Respect for the other religions

[ThinkingSapien]

A local video game company had made a game and realeased it for beta testing and it is getting some complaints from some Hindus along with complaints from Catholic and Jewish leaders. The game took gods from various pantheons (Chinese, Ancient greek, Norse, ancient Egyptian, and 3 Hindu gods) and pits them against each other (note: the game maker made it known he never has any intention of using figures from the abrahamic faiths).

I wasn’t surprised to see some complaints from some Hindus asking that the figures be removed from the game. I was a little surprised to see that some Catholic and Jewish leaders complained.
Father Charles T. Durante:

Respect for religious practice and beliefs is a basic tenet of our land. When using religious images in commercial media basic respect calls for understanding the teachings behind those images. This need is only heightened when using a religion’s supreme images. I would hope that understanding and respect will bring a mutual agreement honoring these Hindu concerns.

The impression that I’m getting from this is that there is some level of respect for just about all religions. Is this the case? If not in general where is the line drawn for when a religion is or is not to be held as respectable?

 

[empther]

The impression that I’m getting from this is that there is some level of respect for just about all religions. Is this the case? If not in general where is the line drawn for when a religion is or is not to be held as respectable?

The proper respect for other religions is not respect for their erroneous theologies but the their believers’s honest attempt to find the truth.

We can certainly criticize the multitude of gods in Hinduism, but must commend the Hindus for believing in something.

As for that game,
some people will do anything for money.

 

[BListon]

I respect others’ religions because I expect them to respect mine. " Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

 

[meltzerboy]

A local video game company had made a game and realeased it for beta testing and it is getting some complaints from some Hindus along with complaints from Catholic and Jewish leaders. The game took gods from various pantheons (Chinese, Ancient greek, Norse, ancient Egyptian, and 3 Hindu gods) and pits them against each other (note: the game maker made it known he never has any intention of using figures from the abrahamic faiths).

I wasn’t surprised to see some complaints from some Hindus asking that the figures be removed from the game. I was a little surprised to see that some Catholic and Jewish leaders complained.

The impression that I’m getting from this is that there is some level of respect for just about all religions. Is this the case? If not in general where is the line drawn for when a religion is or is not to be held as respectable?

First of all, with respect to Hinduism, it is a misconception to say that this religion believes in a multitude of gods. Secondly, and most important, why would one be surprised that Catholic and Jewish leaders have complained about this insult to Hinduism, as well as to Chinese religions? It is a principle of many religions that one should respect other people’s faiths, even if one does not agree with them. More religious leaders should be outraged by this.

 

[Fone_Bone_2001]

A local video game company had made a game and realeased it for beta testing and it is getting some complaints from some Hindus along with complaints from Catholic and Jewish leaders. The game took gods from various pantheons (Chinese, Ancient greek, Norse, ancient Egyptian, and 3 Hindu gods) and pits them against each other (note: the game maker made it known he never has any intention of using figures from the abrahamic faiths).

That’s just tacky and really insensitive. Not cool, and not classy.

The impression that I’m getting from this is that there is some level of respect for just about all religions. Is this the case? If not in general where is the line drawn for when a religion is or is not to be held as respectable?

It’s not a matter of respecting erroneous beliefs themselves. Objecting to this game’s inclusion of Hindu deities does not necessarily indicate approval of Hinduism.

It’s just plain tacky and disrespectful to use in this manner deities that real people genuinely worship.

 

[ThinkingSapien]

First of all, with respect to Hinduism, it is a misconception to say that this religion believes in a multitude of gods.

As I understand it the various deities are said to be avatars or manifestations.

Secondly, and most important, why would one be surprised that Catholic and Jewish leaders have complained about this insult to Hinduism, as well as to Chinese religions?

Primarily because I’ve seen far more instances of people of different religions (or denominations) not speaking not so positively of the beliefs of another group.

It is a principle of many religions that one should respect other people’s faiths, even if one does not agree with them.

I think some one may have communicated that to COO of Hi-Rez games. Based on his response I don’t think it was understood as intended.

More religious leaders should be outraged by this.

I get the feeling that more outraged responses would contribute to more popularity for the game. When EA released the game “Dante’s Inferno” several years back it’s reported they staged a protest against the game (which got it more press). Those most likely to play the game are less likely to be offended by the concept.

There’s been quite a few games based on both modern and ancient religions. But they largely seem to go unnoticed.

 

[BListon]

I thought Dante’s Inferno looked pretty cool. I loved the Inferno by Dante. (The story)

 

[Spirithound]

If not in general where is the line drawn for when a religion is or is not to be held as respectable?

I would not hold this as a case for respecting religions, but for respecting people. A lot of people are going to get upset if somebody depicts their gods fighting each other.

 

[ThinkingSapien]

I thought Dante’s Inferno looked pretty cool. I loved the Inferno by Dante. (The story)

If you are conservative in the least you may not want to look further. Many of the characters in hell are without clothing and anatomically correct. At least until you get to the level of hell reserved for those that were lustful, then they become anatomically exaggerated.

 

[xzereus]

I definitely understand the concern with the inclusion of these gods in the game, but I doubt many of those who are offended have actually played the game (or any game for that matter).

These feelings of offense are probably relatable to the feelings of offense that many, many conservatives feel toward video games and other forms of technology in general. These feelings have arguably existed with every new technology and form of entertainment that has come to the market.

The game does not portray any disrespect for any of the gods. In fact, a short bio/lore is given for each of the gods, allowing players to learn more about the deities.

Regardless, I do understand the unique nature of this situation and understand why many may take offense to it. I’ll certainly reconsider my stance on the game prayerfully.

I thought Dante’s Inferno looked pretty cool. I loved the Inferno by Dante. (The story)

I made the mistake of trying the demo without hearing much at all about the game. The intro-sequence portrays a bare-breasted woman being born away by a devil. I stopped playing the game a bit later when I saw several other scantily clad succubi who attempted to ensare me in their vile temptations. Probably not a good game to play

 

[ThinkingSapien]

The game does not portray any disrespect for any of the gods. In fact, a short bio/lore is given for each of the gods, allowing players to learn more about the deities.

I fired up the demo last night. It;s a fairly simple game in the “Capture the Flag” genre. I was reading more of the objections from the non-Hindus and a reoccurring objection was that Kali was rendered in a manner that looked “pornographic” (she’s got a fairly thin strip of cloth that covers her nipples, but the rest of her breast were bare). I got the feeling that that specific objection was from unfamiliarity with the deity. In a lot of older Indian art Kali is topless and would be naked were it not for the “skirt” that she wears that is made from dismembered arms. There’s a lot of Indian art with figures that are naked but not necessarily sexual (some of the art is sexual, but nudity in the art form doesn’t always imply sex).

I made the mistake of trying the demo without hearing much at all about the game. The intro-sequence portrays a bare-breasted woman being born away by a devil. I stopped playing the game a bit later when I saw several other scantily clad succubi who attempted to ensare me in their vile temptations. Probably not a good game to play

Wow, so the demo was relatively conservative compared to the game!

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I don’t understand why they use the other gods but not Christian.

Kids play all sorts of video games with supernatural goings on. This doesn’t sound offensive to me, and as another poster mentioned at least you learn a little bit about the different dieties – comparative religions. In fact, if you want to know the truth, this game is just a formalization of the exact type of relationship most of the loyal members of each religion have. People sit around and argue on CAF all day about why this religion/god/concept is better than another. Doing it in video game is just an abstraction of the “my God is better than your god,” mentality expressed every day by millions.

Alan

 

[tskrobacz]

A local video game company had made a game and realeased it for beta testing and it is getting some complaints from some Hindus along with complaints from Catholic and Jewish leaders. The game took gods from various pantheons (Chinese, Ancient greek, Norse, ancient Egyptian, and 3 Hindu gods) and pits them against each other (note: the game maker made it known he never has any intention of using figures from the abrahamic faiths).

I wasn’t surprised to see some complaints from some Hindus asking that the figures be removed from the game. I was a little surprised to see that some Catholic and Jewish leaders complained.

The impression that I’m getting from this is that there is some level of respect for just about all religions. Is this the case? If not in general where is the line drawn for when a religion is or is not to be held as respectable?

One God, variously understood. If you are truly “Catholic” you can accept that God is active in all of creation and not partial to any single religion.

 

[ThinkingSapien]

I don’t understand why they use the other gods but not Christian.

In an interview the COO said he has no plans to use the Abrahamic figures because among other reasons they were humans and it wouldn’t make much sense to pit them against gods. At most he said he could imagine them being included as NPCs (Non Player Characters) that would be present to provide some guidance or other information.

Also (and this is my own opinion, not from the interview) I couldn’t really see putting a representation of Yahweh or Allah in such a game since neither is known for having power struggles with other deities. That doesn’t seem to be the case with the deities that I’ve looked up so far that are in the game.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

In an interview the COO said he has no plans to use the Abrahamic figures because among other reasons they were humans and it wouldn’t make much sense to pit them against gods. At most he said he could imagine them being included as NPCs (Non Player Characters) that would be present to provide some guidance or other information.

Also (and this is my own opinion, not from the interview) I couldn’t really see putting a representation of Yahweh or Allah in such a game since neither is known for having power struggles with other deities. That doesn’t seem to be the case with the deities that I’ve looked up so far that are in the game.

Thank you. :tiphat:

Alan

 

[xzereus]

In an interview the COO said he has no plans to use the Abrahamic figures because among other reasons they were humans and it wouldn’t make much sense to pit them against gods. At most he said he could imagine them being included as NPCs (Non Player Characters) that would be present to provide some guidance or other information.

Also (and this is my own opinion, not from the interview) I couldn’t really see putting a representation of Yahweh or Allah in such a game since neither is known for having power struggles with other deities. That doesn’t seem to be the case with the deities that I’ve looked up so far that are in the game.

Hrm… I think our God did something like that in I Kings 18:30-39

I think the real reason they aren’t using the Abrahamic figures is that few of them had real characteristics. The two big exceptions that come to mind are Samson and Moses (hair/staff), but they are not technically gods. Since the characters in the game are generically referred to as “gods”, it would be incorrect to include anybody but Jesus/the Father/Holy Spirit, and we don’t have many details about them.

 

[ThinkingSapien]

Hrm… I think our God did something like that in I Kings 18:30-39

I don’t think that was a struggle against another deity as much as it was apologetics with a demonstration. The “Prophets of Ba’al (בעל) and Asherah ( אֲשֵׁרָה)” made the positive assertion of Ba’al’s existence, but beyond this assertion there was no Ba’al interacting in the story. Only the idea of Ba’al. By contrast Elijah’s assertion of Yahweh’s existence was backed by an interaction that is said to with Yahweh.