False Religions in Video Games, Moral or not?

[Bobby_Jim]

I personally thought the “religion” (if you would call it that) of the Ultima series was interesting. Nothing too objectionable, in that it quite literally enshrined virtue, and was pretty well thought out for a computer game religion and (at least in Ultima 4, 5, and 6) straying too far from the path of virtue could keep you from winning the game.

 

[janeway529]

There is a game that I’ve played called ‘Okami’, which I consider a respectful game in terms of Shinto beliefs. The Kingdom Hearts series isn’t bad either.

 

[Baelor]

There is a game that I’ve played called ‘Okami’, which I consider a respectful game in terms of Shinto beliefs. The Kingdom Hearts series isn’t bad either.

Okami is amazing. One of my favorite games ever!

“False religions” are different from “fictional religions.”

 

[Razanir]

I actually thought of another variety of video game religion that deserves mention: Real-world religion in name only.

In the latest Civilization games (awesome series, by the way), they’ve added religion. At least in V (my personal favorite), the name of the religion (Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Protestantism, Judaism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Islam, etc.) (yes, those are all options) is really just that– a name. You get to pick a few broad beliefs that give different in-game effects. For instance, when I play, I’ll be Ethiopia founding Catholicism and believing in fertility rites, pagodas and religious artwork. But the thing is, it’s not trying to be offensive by making religions so different from their real-world counterparts. The core concept of the entire series is rewriting history, where only names matter (Ethiopia often builds the Oracle when I play, for instance). So with that background, it doesn’t feel offensive– just a natural continuation of the theme of the game as a whole.

 

[IvanHR]

I actually thought of another variety of video game religion that deserves mention: Real-world religion in name only.

In the latest Civilization games (awesome series, by the way), they’ve added religion. At least in V (my personal favorite), the name of the religion (Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Protestantism, Judaism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Islam, etc.) (yes, those are all options) is really just that– a name. You get to pick a few broad beliefs that give different in-game effects. For instance, when I play, I’ll be Ethiopia founding Catholicism and believing in fertility rites, pagodas and religious artwork. But the thing is, it’s not trying to be offensive by making religions so different from their real-world counterparts. The core concept of the entire series is rewriting history, where only names matter (Ethiopia often builds the Oracle when I play, for instance). So with that background, it doesn’t feel offensive– just a natural continuation of the theme of the game as a whole.

We could play sometime. I’m not a pro though, and I know that, if we were to play, we’d need a lot of time.

Oh, and can I continue multiplayer sessions some other time (can I save the current status, like in HOMM)? Cheers.

 

[Kamaduck]

I actually thought of another variety of video game religion that deserves mention: Real-world religion in name only.

In the latest Civilization games (awesome series, by the way), they’ve added religion. At least in V (my personal favorite), the name of the religion (Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Protestantism, Judaism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Islam, etc.) (yes, those are all options) is really just that– a name. You get to pick a few broad beliefs that give different in-game effects. For instance, when I play, I’ll be Ethiopia founding Catholicism and believing in fertility rites, pagodas and religious artwork. But the thing is, it’s not trying to be offensive by making religions so different from their real-world counterparts. The core concept of the entire series is rewriting history, where only names matter (Ethiopia often builds the Oracle when I play, for instance). So with that background, it doesn’t feel offensive– just a natural continuation of the theme of the game as a whole.

We could play sometime. I’m not a pro though, and I know that, if we were to play, we’d need a lot of time.

Oh, and can I continue multiplayer sessions some other time (can I save the current status, like in HOMM)? Cheers.

LOL. I used to be obsessed with Civilization III, but I never won because I couldn’t stand to declare war on my neighbors without a just cause. I always got stuck trying to win the space race.

In Civ III, different religious beliefs count as scientific achievements- for example, you must research polytheism before leaving the ancient era, and must research monotheism before unlocking the printing press and education, among other things.

 

[Razanir]

LOL. I used to be obsessed with Civilization III, but I never won because I couldn’t stand to declare war on my neighbors without a just cause. I always got stuck trying to win the space race.

I try to do that. But sometimes the reasons become “heavy panting Okay, I need to retreat. Be back in 10 turns with a larger army.”

On the other hand, I also start wars to defend the weak. Like one time Japan tried marching an army past me to attack a city-state. I ambushed them, pushed them back into a retreat, and wound up taking one of their cities in retribution.

 

[Ne_OrangeKnight]

When I played Civ 4, I only ever converted to Christianity. Fictional computer people have the right to hear the Gospel, too, don’t they?

(Of course, I don’t think that there’s anything necessarily immoral about choosing a different religion in the context of a video game like this.)

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight

 

[Timi_Celcer]

I play Age of mythology sometimes and Runescape. Runescape has fictional gods and Age of mythology has false gods. But no gods in this games are presented as the truth. And that what i think matters. They are just there for fun, nobody expects you to believe in those things

 

[RinoaHeartilly]

I see that this thread is kind of old so I don’t know if I’ll see a reply, but I’ll ask my question anyway.
In some games such as Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy Tactics (mentioned before) the religion in the game is portrayed in a negative light, so would it be considered sinful to play these games, even if it is recognized that these religions are fictional and in no way reflect the church? Should all FF games be avoided? Just a thought.

 

[Ne_OrangeKnight]

I see that this thread is kind of old so I don’t know if I’ll see a reply, but I’ll ask my question anyway.
In some games such as Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy Tactics (mentioned before) the religion in the game is portrayed in a negative light, so would it be considered sinful to play these games, even if it is recognized that these religions are fictional and in no way reflect the church? Should all FF games be avoided? Just a thought.

I can see by your user name that this is an important question to you.

No, it’s intrinsically immoral to play such games. On the one hand, we can appreciate the fight against legitimately false gods, evil people (or other beings, whatever) who have duped people into worship that which is not God.

On the other hand, the subtext (or often non-sub-text) of a lot of JRPGs is the message that we don’t need gods, and that religion is bad. Of course, it would be wrong to play such games because they are anti-religious. If you’re playing these games with the thought of, “Hey, cool! I get to destroy the Church!” then there are problems. On the other hand, these games often have legitimate artistic, entertainment, and (in some circles) cultural value. I still really like FF Tactics for its class and combat systems. But I know enough to accept what is good and reject what is clearly bad. It’s not causing me any spiritual harm.

Think of the movie The Godfather. It’s a movie that that arguably portrays murder, mafia violence, and revenge in at least a somewhat favorable light (but I’m not looking to debate that issue). However, it is still a highly regarded film, and probably worth seeing for other reasons.

Also, one should definitely not avoid all Final Fantasy games. Only X and Tactics have deicide and blasphemy as plot devices (although VII has large swaths of immorality). IV, V, and VI are all extremely morally upright games. IV is a story of redemption and forgiveness as characters must conquer inner darkness and embrace the light. VI is a grand story of human tragedy whose central theme of hope is ultimately realized in the end. V is a silly little game, really, but one about good people who keep striving to do the right thing. I’m looking forward to sharing those games with my son in a couple years, once he’s old enough to appreciate them a bit more (he’s almost two-and-a-half, now).

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight

 

[colliric]

here is a random fact, the NES legend of zelda originally had Christianity associated with it. notice the cross on the link sprite’s shield.

that being said, i feel game developers want to avoid real world references like religion to avoid controversy. the only time i see fictitious religions as morally offensive, is when its a parody of a real world religion portrayed in a bad light.

Actually that game is the reason why this happened. Nintendo got flooded with complaints because of the NES Legend Of Zelda, and began to enforce, using their infamous “Seal Of Quality” guidelines, the rule(on the developers) that imagery from real religions should be avoided.

Castlevania is the only NES series that was excluded from this rule.

 

[RinoaHeartilly]

I can see by your user name that this is an important question to you.

No, it’s intrinsically immoral to play such games. On the one hand, we can appreciate the fight against legitimately false gods, evil people (or other beings, whatever) who have duped people into worship that which is not God.

On the other hand, the subtext (or often non-sub-text) of a lot of JRPGs is the message that we don’t need gods, and that religion is bad. Of course, it would be wrong to play such games because they are anti-religious. If you’re playing these games with the thought of, “Hey, cool! I get to destroy the Church!” then there are problems. On the other hand, these games often have legitimate artistic, entertainment, and (in some circles) cultural value. I still really like FF Tactics for its class and combat systems. But I know enough to accept what is good and reject what is clearly bad. It’s not causing me any spiritual harm.

Think of the movie The Godfather. It’s a movie that that arguably portrays murder, mafia violence, and revenge in at least a somewhat favorable light (but I’m not looking to debate that issue). However, it is still a highly regarded film, and probably worth seeing for other reasons.

Also, one should definitely not avoid all Final Fantasy games. Only X and Tactics have deicide and blasphemy as plot devices (although VII has large swaths of immorality). IV, V, and VI are all extremely morally upright games. IV is a story of redemption and forgiveness as characters must conquer inner darkness and embrace the light. VI is a grand story of human tragedy whose central theme of hope is ultimately realized in the end. V is a silly little game, really, but one about good people who keep striving to do the right thing. I’m looking forward to sharing those games with my son in a couple years, once he’s old enough to appreciate them a bit more (he’s almost two-and-a-half, now).

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight

Thanks for this response, it’s really well put! I just want to be as careful as possible with regards to what media I expose myself to, and make sure it’s all morally okay.
And yeah, the FF series is kind of important to me; I played some of the games when I was going through a tough time with my family.

 

[DMC12]

well, about the first stuff, i would like to mention that the movie hercules on catholicnews.com it got a A-I rating, meaning it is recomended even for children, and they are quite strict.

the thing I see is that things in fiction should also be seen in that context, lets say that in a game or movie there are good wizards, but there are other gods or rules there, lets say that in that world the god that rules it, lets people do magic stuff, then its ok there.

and our duty is to tell apart reality from fiction, in fiction it might be not bad to do sorcery because the rules of that world let’s them, but in the real world the real rules forbides us to do so.