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  1. #1
    I was just wondering if other people of faith who play Far Cry (and other first person shooters) feel that these games might not be good to play? Is there a "moral" boundry that is being crossed?

    The reason I ask this is because I consider myself a pacifist and yet I enjoy playing Call of Duty, Far Cry, Joint Opps, ect. For most people this question might seem silly and only worth mocking but it is something that I've been thinking about for awhile.

    For me this is a honest question and I'm not putting this up for an argument.
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  2. #2
    I was just wondering if other people of faith who play Far Cry (and other first person shooters) feel that these games might not be good to play? Is there a "moral" boundry that is being crossed?

    The reason I ask this is because I consider myself a pacifist and yet I enjoy playing Call of Duty, Far Cry, Joint Opps, ect. For most people this question might seem silly and only worth mocking but it is something that I've been thinking about for awhile.

    For me this is a honest question and I'm not putting this up for an argument.
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  3. #3
    As long as playing these games doesn't translate into real-world violence or other problems for a person, I don't see how it could hurt anything. If you're letting your pet or children starve to death because you're sitting at the computer all day, then that's certainly an issue.

    As far as you killing people in a game, consider this: you aren't in the game. You're sitting in front of your computer looking at the screen. You aren't killing people, you're pushing a button on the mouse or keyboard that sets the player_fire variable in the game code to 1, checks the current angle of the player's viewpoint, and subtracts some number from the enemy_health variable. In other words, all you're actually DOING is pushing a button on a peripheral attached to a finite state machine which is simulating something that you can identify with on a visceral and intellectual level.

    In other words, it's just an illusion. Is participating in that illusion bad? Well, there's something to be said for awareness. As long as you know that it's an illusion, then it won't harm you. Remember, you're just sitting in front of a computer, watching some changing patterns on a screen and pushing buttons. There's no tangible thing that could be "bad" about that situation, is there?

    "Stuff your eyes with wonder... live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories." - Ray Bradbury
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  4. #4
    but what if the persons in question took a particular pleasure in virtually murdering people?

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    purple alert! purple alert!...........what's a purple alert?.......well...it's not as bad as a red alert but a bit worse then a blue alert, maybe a mauve alert

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  5. #5
    i suppose, as long as your pleasure only comes from destroying virtual people, and, as buddhagamer said, doesn't translate into your life in "the reasl world" it's not a problem. i personally love going into these games, and especially GTA: VC, and just destroying everything in sight; however, I would never even thing of doing anything of the sort out in the world. i am very aware that what I am participating in is only a game, an illusion. i am alos a religious person (catholic if ou care), but i see no conflicts between these kinds of games and my faith, because it is only a game. it is not anything i would ever do i nreality, so i don't think it would be feasible to say that "killing" computer-generated "people" is wrong.

    i would, however, say that it is a problem is a person uses games like this as a gateway to more sinister things. and unfortunately it has happened. that does not mean that these kinds of games should be removed from the market, though...just because some teenagers thought blowing people away for real just like in their games would be cool, that doesn't mean the games themselves are the problem. in a situation like that, i would look very intently at the kids' parents, and onwder why they let their children become so engrossed in this virtual world that they began to think it and the real world were one. people like that make me nervous...and we need to make sure our generation understands the difference between reality and illusion, or someday these games and the effects they have on society will be bad and wrong.

    lol sorry for the long and slightly off-topic rant-ish)post!!!!!

    "Those who have long enjoyed such priveleges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them." --Franklin D. Roosevelt
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  6. #6
    im a person of deep faith. but i dont feel playing any said 'video game' is against that faith. then again, most of the fps games out there are from a 'good guy' POV. When i played KOTOR (yes not an fps) i played light side first time. The second time i played, i tried playing dark side, and i just... couldnt do it. I felt too guilty. Funny.

    But anyways i personally do not beleive that playing a said game, merely for personal entertainment is against the faith.

    HOWEVER, if said game puts you in the position of someone who is intentionally and/or knowingly doing things that are against that faith for no good reason, (Grand Theft Auto, Hitman Contracts, Postman) basically games that are nothing but mindless killing without purpose, then i think that is a little bit, shall i say, outside the faith?

    I'm not saying i never tried out those games. But i am saying i tried them once, and havent touched them since. And i asked God for forgiveness afterwards.

    Thats just my POV. Of course in the end its all between you and God.

    ==================================================

    Community Manager | 2D Artist for Renegade X: The Dead 6
    Web Developer for RenEvo Software and Designs
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  7. #7
    gta gives joy because of our simple happienesss out of seeing civillization destroyed. well maybe not happiness but fascination, of pushing people and things to their limits. like woah that car just exploded and crushed someone. you're not happy because someone died (well you might be, but thats your problem :P), the way i see it the fascination comes from seeing something totally unusual and different, something you wouldnt see (or at least have some control over) outside of a computer game with physics.

    maybe however u load up gta. u get a lil gun. u shoot someone. they scream and run away. soon, when they get out of your sight, they dissapear, and someone might load up to replace them. all around you a computer pattern of life is living, and you might think you're having fun cos its jus like real life. but of course it isnt, you see no emotion in their face, or feel the doubt in your mind as your finger has to press in on a trigger. you might see some red liquid spurt out or a scream, but you wont feel a rush of adrenaline and fear with butterflies in your stomach.

    but i wonder whatll happen when games get mega realistc... when you can be the murderer and see it and believe it

    _____________________________
    if it looks like i am free it is becuse i am running

    max... dearest of all my friends!
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  8. #8
    the way i feel is that if you can commit mindless killing in a video game, MINDLESS, then it reflects on where you are spiritually.

    Mindless killing for no reason is just that.

    Theres a difference between saving civilization for the sake of fellow man, and destroying it for personal satisfaction.

    ==================================================

    Community Manager | 2D Artist for Renegade X: The Dead 6
    Web Developer for RenEvo Software and Designs
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  9. #9
    This is a tough one. When I look at the beatitudes and Jesus says that we should look at ourselves and strive to emulate Him. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom...blessed are the peacemakers...blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. This pulls one away from playin' a game and killing people (even if it is only make believe).

    Everyone would agree that we shouldn't murder people (well, most people would think that). But Jesus goes a step further and says that if anyone is angry with someone then we are subject to judgment.

    I'm just trying to work this all out. But something that has bothered me, is the whole "as long as it if fantasy" logic, that says that playing games like manhunt can be fine, because its not real violence, and just fantasy. I would find it hard to believe that Christ would play a fps with me if he were around (I didn't say WWJD because that whole thing bothers me to a degree).

    I don't know. I have a kickin' computer and can play almost any game on "very high" settings. I enjoy fps games but certain things bother me about them. I'm still not sold on the fact that these games are ok if you just keep them in your mind. It's ok to kill Germans (in games) because they are the "bad" guys. Just before Christ died he prayed for the people who beat him up and inflected much pain on him.
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  10. #10
    i agree. i mean to a certain extent. like i said before, 'make-beleiving' that you are killing people to save the human race is cool. make beleiving that you are killing people for drug deals is not.

    ==================================================

    Community Manager | 2D Artist for Renegade X: The Dead 6
    Web Developer for RenEvo Software and Designs
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