Going to Church service and then playing GTA SA
- Thread starter Caleb
- Start date
Pelagrin
Member
that's really a decision that you have to make.
I don't play the GTA games because I see it essentially as "simulated sinning". That's my personal choice though. Each of us has to decide what is acceptable for us in our Christian walks. But know that just because you choose to find something acceptable, it doesn't mean that it really is from God's perspective. Pray about it.
I don't play the GTA games because I see it essentially as "simulated sinning". That's my personal choice though. Each of us has to decide what is acceptable for us in our Christian walks. But know that just because you choose to find something acceptable, it doesn't mean that it really is from God's perspective. Pray about it.
cc.slim
Moderator
I went to church then came home played counter strike, shot my buddies up blew up a big green box and with a big wOOt prepared myself to cap their duff again.
It is just a game. A vehicle whether it be a bike, car or in sum cases the mind takes You where you want to go if you want it to. Now playing single mode can result in pent up fantasies or anger yet its still the same and thats if you let it dominate your thought patterns and only then will it become hazardous. My youngest has played the game and has had it taken away numerous times for a attitude problem. Now let me pose this question to you was it the games fault for the attitude of the boy or was it the boys fault? I blame the boy take away the game and then let him sit and think with his attitude alone. We are all work in progress and yeah us GUYS are libel to say something like that if we notice something out of place or has gone astray. So you are noticed and from the sounds your making is that somebody cares. We care and shoot yeah we will cap your Duff to. Noticed I smiled when I replied because its not a game inside me but something grander. Git Ya Sum!!!!
It is just a game. A vehicle whether it be a bike, car or in sum cases the mind takes You where you want to go if you want it to. Now playing single mode can result in pent up fantasies or anger yet its still the same and thats if you let it dominate your thought patterns and only then will it become hazardous. My youngest has played the game and has had it taken away numerous times for a attitude problem. Now let me pose this question to you was it the games fault for the attitude of the boy or was it the boys fault? I blame the boy take away the game and then let him sit and think with his attitude alone. We are all work in progress and yeah us GUYS are libel to say something like that if we notice something out of place or has gone astray. So you are noticed and from the sounds your making is that somebody cares. We care and shoot yeah we will cap your Duff to. Noticed I smiled when I replied because its not a game inside me but something grander. Git Ya Sum!!!!
Glitch
New Member
ITS A SIN AND YOUR GOING TO HELL.....
nah, i'm just kidding...
i've played some of the GTA, personnally, i didn't enjoy GTA SA; it kinda went over board in my mind... YET, it is all based on one's own convictions. Instead of just repeating CS.slim in my own words... i will just add one thing.
Remember that it was the apostle Paul who said that he wouldn't eat meat if it caused his brother to sin (this isn't word for word, i'm not quoting i'm generalizing)... despite looking at yourself to see if it produces changes... you have to examine others to see if it... in ANY way may harm them...or give them a wrong idea... or... something...
nah, i'm just kidding...
i've played some of the GTA, personnally, i didn't enjoy GTA SA; it kinda went over board in my mind... YET, it is all based on one's own convictions. Instead of just repeating CS.slim in my own words... i will just add one thing.
Remember that it was the apostle Paul who said that he wouldn't eat meat if it caused his brother to sin (this isn't word for word, i'm not quoting i'm generalizing)... despite looking at yourself to see if it produces changes... you have to examine others to see if it... in ANY way may harm them...or give them a wrong idea... or... something...
Hescominsoon
CGA\TOJ Hosting Manager
you can go to church service and then do whatever you want. The person at church is flat wrong. the issue is..is this activity something you can stand before God and justify? No matter what..this is a matter between you and hte Lord..and nobody else.
Usually, I quote 1 Corinthians 8 and chalk video games up as one of the subjects on which the Bible gives no clear statement; however, the Grand Theft Auto series contains enough objectionable material with so little redeeming value that I would recommend that any Christian gamer avoid the game.
I play UT2004 (with gore and profane taunts turned off) without conviction--but UT2004 doesn't involve beating prostitutes and murdering civilians for bonus points. Jack Thompson may not see the difference between the two games, but it's clear to anyone that's actually played both games.
I will admit that I did play GTA3 for myself to see what all the fuss was about. The game wasn't the "murder simulator" Thompson made it out to be, but it did contain content that I don't believe any Christian should subject themselves to.
There are enough great games out there that Christian gamers don't have to play titles like Manhunt and GTA: SA. It's not like we don't have a choice.
And by the bye, I didn't think the gameplay in GTA3 was nearly as good as the game review magazines made it out to be. The difficulty level is uneven, the quests are repetitive, and the game loses its appeal after a short time.
So if there are Christian gamers out there wondering if GTA3 is worth trying, I'd have to tell them, "No, it isn't."
Someone at some point will develop a "sandbox" game without all the vehicular homicide, prostitution, and gang violence that GTA uses to lure younger players and mask its weak gameplay.
Instead of manipulating journalists into giving the company free PR (with controversies like Manhunt 2's AO rating and GTA: SA's Hot Coffee "mini-game"), they should redirect that effort into making better games.
I play UT2004 (with gore and profane taunts turned off) without conviction--but UT2004 doesn't involve beating prostitutes and murdering civilians for bonus points. Jack Thompson may not see the difference between the two games, but it's clear to anyone that's actually played both games.
I will admit that I did play GTA3 for myself to see what all the fuss was about. The game wasn't the "murder simulator" Thompson made it out to be, but it did contain content that I don't believe any Christian should subject themselves to.
There are enough great games out there that Christian gamers don't have to play titles like Manhunt and GTA: SA. It's not like we don't have a choice.
And by the bye, I didn't think the gameplay in GTA3 was nearly as good as the game review magazines made it out to be. The difficulty level is uneven, the quests are repetitive, and the game loses its appeal after a short time.
So if there are Christian gamers out there wondering if GTA3 is worth trying, I'd have to tell them, "No, it isn't."
Someone at some point will develop a "sandbox" game without all the vehicular homicide, prostitution, and gang violence that GTA uses to lure younger players and mask its weak gameplay.
Instead of manipulating journalists into giving the company free PR (with controversies like Manhunt 2's AO rating and GTA: SA's Hot Coffee "mini-game"), they should redirect that effort into making better games.
vibrokatana
New Member
What isn't to love about driving over hundreds of people to see how high you can get your stars...oh wait this is a Christian forum 
Corpfox
Active Member
What isn't to love about driving over hundreds of people to see how high you can get your stars...oh wait this is a Christian forum
Carmageddon was very bloody too. Using a vehicle to mow down people (and animals) to earn points and money, which is related to the movie, Death Race 2000.
A game is a game. If you do those acts for real life, then thats a sin. It has happen before, some persons did (or almost did) violent acts and said it was relating to the game they played.
Wikipedia said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_controversy#Highly-publicized_tragedies
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Pelagrin
Member
FranklinNoble
New Member
I go to church, and then I smite Goretusks and Morelocs on World of Warcraft;
... For the glory of God, of course.
... For the glory of God, of course.
Durruck
Pirate!
I've never understood logic like this. One person goes nutso, so blame everyone else and ban anything related.
A few weeks ago, a baseball player was intentionally struck by the pitcher. The batter responded by charging the mount, with the baseball bat. Have they outlawed baseball? Ball-bats? Perhaps just pitchers?
The concept is quite silly. I don't own a gun (although I have in the past), but I think that all the gun-control advocates just aren't paying attention (look at murder rates with guns in Washington DC, where it's illegal to own a gun). It's what the person will do with the object, not what the object is meant for. In July, a person was murdered with a machete in the city I work in. Is a machete-owners-permit coming next? I could just as easily stab someone with a ballpoint pen or a pair of scissors.
So back to the topic of games... Blaming the game for an individual's behavior is a load of hooey. I have a warlock in WoW, but I don't for an instant believe that I should be a RL necromancer. I have a warrior, but don't think I should use my sword to run people thru. I read Harry Potter books, but don't believe in wizards. I read superman comics, but never believed that wearing a red cape could make me fly.
Some people are just stupid. It's been that way for thousands of years.
Back to topic for a moment, then I'm done. I agree with Tek. There is nothing useful to come from GTA and similar, but it's a matter of choice. If you *really* want to play it, just remember what it's promoting and stands for...and make sure you don't fall into those traps IRL.
Well, yeh, but I meant a clean game that's also fun.Wouldn't that be The Sims?
My bad for not specifying.
The Gerbil Rant of the Day!
I bet this discussion has come up numerous times due to the fact this is a Christian gaming forum. However I differ from the norm slightly. Let me answer a few possible positions on the matter....
Possible Quote: The game is not that bad.
Ok what game would be bad then? Can no game go to far? If your idea is that anything goes and it is a personal choice what about those people making simulated child pornography? There is no limit to the depth that people will sink to in sin. At the time of Noah the Bible says that every thought of man was on evil perpetually. There has to be a limit imposed somewhere because people do not have one naturally.
Possible Quote: If you don't want to play it don't.
It's not just about me not playing it it's about children playing it. It's about those people who see a carjacking in GTA and are inspired to do it in real life too.
Possible Quote: It's the parents responsibility to instill values in their children not society.
One of society's great problems is the passing of the responsibility in regard to giving our children values. It's not just the parents doing it and its not just society, it's both. Unless we raise our children in a closet they are gong to be exposed to the world and it's values. It's not enough to instill values in them we have to make the world a better place for them because they are going to be in that world whether we like it or not. If a parent is teaching a child morally wrong behavior where else can they learn something but from the outside anyway?
Possible Quote: We can't impose our values on another.
We do it everyday. Even if we don't talk directly to people we still do it by people having to see our behavior. America itself exists imposing the will of the majority on the minority. Whether it's by voting or fighting you cannot escape it, you can only work to impose what you believe in (in a Christian theology that also includes having mercy though). I'm talking about the actual action of making offensive games not just getting people to believe they are wrong. While we work towards people believing in our values there is a point where actions cannot be tolerated. You want the murder to believe his actions are wrong, but, are you going to let him continue murdering while you try to convince him?
Possible Quote: We can't have a thought police in America it goes against the values it stands for.
Words are actions. They have a real effect and power. You cannot have people saying anything over and over and over or people WILL believe it eventually. Do you think the Islamic terrorists act without thought? No they have a entire culture dedicated to reinforcing that Christianity and Judaism SPECIFICALLY are perversions of their truth. How can we ever have peace no matter how many people we kill if you allow subsequent generations to continually be taught to hate and that we must submit or die? Yes we have to allow things we don't like to be said to have freedom of speech ourselves, but, how far do we allow that freedom to extend? We cannot have people continually preaching death to America and expect everything to be fine. That's why they shut down some of those newspapers in Iraq (although I don't know what they where printing). Hitler was legally elected too you know. That's the power of words.
Possible Quote: Most people can distinguish fantasy from reality and games shouldn't be banned based for the few that don't.
Actually the fact is no one can distinguish fiction from reality completely. Our lives are spent in search of truth. When we are born we don't know how to speak yet we learn that skill by INSTINCTIVELY observing others. There is something in us that is always involuntarily learning and we can never stop it. Even if our experience is limited to a memory that is a memory we have to live with. It's a part of us and having it changes us. If you think media is all fantasy that's not true either. Gangster rap has people acting on those lyrics, committing crimes, then being lionized in a new lyric, lather, rinse, repeat. There was a show on a little while ago about some girl ("lil" something another I think) documenting her jail time and how she went to jail rather than implicate people who did a shooting. She is a HEROINE to a lot of people. Lot's of people aren't saved, have no fear of judgment and decide "hey this is the way to Earthly success". Media that rewards criminal immoral behavior only reinforces those values (Paris Hilton anyone?). When you have the reward of media coverage immortalizing the latest game inspired killers and the latest game makes crime look "cool" don't you think that is the same. Life shapes art, but, art shapes life as well.
Possible Quote: GTA and games like it let me vent my frustrations that would otherwise manifest in real life.
I do realize sometimes a person needs to blow off steam and it's better to hurt a inanimate object than a person. However, doing it by enjoying beating up on someone weaker than you (real or fictional) just doesn't seem right. Just why would you enjoy venting your anger on virtual prostitutes? I don't understand why this is considered acceptable or healthy. If you have habitual reoccurring violent thoughts you need more than a way to vent those feelings, you need to address the cause of those feelings. In that case playing a game to vent would only keep you from doing that. If we are trying to work toward being Christ like we need to be changed not temporarily tranquilized. Finally you need to realize that some games are used to train people for doing things in real life. Why wouldn't some games reinforce negative thoughts rather than alleviate them?
Possible Quote: Just how are we supposed to decide which games are passable anyway?
Not everyone is going to agree on the exact point for banning. My point is ONLY there should be one somewhere and that as a society we must continually work for the betterment of the media we have or it will get worse. It's sad that some don't see that the point society objects to is continually moving farther and farther out there, during our lifetime in fact. South park used to be controversial now its on normal TV. Mortal Kombat was too now it's old news. Porn stars are calling themselves "hip" and it's getting air time. I used to look at things to see what was objectable about them, if they went to far. Now knowing that everything is imperfect I look at things to see if they have any redeeming value to them too. Other games may be violent, but, they usually have you playing a hero or at worse have no plot at all. There is also a time and place for violence, but, there is no reason for us to have to reward criminal behavior (except game pvp, but, different subject). Banning certain games would be easier if you asked what good can it do as well as what's wrong with it. Guns can be used for good, with GTA I've heard nothing good about it. Anything created that can do only evil by it's existence should be banned. I also know that it is not enough to ban things we have to put something positive out there to replace it. That's why I feel so strongly about producing good Christian games. As Christians we are called to teach others as Christ taught us, but, we aren't going where people are today. They aren't in front of the well or in public places anymore. They are in front of the TV, on the Internet and playing games. That's where we should be too.
On a side note while as Christians we object to immoral things I also got to say a lot of these controversial games are just badly made to begin with. "Let's push X farther to get attention and sell more product" As an artist I feel it's a poor trick to rely on sensationalism to sell a product. Whether it's pushing the CG envelope or the limits of modesty. What ever happened to solid gameplay, deft characters and original story. In short where is the substance?
Please overlook speeeeelling errors TY
I bet this discussion has come up numerous times due to the fact this is a Christian gaming forum. However I differ from the norm slightly. Let me answer a few possible positions on the matter....
Possible Quote: The game is not that bad.
Ok what game would be bad then? Can no game go to far? If your idea is that anything goes and it is a personal choice what about those people making simulated child pornography? There is no limit to the depth that people will sink to in sin. At the time of Noah the Bible says that every thought of man was on evil perpetually. There has to be a limit imposed somewhere because people do not have one naturally.
Possible Quote: If you don't want to play it don't.
It's not just about me not playing it it's about children playing it. It's about those people who see a carjacking in GTA and are inspired to do it in real life too.
Possible Quote: It's the parents responsibility to instill values in their children not society.
One of society's great problems is the passing of the responsibility in regard to giving our children values. It's not just the parents doing it and its not just society, it's both. Unless we raise our children in a closet they are gong to be exposed to the world and it's values. It's not enough to instill values in them we have to make the world a better place for them because they are going to be in that world whether we like it or not. If a parent is teaching a child morally wrong behavior where else can they learn something but from the outside anyway?
Possible Quote: We can't impose our values on another.
We do it everyday. Even if we don't talk directly to people we still do it by people having to see our behavior. America itself exists imposing the will of the majority on the minority. Whether it's by voting or fighting you cannot escape it, you can only work to impose what you believe in (in a Christian theology that also includes having mercy though). I'm talking about the actual action of making offensive games not just getting people to believe they are wrong. While we work towards people believing in our values there is a point where actions cannot be tolerated. You want the murder to believe his actions are wrong, but, are you going to let him continue murdering while you try to convince him?
Possible Quote: We can't have a thought police in America it goes against the values it stands for.
Words are actions. They have a real effect and power. You cannot have people saying anything over and over and over or people WILL believe it eventually. Do you think the Islamic terrorists act without thought? No they have a entire culture dedicated to reinforcing that Christianity and Judaism SPECIFICALLY are perversions of their truth. How can we ever have peace no matter how many people we kill if you allow subsequent generations to continually be taught to hate and that we must submit or die? Yes we have to allow things we don't like to be said to have freedom of speech ourselves, but, how far do we allow that freedom to extend? We cannot have people continually preaching death to America and expect everything to be fine. That's why they shut down some of those newspapers in Iraq (although I don't know what they where printing). Hitler was legally elected too you know. That's the power of words.
Possible Quote: Most people can distinguish fantasy from reality and games shouldn't be banned based for the few that don't.
Actually the fact is no one can distinguish fiction from reality completely. Our lives are spent in search of truth. When we are born we don't know how to speak yet we learn that skill by INSTINCTIVELY observing others. There is something in us that is always involuntarily learning and we can never stop it. Even if our experience is limited to a memory that is a memory we have to live with. It's a part of us and having it changes us. If you think media is all fantasy that's not true either. Gangster rap has people acting on those lyrics, committing crimes, then being lionized in a new lyric, lather, rinse, repeat. There was a show on a little while ago about some girl ("lil" something another I think) documenting her jail time and how she went to jail rather than implicate people who did a shooting. She is a HEROINE to a lot of people. Lot's of people aren't saved, have no fear of judgment and decide "hey this is the way to Earthly success". Media that rewards criminal immoral behavior only reinforces those values (Paris Hilton anyone?). When you have the reward of media coverage immortalizing the latest game inspired killers and the latest game makes crime look "cool" don't you think that is the same. Life shapes art, but, art shapes life as well.
Possible Quote: GTA and games like it let me vent my frustrations that would otherwise manifest in real life.
I do realize sometimes a person needs to blow off steam and it's better to hurt a inanimate object than a person. However, doing it by enjoying beating up on someone weaker than you (real or fictional) just doesn't seem right. Just why would you enjoy venting your anger on virtual prostitutes? I don't understand why this is considered acceptable or healthy. If you have habitual reoccurring violent thoughts you need more than a way to vent those feelings, you need to address the cause of those feelings. In that case playing a game to vent would only keep you from doing that. If we are trying to work toward being Christ like we need to be changed not temporarily tranquilized. Finally you need to realize that some games are used to train people for doing things in real life. Why wouldn't some games reinforce negative thoughts rather than alleviate them?
Possible Quote: Just how are we supposed to decide which games are passable anyway?
Not everyone is going to agree on the exact point for banning. My point is ONLY there should be one somewhere and that as a society we must continually work for the betterment of the media we have or it will get worse. It's sad that some don't see that the point society objects to is continually moving farther and farther out there, during our lifetime in fact. South park used to be controversial now its on normal TV. Mortal Kombat was too now it's old news. Porn stars are calling themselves "hip" and it's getting air time. I used to look at things to see what was objectable about them, if they went to far. Now knowing that everything is imperfect I look at things to see if they have any redeeming value to them too. Other games may be violent, but, they usually have you playing a hero or at worse have no plot at all. There is also a time and place for violence, but, there is no reason for us to have to reward criminal behavior (except game pvp, but, different subject). Banning certain games would be easier if you asked what good can it do as well as what's wrong with it. Guns can be used for good, with GTA I've heard nothing good about it. Anything created that can do only evil by it's existence should be banned. I also know that it is not enough to ban things we have to put something positive out there to replace it. That's why I feel so strongly about producing good Christian games. As Christians we are called to teach others as Christ taught us, but, we aren't going where people are today. They aren't in front of the well or in public places anymore. They are in front of the TV, on the Internet and playing games. That's where we should be too.
On a side note while as Christians we object to immoral things I also got to say a lot of these controversial games are just badly made to begin with. "Let's push X farther to get attention and sell more product" As an artist I feel it's a poor trick to rely on sensationalism to sell a product. Whether it's pushing the CG envelope or the limits of modesty. What ever happened to solid gameplay, deft characters and original story. In short where is the substance?
Please overlook speeeeelling errors TY
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