Watching and playing violent things

[pwlj_christ87]

Hello all,

I have a question regarding the faith and watching violent things, for example in video games, if the plot includes finding killers and searching for them, guns etc. this goes along the lines of violence in movies and tv shows…
what is the general consensus?

 

[RileyG]

I’ve watched violent movies and played violent video games in the past, and I also agree that they can be spiritually harmful and in some cases- sinful.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Hello all,

I have a question regarding the faith and watching violent things, for example in video games, if the plot includes finding killers and searching for them, guns etc. this goes along the lines of violence in movies and tv shows…
what is the general consensus?

I don’t see a problem with what you describe. I would even say the larger issue with media is just make sure it doesn’t interfere with your duties.

Of course, there’s the old cliche that if it’s going to tempt you to do it real life, best not to play then.

 

[Spencerian]

Modern video games often have strong morality tropes.

This is a good and bad thing, depending on the game. Among the worst, which encourages virtual acts of homicide among other things, are the “Grand Theft Auto” series. As a Catholic, I would avoid these or any other games where any acts, based in a real-world setting, compel or encourage you to do harm or choose immoral or criminal acts.

Fantasy and some military games often play to the positive sides of morality, often because they lean towards the virtuous principles where combat might occur. I play a game based on the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop games. Here, heroes fight against evil. You cannot create an inherently evil character and the game’s adventures align you to positive ends.

Any game can be abused and leave you harboring unnecessary feelings of aggression that could lead you to sin, but games aren’t sinful–a *person *is sinful. Like any other hobby or entertainment, you must make a conscious choice to avoid that which may lead you to sin.

Even if a game has wholly positive or morality-neutral tones, remember that excessive time in playing games could be morally poor as you are using time that could be spent in the real world, helping others, your family or yourself in true productive acts.

 

[pwlj_christ87]

well the game im looking towards is called "watch dogs’ and its similar to grand theft auto, a game which i despise and wont play due to its sinfulness… this one however might be the same , maybe i answered my own question

 

[MJJean]

Its a game. It’s not real life. As long as the gamer understands that the game is merely entertainment I don’t see the harm. Just don’t play so much you neglect people or responsibilities. Have fun!

 

[edwest2]

Entertainment has been redefined. I’m seeing more bloody violence and other evil - as opposed to self-defense - acts being committed. Watching violence that emulates just warfare is one thing. Watching violence where you just cut, hack or kill because that’s what the game offers - what’s the point? To level up? That’s not entertainment.

I’d stay away from things that portray violent things and dark things. It’s not just a game. As a professional storyteller, I can tell you that spending hours killing things for no particular reason or blowing things up to get points, lives, whatever, is wrong.

Entertainment should portray clear good and clear evil. And good, moral characters and good motivations are required.

Peace,
Ed

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Entertainment has been redefined. I’m seeing more bloody violence and other evil - as opposed to self-defense - acts being committed. Watching violence that emulates just warfare is one thing. Watching violence where you just cut, hack or kill because that’s what the game offers - what’s the point? To level up? That’s not entertainment.

Entertainment is defined by pleasure no matter what era. It just so happens that this time, pleasure is no longer exclusive to eating from the cake of high-culture philosophy.

Killing mobs on screen ala nice, big fat boom spell gives me great pleasure. While level-grinding is indeed boring, plenty of violent first-person shooters do actually demand a certain amount of skill. That area too is a great source of pleasure for many gamers. If you’re asking for a point, there it is. If you don’t like it, then it’s really just not your thing.

 

[antunesaa]

Entertainment has been redefined. I’m seeing more bloody violence and other evil - as opposed to self-defense - acts being committed. Watching violence that emulates just warfare is one thing. Watching violence where you just cut, hack or kill because that’s what the game offers - what’s the point? To level up? That’s not entertainment.

I’d stay away from things that portray violent things and dark things. It’s not just a game. As a professional storyteller, I can tell you that spending hours killing things for no particular reason or blowing things up to get points, lives, whatever, is wrong.

Entertainment should portray clear good and clear evil. And good, moral characters and good motivations are required.

Peace,
Ed

I very much agree with you. I think there’s nothing wrong playing a game (or watching a movie) in which either there are no moral values involved (like a puzzle) or the implied moral values are defensible (like a war game where you are given a mission in which your character can die but, in order to, say, destroy a communications tower, your character may have to kill). There is even a video games series (Metal Gear Solid) in which the strongest rewards are had when you can do your military-style mission without killing anyone. Another example would be the Uncharted series, where your character is an Indiana Jones kind of guy who encounters various crooks trying to kill him as he seeks archeological treasures. Of course there are always questionable aspects in most games, just like in movies, but overall I would take a relatively relaxed attitude on the subject.

Having said that, I would steer clear of the GTA series and perhaps Watchdogs, especially if you have children at home; they should not in any case watch you play.

 

[Petaro]

Psychologists have been studying the effects of violent games on children since the Bo Bo dolls experiments by Bandura in the 70s. These games encourage aggressive behaviour especially amongst boys, however it has also been shown that children can easily recognise the difference between reality and game playing and fantasy. Tom and Jerry; The roadrunner etc have not turned that generation into evil killers.
Games that are sexually violent or explicit are obviously in a different class, but the average shoot em up is pretty harmless unless you are mentally unbalanced.

 

[MJJean]

Psychologists have been studying the effects of violent games on children since the Bo Bo dolls experiments by Bandura in the 70s. These games encourage aggressive behaviour especially amongst boys, however it has also been shown that children can easily recognise the difference between reality and game playing and fantasy. Tom and Jerry; The roadrunner etc have not turned that generation into evil killers.
Games that are sexually violent or explicit are obviously in a different class, but the average shoot em up is pretty harmless unless you are mentally unbalanced.

 

[hakop]

Holy games are good, ones that are filled with edifying tasks and missions, not violence and sinfulness in virtual realities.
Realize that companies attempt to make these virtual lands and environments as realistic as they can, especially these recent games.
Don’t get swooped into a virtual world, it will misguide you and fill your mind with unholy and dark twisted ideals that the creators have put in there for immoral reasons. For shock-value, or because their publisher told them to do so for ulterior motives.
Beware evil video games, which the majority are.
They can do much damage to your psyche without you noticing, it can open you up to sin, by becoming enjoyable to you and your senses. Walk in the spirit, don’t take joy by these evil fantasies. You’re welcoming evil entities in this way.
You should not look for an outlet to cause sin, in any way. Not even in video games and virtual settings. Defeat the sin nature, don’t become like the masses who are unsaved and find joy and happiness in such empty and unedifying things. Seek a game where you can be edified by, by playing a morally virtuous and good character. with dialogue. These games will help you to serve God better, by attaching good things to your conscious and your psyche, without the evil twisted and dark things that most games have.

 

[edwest2]

Holy games are good, ones that are filled with edifying tasks and missions, not violence and sinfulness in virtual realities.
Realize that companies attempt to make these virtual lands and environments as realistic as they can, especially these recent games.
Don’t get swooped into a virtual world, it will misguide you and fill your mind with unholy and dark twisted ideals that the creators have put in there for immoral reasons. For shock-value, or because their publisher told them to do so for ulterior motives.
Beware evil video games, which the majority are.
They can do much damage to your psyche without you noticing, it can open you up to sin, by becoming enjoyable to you and your senses. Walk in the spirit, don’t take joy by these evil fantasies. You’re welcoming evil entities in this way.
You should not look for an outlet to cause sin, in any way. Not even in video games and virtual settings. Defeat the sin nature, don’t become like the masses who are unsaved and find joy and happiness in such empty and unedifying things. Seek a game where you can be edified by, by playing a morally virtuous and good character. with dialogue. These games will help you to serve God better, by attaching good things to your conscious and your psyche, without the evil twisted and dark things that most games have.

Well spoken. As we surround ourselves with edifying things and attach good things to our minds, we can have good, clean fun and help others see that they have an alternative to the dark. Which appears in a lot of ways in books, movies and other media.

Peace,
Ed

 

[hakop]

Well spoken. As we surround ourselves with edifying things and attach good things to our minds, we can have good, clean fun and help others see that they have an alternative to the dark. Which appears in a lot of ways in books, movies and other media.

Peace,
Ed

Thank you brother.

 

[edwest2]

Thank you brother.

You are welcome brother.

God bless,

Ed

 

[amrin]

Hello all,

I have a question regarding the faith and watching violent things, for example in video games, if the plot includes finding killers and searching for them, guns etc. this goes along the lines of violence in movies and tv shows…
what is the general consensus?

Personally, I’m not a big fan of violent games per se, Shooters, GTA and Watch Dogs are just not my thing. However, I do not see the problem in people playing the games (or whatching the movie / tv show) as long as they’re not too young or impressionable / sensitive in a way that would influence their real lives…