Are violent video games sinful?

[ResoluteSheep]

Hi all, this question recently came to mind. Apparently from what I’ve read up, there is a 50/50 view of this. Some say it is purely designed for entertainment and it’s okay to play them, while others say violence even in a video game is sinful. I asked a Priest at my Church and he said if it has the least bit of violence in it, it is at least a venial sin to play it. Thoughts?

 

[Garyjohn2]

I’m no expert, but I see them the same as TV shows. What are you filling your head with? What are you doing with your time?

Relaxation and recreation are good for us. At the same time, if you can use your time more wisely or recreate in a way that improves yourself more – then you should do that instead.

A “sin” means, in the original Greek, to miss the mark. Off target. Therefore, anything less than the best choice or the perfect choice, is the sinful choice…however venial or superficial that may be.

I pray most days for God to guide me and help me make the best use of my free time…whatever that may be.

 

[Mary_Estelle]

I would say that watching violent or aggressive videos numbs the mind, therefore the spirit. Your brain becomes insensitive to the (name removed by moderator)ut in your little computer that sits upon your neck. Remember the old saying; “Garbage in, Garbage out?” When you become jaded to the pain, suffering and violence around you, you let loose the little demons that influence our daily choices and actions. You will say “Not me,” but Yes, you, too. It is like the fungus growing in the refrigerator. Insidious and growing 'till you open up the container and see what is growing there. I would contend that violence breeds violence, even if it is in a video. What would you say and how do you look at it? Peace.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

Hi all, this question recently came to mind. Apparently from what I’ve read up, there is a 50/50 view of this. Some say it is purely designed for entertainment and it’s okay to play them, while others say violence even in a video game is sinful. I asked a Priest at my Church and he said if it has the least bit of violence in it, it is at least a venial sin to play it. Thoughts?

Yes, listen to your priest.

 

[Binto]

I play violent games and it’s not on my conscience. I, however, DO OTHER THINGS. It can’t be your only recreational outlet. Temperance us key. My college pastor understood this. He said as long as your life had a balance of, you know, “mindless” and “fruitful” you’re probably going to be OK. Just don’t sit there playing them for for eight hours a day five times a week, like a lot of people I know. Not healthy.

 

[MaryT777]

I play violent games and it’s not on my conscience. I, however, DO OTHER THINGS. It can’t be your only recreational outlet. Temperance us key. My college pastor understood this. He said as long as your life had a balance of, you know, “mindless” and “fruitful” you’re probably going to be OK. Just don’t sit there playing them for for eight hours a day five times a week, like a lot of people I know. Not healthy.

This sounds very reasonable and well balanced.

Mary.

 

[pianistclare]

Sorry, but I agree with everyone else.
Violence is not a good form of entertainment.

 

[victrolatim]

What kind of violence are we talking about? I think there is a general difference between a first person shooter shooting fantasy creatures, one shooting other human beings and things like Mario and Luigi jumping on a Koopa.

 

[Binto]

I think, objectively speaking, some people will be fine playing them. Others won’t. It depends on the person

 

[ProdglArchitect]

What kind of violence are we talking about? I think there is a general difference between a first person shooter shooting fantasy creatures, one shooting other human beings and things like Mario and Luigi jumping on a Koopa.

As an avid gamer, THIS!

I’d say that violence like the Mortal Kombat games is gratuitous, overly graphic, unnecessary, and probably a little sinful. Stuff like the Elder Scrolls games is somewhere in the middle, not overly gratuitous, but still fairly violent at times. Mario and the like are not really violent at all…

I think it depends on the purpose of the violence. MK and similar exist to relish in the violence as it’s own form of entertainment. Other games utilize it as a necessary reality of the game’s context (RPG and the like), and other circumvent any real sense of violence at all and are pretty much harmless.