Even the casual reader will have picked up that I'm not a Born-Again Christian, or a Baptist, or a Christian Fundamentalist. And the casual reader may be aware that I'm not just not any of those things, but I'm also very much on the opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to religious beliefs ("the opposite side of the spectrum" being more of a religious liberal - although I don't like that term either - as opposed to being a Satanist).
And since I'm not a religious literalist, I also find the whole Left Behind series to be supremely idiotic and wrong. After all, if groups of people started disappearing into thin air, just like the Bible says, even the most intellectually challenged among us would be able to say "well, if this is the Rapture, and it did happen literally as the Bible said it would, then we just need to keep reading the Bible and we can prevent the rise of the anti-Christ, Armageddon, and all that." And thus that prophesy would never be fulfilled. But, really, what does common sense have on blind faith?
Asi las cosas, I still have to say that people are making a whole lot of noise about the Left Behind game Left Behind: Eternal Forces. So, what is this game about?
Wage a war of apocalyptic proportions in LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces - a real-time strategy game based upon the best-selling LEFT BEHIND book series created by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Join the ultimate fight of Good against Evil, commanding Tribulation Forces or the Global Community Peacekeepers, and uncover the truth about the worldwide disappearances!
· Lead the Tribulation Force from the book series , including Rayford, Chloe, Buck and Bruce against Nicolae Carpathia – the AntiChrist.
· Conduct physical & spiritual warfare : using the power of prayer to strengthen your troops in combat and wield modern military weaponry throughout the game world.
· Recover ancient scriptures and witness spectacular Angelic and Demonic activity as a direct consequence of your choices.
· Command your forces through intense battles across a breathtaking, authentic depiction of New York City .
· Control more than 30 units types - from Prayer Warrior and Hellraiser to Spies, Special Forces and Battle Tanks!
· Enjoy a robust single player experience across dozens of New York City maps in Story Mode – fighting in China Town , SoHo , Uptown and more!
· Play multiplayer games as Tribulation Force or the AntiChrist's Global Community Peacekeepers with up to eight players via LAN or over the internet!
What seems to be the problem? Well, this ticked off some people.
Liberal and progressive Christian groups say a new computer game in which players must either convert or kill non-Christians is the wrong gift to give this holiday season and that Wal-Mart, a major video game retailer, should yank it off its shelves. . . "It's an incredibly violent video game," said Stevens. "Sure, there is no blood. (The dead just fade off the screen.) But you are mowing down your enemy with a gun. It pushes a message of religious intolerance. You can either play for the 'good side' by trying to convert nonbelievers to your side or join the Antichrist."
Emphasis added. "An incredibly violent video game"? This game is rated "T" for Teenage. If you really want to talk about violence, you just need to look at something like, say, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas:
Politicians seem to have a strange desire to ban violent video games. The latest in the line of Grand Theft Auto games, San Andreas, must be on the top of their list. The game has violent killing sprees, dangerous driving, sex and drugs. But is that what the game is really about? Well, yeah, it pretty much is.
While Vice City was set in the ‘80s, San Andreas moves into the next decade, and into the ghetto. Instead of synthesised pop music, you will hear gansta rap blastin’ out yo speakas. At first I wasn’t too excited about the change of culture; I thought it would irritate me. But after a couple hours of play, you’ll probably find yourself strutting around speaking like Chris Rock.
The main character is called CJ, and is back in the ‘hood after some time away. Of course he immediately runs into police corruption and gang wars, and the party is on. The great thing about GTA is that you don’t really have to do missions if you don’t feel the desire. Cruising around in a stolen car, listening to the radio is a pleasure.
Emphasis added. By the way, if you're interested, this game is rated "M" for mature.
You know, I think nobody complaining about "Left Behind" plays games on a regular basis. If I'm going to oppose something on the basis that it's too violent, stereotypes whole groups - minorities, women, poor, etc. - I'd pick a fight with San Andreas. Besides, the "Left Behind" game has something going against it that not even the Bible can cure. Apparently, it sucks.
Conversely, I don't think kids and teenagers who play "San Andreas" are going out shooting people, having sex, using drugs and driving like maniacs because they played the game. Although any fundie who plays "Left Behind" is probably already predisposed to going out and blowing away any and all Muslims he/she encountered, I'm not terribly concerned that they are actually going to go out and do it.
People need to relax. We have to protect our kids and teenagers. But lets give them some credit. Most of them are not complete idiots.
