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Lapsed
Guest
Only if you sucuumb to their addictive nature. Used wisely, they are harmless.
Heh, I miss Pong, the first videogame I ever played.
Hmm…Pong is a gateway drug!
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Heh, I miss Pong, the first videogame I ever played.
Hmm…Pong is a gateway drug!
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rocklobster
Guest
Only ones like Grand Theft Auto are what I consider “evil”.
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rocklobster
Guest
If they’re a sin, then so’s reading Harry Potter 
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mellysue
Guest
Fireman,
I totally hear you. My DH used to manage a video game store and he had a strict policy on age requirements. All of his employees carded. And if a parent was buying the game for the child the employee had to list to the parent all the things that the game had in it. So they could not come back and say they weren’t informed.
I’ve watched time after time a mother/father buy GTA 3 for an 8 yr old and be told that it contains language, violence, sex and drugs and they buy it anyway.
That is a travesty. And then this same mom will come into the store and yell about the Hot Coffee incident.
I totally hear you. My DH used to manage a video game store and he had a strict policy on age requirements. All of his employees carded. And if a parent was buying the game for the child the employee had to list to the parent all the things that the game had in it. So they could not come back and say they weren’t informed.
I’ve watched time after time a mother/father buy GTA 3 for an 8 yr old and be told that it contains language, violence, sex and drugs and they buy it anyway.
That is a travesty. And then this same mom will come into the store and yell about the Hot Coffee incident.
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Ryan_King
Guest
Video games, in moderation, are acceptable. There are two caveats I should like to mention. Firstly, a person who plays video games to excess, to the extent that this activity interferes with one’s relationship with God or family, or other responsibilities, would be guilty of the sin of sloth, and possibly, idolatry. Secondly, not all video games are created equal. Video games are much like books, movies, and other media, in that they may be – and sometimes, are – used to communicate agendas. Not all of these agendas are good. One video game I played presented depictions of God and the Devil that promoted Manicheism and Deism. Another game I played depicted a religion, much like the Catholic Church (complete with organ music and saints, and the use of the label “church”) which was, in truth, a front for diabolical conquest of the world. Grand Theft Auto (which I know only by reputation) is but one of the worst examples of bad video games.
Overall, not only are video games not intrinsically evil, they can be a positive good. As C.S. Lewis stated in the Screwtape Letters, God meant us to enjoy legitimate pleasures of this world. These real pleasures can prove to be excellent antidotes to the false pleasures with which the Enemy may tempt us. A person who indulges in a pleasant (wholesome) activity, for no other reason than because he enjoys it, and will do so regardless of what others have to say, is least likely to fall into sin. Thus, it is the nature of the Enemy to close off avenues of wholesome fun (by making them seem insipid, or by degrading them, or the like) in order to tempt us more easily into activity that is actually sinful.
To those who regard video games as a waste of time, I reply, echoing Lewis, that the enjoyment one derives thence (when they are played in moderation) and the resulting insulation against temptation to sin, is sufficient justification.
I hope this helps,
Ryan King
Overall, not only are video games not intrinsically evil, they can be a positive good. As C.S. Lewis stated in the Screwtape Letters, God meant us to enjoy legitimate pleasures of this world. These real pleasures can prove to be excellent antidotes to the false pleasures with which the Enemy may tempt us. A person who indulges in a pleasant (wholesome) activity, for no other reason than because he enjoys it, and will do so regardless of what others have to say, is least likely to fall into sin. Thus, it is the nature of the Enemy to close off avenues of wholesome fun (by making them seem insipid, or by degrading them, or the like) in order to tempt us more easily into activity that is actually sinful.
To those who regard video games as a waste of time, I reply, echoing Lewis, that the enjoyment one derives thence (when they are played in moderation) and the resulting insulation against temptation to sin, is sufficient justification.
I hope this helps,
Ryan King
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rocklobster
Guest
Actually, there is at least one video game that has a message compatible with Christianity: Kingdom Hearts . In it, the main character, Sora, never once gives up on his friend, Riku, who has joined the evil characters on the game. In the end, his efforts do not prove fruitless. And yet, it’s still an entertaining game. See? There’s still hope for games. 
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JoshTanney
Guest
Ok so i was playing a video game and theres bad people on it and there trying to create a universe or something would it be a sin to play it?
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Malcolm_McLean
Guest
Not normally. It is possible to produce a blasphemous or pornographic video game, or one with excessive violence. But just a “you are God” or “blast the baddies” premise wouldn’t make a game morally dangerous. The vast majority of video games are perfectly innocent, or as innocent as art produced by sinful human beings can be.
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Madaglan
Guest
Do you think that playing violent video games (e.g. war games, shooting games, blood-and-guts games, etc.) is a sin?
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Carthusianish
Guest
I agree with this stance.it is really like capturing a pawn in chess but with better graphics
I can’t see how the game itself could be sinful
it is an exercise of the mind, a way to socialise, and build hand-eye coordination.
the problem of course, like many other things, is when you do it to much that it distracts you from your priorities
anything in excess can be a problem
I would also add that anything in a game that is pornographic is, well, pornography and is on the same scale as that.
Games are entertaining and entertainment in and of itself is, yes, pointless, but it helps us relax and enjoy life a bit. I don’t think it is inherently evil unless you consider all entertainment so.
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Madaglan
Guest
Ooops. Amnesia. Didn’t remember that I created a thread with the same basic question several years ago.
But I’m curious because of what Pope Benedict XVI recently has commented about violence in media, such as games.
But I’m curious because of what Pope Benedict XVI recently has commented about violence in media, such as games.
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Reynardus
Guest
I don’t remember the quote word-for-word but from what I remember, I got the impression the Pope was referring to games that GLORIFY violence. Games which leads people, especially the youth into the mistaken assumption that anti-social activities are cool and worth emulating. The GTA series and some other notables are probably what he had in mind.
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Larowyn
Guest
Why would it be sinful? You’re just playing a game. If it was some kind of porn game it would be a different story.
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dotcomrefugee
Guest
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excaliber
Guest
I have played from my early child hood.
I don’t think the simulation itself is sinfull. the violence is less graphic then movies, and playing them is no more sinfull then watching a movie.
But they can take up time.
And if a person is violent in nature,
then THEY should not play because
they would be feeding there violent nature.
I don’t think the simulation itself is sinfull. the violence is less graphic then movies, and playing them is no more sinfull then watching a movie.
But they can take up time.
And if a person is violent in nature,
then THEY should not play because
they would be feeding there violent nature.
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excaliber
Guest
Head shots take more skill. But the simulation canot be harmed regardless of where you shot them.
The game itself is not real…however, if you enjoy real violence then the game would strengthen a sinfull desire
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excaliber
Guest
Head shots take more skill. But the simulation canot be harmed regardless of where you shot them.
The game itself is not real…however, if you enjoy real violence then the game would strengthen a sinfull desire
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gam3rchic
Guest
In a word, no.
being that I’ve played all of the above games and quite enjoy my hobby…
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Sam_Maloney
Guest
‘Monopoly’ is evil-- glorifies greed.
‘Clue’ is evil-- makes murder a source of amusement.
‘Sorry’ is evil-- the very name encourages hypocrisy.
‘Snakes and Ladders’ is evil-- clear satanic references.
‘Hungry Hungry Hippos’ is evil-- glorifies gluttony.
‘Poker’ is evil-- encourages unjust distribution of wealth.
‘Pinnochle’ is evil-- teaches that ‘double marriage’ is OK.
‘Chess’ is evil-- only the king has real value, pawns are nothing.
‘Checkers’ is evil-- encourages you to ‘jump’ [wink, nudge] the opponent.
Oh, and eating, drinking, and breathing are evil, too: You really should leave those resources for people less sinful than yourself.
‘Clue’ is evil-- makes murder a source of amusement.
‘Sorry’ is evil-- the very name encourages hypocrisy.
‘Snakes and Ladders’ is evil-- clear satanic references.
‘Hungry Hungry Hippos’ is evil-- glorifies gluttony.
‘Poker’ is evil-- encourages unjust distribution of wealth.
‘Pinnochle’ is evil-- teaches that ‘double marriage’ is OK.
‘Chess’ is evil-- only the king has real value, pawns are nothing.
‘Checkers’ is evil-- encourages you to ‘jump’ [wink, nudge] the opponent.
Oh, and eating, drinking, and breathing are evil, too: You really should leave those resources for people less sinful than yourself.
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Scourgeblade777
Guest
I think we should get the Pope’s opinion about this cause I’m really confused.
I think there should be more Christian Themed video games. These themes should include things like demon slaying and witch hunting. Some games are totally pagan. The game Guild Wars has a feature where you kneel to a statue of a pagan god to get special powers. Also, World of Warcraft’s warlock class and Guild War’s necromancer class have references to the occult. For example, the warlocks in World of Warcraft call upon the power of demons in the twisting nether. That just doesn’t sound right. I thought Warcraft was one of the coolest games ever until I realized this.
I think a big problem with violent video games is that younger kids play them and some of those games are just way too voilent. Also, some video games with violence, such as MMO games, can have bad influences. I’ve played MMO games and there are strange people there. They spread sin around really fast by cursing out the enemy guild. Before I took may faith seriously I did this a lot. They also talk about human sexuality in a demeaning way.
For now, I think voilent video games could be a sin, and I think they *can *cause people to sin. If played with moderation at a mature age, I’m still not sure. I hope God reveals to me if it is. .
I think there should be more Christian Themed video games. These themes should include things like demon slaying and witch hunting. Some games are totally pagan. The game Guild Wars has a feature where you kneel to a statue of a pagan god to get special powers. Also, World of Warcraft’s warlock class and Guild War’s necromancer class have references to the occult. For example, the warlocks in World of Warcraft call upon the power of demons in the twisting nether. That just doesn’t sound right. I thought Warcraft was one of the coolest games ever until I realized this.
I think a big problem with violent video games is that younger kids play them and some of those games are just way too voilent. Also, some video games with violence, such as MMO games, can have bad influences. I’ve played MMO games and there are strange people there. They spread sin around really fast by cursing out the enemy guild. Before I took may faith seriously I did this a lot. They also talk about human sexuality in a demeaning way.
For now, I think voilent video games could be a sin, and I think they *can *cause people to sin. If played with moderation at a mature age, I’m still not sure. I hope God reveals to me if it is. .
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