Are Religion and Gaming Mortal Enemies? (by Mike Gingras)

[sharkey360]

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As a gamer, i've found myself constantly defending my hobby, including how I spend my disposable income and debating on whether videogames are art. Even I, however, am very reluctant to enter into the following discussion. I've actually tried to avoid writing this blog, but with all the negativity around these days, I felt it was something worth discussing.

It is not unusual to see various religious groups criticizing videogames. Since this country is predominantly Christian in philosophy and dogma, it is this religious group that leads the attacks more times than not. From the recent post at 1Up showing a small group in Maine criticizing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, to the older discussions against movies like The Da Vinci Code and the Golden Compass (which were turned into games as well), gamers and religious groups seem to be constantly at odds with one another.

For those who have read my blog before, you know that I always try to pose a question. Today, that question is: Can you be religious and a gamer at the same time?

More at Musings of a Gamer: Are Religion and Gaming Mortal Enemies?

[karwren]

I think the question should be, Can you be a Christian and a gamer (playing the games you play now) at the same time?

Not so keen into gaming online but here's my take on it. As a Christian, how does gaming (playing the games you play now) align to being Christ's follower (Its what Christianity is about) ? What does God's word say about playing the games you play?. If the answers to these questions does not violate you as Christ's follower, then i don't think there's a gap between it, but if on the contrary it is, then it is the Christian gamers decision what to do about it.

[LightBearer]

they are not mortal enemies, what do these people want? a parlor game? joke!!!

[Tirong-say]

Anything nga sobra na makadaot gyud, both categories are not exempted...........IMHO

[LightBearer]

ang question ana tirong-say is dili man if sobra or dili but the nature of the game itself.

[Tirong-say]

ang question ana tirong-say is dili man if sobra or dili but the nature of the game itself.

Ang game for recreation, pastime, amusement etc........they should not give further meaning to that, for me it's meaningless, only something to ease boredom, mao ray purpose ana........

[FreezedEntity]

Ang game for recreation, pastime, amusement etc........they should not give further meaning to that, for me it's meaningless, only something to ease boredom, mao ray purpose ana........

i admit it, im a MMORPG adik.. basta sobra lang gali, bad najud na...

[jamesmusslewhite]

YES YES YES, I seriously game, and my son games. I have never seen hit points or Jesus or Moses or encountered combat melee with them in any games I have played before, and I have played a lot of games over the last 20 years. I am Christian and know they do not know what they are actually talking about. They are foolishly repeating someone else's words, with no first hand knowledge.

You said that older people look down on you because you are an experienced dedicated gamer. In the US they have found that regular gaming actually is very healthy for you. It increases one's eye-and-hand coordination while stimulating parts of the brain that increases cognitive reasoning and improves one's ability to better distinguish between different color shade. Gaming improves one color vision to the point that it actually improves one's driving abilities during bad weather or poor light conditions. Surgeons game to improve their surgical skills, and so do many other professions. Airline pilots, boat captains, and astronauts all use simulators to increase their skills. The US military actually encourages gaming to maintain mental sharpness and training. So if it is good for Surgeons, jet Pilots, ship Captains, Astronauts, and US Marines than it should be good enough for you too. So do not pay them any attention, they do not like you gaming because they know that they can't game.

Let them sit around and watch their TV, eat and drink beer. They will become fat vegetables with jelly brains in their old age. You on the other hand will be an 80 year old lean mean sharp gaming machine...Play hard and keep your thumbs nimble...hehehe

[emailroy2002]

Gaming is not a sin and thats it...

what do these religious groups wants us to do? give them dontation everyday? and pray all day long, and read bible, kneel and close our eyes mumbling prayers...

what else do they want us to do.. become a saint?

if all people do that this world will crumble...

[sharkey360]

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