Pheonix wrote:FamilyFriendlyGaming wrote:
TheWampaKing wrote:
Games like halo come in mind for that.
And I think mature games do affect people, just in different ways. Some person may play something and it will screw them up psychologically, and some other person might play it and think "Wow, this is stupid". Anyway thats what I think about things like that. One thing that affects me in games is language actually. I've learned to control but when i played Gears of War the first time I actually found myself slipping a few times when I never did.
But things like violence in games doesn't bother me at all. I know some people say i'm desensitized, and I guess i am to digital violence because i can tell it's so not real. I've seen real dead bodies and mutilated people and the real thing freaked me out so much that i couldn't sleep for a month and a half. Anyway thats my 2 cents on the whole content thing.
What in your mind makes Halo good for a Christian? I ask because I look at Halo and I see this:
1. Do unto others before they do unto you - the opposite teaching of the Holy Bible.
2. Get revenge on your enemies - the opposite teaching of the Holy Bible.
3. The religious leadership is oppressive and evil. You must destroy them. - debatable on where the Holy Bible falls on that one. There are verses about letting God take care of the evil, and there are verses where some religious leaders are shown as bad.
What am I missing about Halo? Where is it reinforcing the teachings of the Holy Bible?
I really don't want to go into this too much, but I can't ignore this. I love Halo, and these points are stretching it just a tad. For one, Christians are called to fight in many different places in the Bible. Killing in self-defense or in wartime is something that was never condemned in the Bible. It's like the passage in Luke 6 when Jesus heals the man's crippled hand on a sabbath. That's a bit of a stretch, I know, but it has similar meaning. Stopping a tyrannical genocide is correct in this instance.
I have no idea what instance you're referring to in your second point. I've played through all the Halos, and you are always fighting to protect, not avenge. This also coincides with my first point. Do you think we were wrong when we retaliated against Jihad after 9-11? I obviously don't want to change the argument, but think about it.
As for your third point, you don't think God uses men to bring down nations? Out of all the nations that have come and gone, only of a few were ended by God actually sending angels (or himself) from Heaven. I believe God raises up evil men and heads of religious organizations, but he also raises men who will oppose them. Martin Luther, Winston Churchill, and practically all of the Judges. Moses left Egypt basically stripped and naked for wealth, organics, and culture. Jesus also opposed the religious leaders in his day, albeit, in a different way.
Why not get into this too much? At some point I would hope the discussion could get into theological backing. Let me elaborate.
Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
So how does Halo square with that? Are we battling spiritual forces only in Halo? By winning in Halo do we set Satan back? Are we furthering the kingdom of God by beating the 'bad guys' in Halo?
What about Matthew 5:39 and Luke 6:29? Where Jesus commands us to turn the other cheek. Then we have Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Does Halo encourage you to love your enemies?
After 9-11 I was one of the people saying we need to pray for them. Violence begets violence. Hatred continues in cycles because neither side lets go, and takes the path of love. Believers are martyred all the time. What is interesting is how the church has explosive growth during times of persecution. Non-believers are impressed when they see someone willing to die for their beliefs and not fight back. I have seen over and over again (during times of persecution) non-believers express an interest in my beliefs when I choose not to retaliate.
Yes God does men to take care of violent people. There is also a history of Isreal trusting and obeying God. Multiple enemies coming after Isreal, and God having them fight amongst themselves. How many times did the Isrealites never kill anyone, but their enemies were all dead the next morning?
This gets into some pretty deep theological stances, interpretations and opinions. Some of it I believe we will never fully comprehend on this side of eternity. I know I don't.
You are right God does raise up people to stand up against those doing evil. I personally believe the non-violent ones made a larger impact. I don't think we will change the jihadists by turning their countries to glass. I think we will only strengthen their resolve. On the other side of the coin - if America as a country only succumbs to their demands it will only encourage more demands in the future. This is why I was a non-combatant in the military. I served, but would not kill.
chrystianf,
Multiplayer would be a great example, thank you.
If someone kills you in Halo, what do you do when you respawn? And each player would have to answer that question for themselves.
Say like David from the Holy Bible. He had opportunities to kill King Saul who was hunting him. He choose to not kill him - every single time. If you had that opportunity in Halo - would you mirror David's choice or do something different?
I think it could also apply to single player. If an enemy gets you, and you go back to the last save/respawn - what do you do next time? Say you now know they are hiding there waiting to get you when you enter a certain room. Won't you want revenge? Get them before they get you?
)-K
I just wasn't sure if I was doing something wrong cuz of the error