Unholy row about computer game erupts
Why turn the other cheek when you can blast the heathen scum
instead?
By Nick Farrell: Thursday 14 December 2006, 15:25
A COMPUTER GAME for Christian kiddies which encourages them to kill
or convert non-Christians is coming in for a bit of stick across
the pond.
Left Behind: Eternal Forces is based on a series of novels, by Tim
LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. These books make use of a fairly creative
interpretation of the book of Revelation mixed with a mish-mash of
New Testament prophecy.
The plot is that Jesus has come back and taken most of his
followers in a first sweep, but carelessly leaves behind a few
Christians who have to face the armies of the devil.
In the game you have to kill or convert these forces of the
anti-Christ. While players lose "spirit points" every time they gun
down nonbelievers rather than convert them, they can earn these
back by having their character pray. So praying with your finger on
the trigger seems to be a perfectly good strategy.
Ironically, not unlike Doom, you do not get spirit points for
turning the other cheek, which was the way of most Christian
saints. Nor do you earn points by sitting down and holding a Church
fete which is the way of the Anglican Church.
The main issue is that the game is getting mainstream distribution
and is on sale in Walmart stores but opponents say it encourages
religious intolerance. It also teaches kids to think that the
secretary-general of the United Nations is the anti-Christ. Other
bad guys include rock stars and people with Muslim-sounding
names.
Much of the opposition to the game comes from some liberal
Christian groups who feel that mowing people down with guns is a
not good way to get on the right side of God. One church has plans
to picket Wal-Mart for flogging the game.
However, it may take a spot of divine intervention to get any kid,
Christian or otherwise to want to buy it. The game is reportedly
full of bugs and reviews have averaged about three out of ten. The
Maker of the game probably thinks the media is owned by the
anti-Christ rather than conclude the game is pants.
A spokesman for Left Behind Games said that the company's ultimate
goal in offering the game was to bring parents and kids together to
talk about the Bible. Odd really, last time we looked the New
Testament was a bit short on turning guns on unbelievers. But, then
again, it has been a while.
Interesting game leh...why to get the game ah?
