my store in the hood have accused me of racism simply because I enforced a policy that I would enforce no matter what the color of someone's skin. I was pulled aside at the Cincy airport a couple years back because I had a shaved head and tattoos and had a one way ticket to Atlanta. Just because I appear to fit "The Man" stereotype doesn't mean it's true but I deal with it.

You either learn to deal with stereotypes, because they will always be there, or just don't associate yourself with that particular group. Sad but true.

[Lord_Don]

Thanks, man. Stereotypes are a real timesaver.
From Taylorsville AND funny, what are the chances?

It's funny I had the knee-jerk "OMG the religious nutjobs want to murder us heathens," reaction at first as well. Reading comments from moderate Christians has restored my faith in humanity.

We may not believe the same thing, guys, but you're ok by me.

[Zeal]

This entire thread is extremely biased. Boingboing.net's 'preview' of the game also intentionally obscures the facts surrounding it.

Not like I'm bothering with the game or anything though.

[Mason]

From LA Times:

The game's heroes belong to a group of fighters called the Tribulation Force, people whose husbands, wives or children disappeared in the Rapture. This is the moment referred to in the title when, some Christians believe, God calls the faithful to Heaven, leaving the rest behind to face seven years of tribulation.

The game is set in New York City, where the Tribulation Force clashes with the Antichrist's Global Community Peacekeepers in a tale that makes the United Nations a tool for Satan. Each side attempts to recruit lost souls in the battle for the city. "Eternal Forces" is a so-called real-time strategy game — players act as battlefield generals for their virtual armies, deciding where to place units and when to order attacks or retreats.

In the game, Tribulation squads unleash the usual arsenal against the Antichrist: guns, tanks, helicopters. But soldiers lose some of their spirituality every time they kill an opponent and must be bolstered through prayer. The failure to nurture good guys causes their spirit points to drop, leaving them vulnerable to recruitment by the other side.

The player's choices prompt intervention by angelic forces or unleash demons who feast on the faithful. As players progress through the increasingly difficult levels, they see Scripture passages presented as secret scrolls and hear inspirational music.

In multiplayer games, participants can choose to command the Antichrist's forces.

Not exactly the "Kill all Jews" that BoingBoing or Jack Thompson make it out to be, but still plenty offensive. Only in a dumb and exploitative sense, though, as it's just an RTS that sells itself through politics rather than gameplay. The people who'd buy it already think the UN is the devil and that they're on a path to a showdown with the secular world, so what's there to worry about?

[Kefkataran]

It never fails to sadden me (as a Christian and a human being) when most any article with a reference to Christianity comes up, how many posters quickly generalize all Christians as being intolerant, bigotted, haters of those who do not believe as they do, when the very act of generalizing Christians as such makes said posters guilty of exactly that for which they accuse the Christians.

Yeah, it's unfortunate that this happens, just as its unfortunate that there ARE such loud-mouthed intolerant, biggotted Christians. I'm lucky enough to have grown up hardcore Roman-Catholic (ugh, and I don't often consider that lucky, trust me), so I was around a nice mix -- lots of Christians who were great people and had an amazing influence on my life in the most positive ways possible... and lots who were absolutely horrible, who I wouldn't want let near my children or loved ones.

[Zeal]

Religion and videogames just don't mix, and I say this as a Christian and Republican.

Same with politics.

[Kefkataran]

Religion and videogames just don't mix, and I say this as a Christian and Republican.

Same with politics.

hmm... I think there's maybe a place for them... just probably not so much on forums online.

[Zeal]

What I mean is that I find the entire concept of "Christian Videogames" a bit silly. Can one not be a Christian and simply play videogames? It's comparable to creating a genre of games specifically for whites and another for blacks. Silly.

Ultimately, it's just a way to exploit a group of people.

[Vallo]

What I mean is that I find the entire concept of "Christian Videogames" a bit silly. Can one not be a Christian and simply play videogames? It's comparable to creating a genre of games specifically for whites and another for blacks. Silly.


Yep, QFT. I'm pretty sure it's not all exploitation, though, some people just want to make a statement and for some reason think that's a good medium to do it in.

[Kefkataran]

What I mean is that I find the entire concept of "Christian Videogames" a bit silly. Can one not be a Christian and simply play videogames? It's comparable to creating a genre of games specifically for whites and another for blacks. Silly.

Ultimately, it's just a way to exploit a group of people.

Whoa... that's actually... a really good point. Wow. You're right. *nod*

[absolut taco]

From Taylorsville AND funny, what are the chances?

It's funny I had the knee-jerk "OMG the religious nutjobs want to murder us heathens," reaction at first as well. Reading comments from moderate Christians has restored my faith in humanity.

We may not believe the same thing, guys, but you're ok by me.
Chances: Slimmer than Warren Jeffs!

Are you on Live?

[AversionFX]

Silly religious people, always trying to subjugate others to their retarded, outdated ideals.

[balamoor]

From LA Times:



Not exactly the "Kill all Jews" that BoingBoing or Jack Thompson make it out to be, but still plenty offensive. Only in a dumb and exploitative sense, though, as it's just an RTS that sells itself through politics rather than gameplay. The people who'd buy it already think the UN is the devil and that they're on a path to a showdown with the secular world, so what's there to worry about?


The U.N. is NOT the Devil. The WTO is. Oh and Jesse McCartney is the Anti Christ.

[laggerific]

Since only Rush Limbaugh will buy it, this will die almost as quickly as it should have.

Seriously, Hannity, Rush all these people have huge selling books...not because individuals rush out to get their latest Bo'reilly fix, but because organizations, fanatics, etc. buy them up and give them away...I see that being easily the case with this software title...freaky.

I remember when I watched Zardoz...I bought a bunch of DVDs and gave them to friends...

[ezra]

Wow, how absolutely fucking disgusting. Encouraging a very powerful, vocal, and growing part of society to hate people are different than them? What an absolutely great idea! This could not possibly lead to anything terrible.

[Blue]

Silly religious people, always trying to subjugate others to their retarded, outdated ideals.

You do realize you're doing the exact same....nevermind. Close-mindedness is all the rage.

[Schnoogs]

You do realize you're doing the exact same....nevermind. Close-mindedness is all the rage.

Since when was objective thought an outdated ideal? Last time I checked science was more recent than religion.

[Blue]

Since when was objective thought an outdated ideal? Last time I checked science was more recent than religion.

Objective thought isn't. Christianity and all other religions are still a form of objective thought. Wasn't referring to that. Re-read what he said.

[ezra]

Since when was objective thought an outdated ideal? Last time I checked science was more recent than religion.

Closed-mindedness to blatant lies is still closed-mindedness!

[Schnoogs]

Objective thought isn't. Christianity and all other religions are still a form of objective thought. Wasn't referring to that. Re-read what he said.

How is Christianity a form of objective thought? It's based on faith and isnt shy about it.

[Blue]

I'm allowed to freely look at what I'm shown/given (via the Bible, other religious texts, whatever) and make my own belifs out of it. I'll admit that I'm a little left of center when it comes to Christianity as I don't like to get bogged down in the religion of the thing, so my personal definition of Christianity or religion as a whole might very well be different from what it should actually be (in terms of defining objective thought within it). I agree with you that Christianity is faith-based, but I don't think it should be entirely. Faith is too often a crutch for people and when someone gives them an idea they can't wrap their head around or refuse to wrap their head around, they automatically revert back to faith. Objective thought within Christianity for me is pulling apart what my parents taught me, what modern Christianity has taught and is teaching me, and making my own path out of it.

I don't know if I explained that well.

The close-mindedness that I was referring to, however, stems from an unncessary attack (I feel) for no apparent reason. I don't care if you believe in God, Jesus, or even watermelon. I'll absolutely listen to whatever anybody has to say and if you're being honest with me, then I fully respect what you think and want to know more just so I have a better understanding. What I don't get is a knee-jerk reaction that automatically belittles another's beliefs without any real point for said attack.