From Israel. Have Christians gone too far on this video game?
"However, this time the computer game industry is facing a brand new opponent: The liberal and secular Left. At stake is a game called "Left Behind: Eternal Forces", which is based on the Book of Revelation, or, more specifically, a popular series of religious science fiction-adventure books.
"Left Behind", a strategy game set in a post-apocalyptic world, can be found on the shelves of mainstream stores. Critics are up in arms over its overt Christian missionary content.
The action begins after the world's two billion righteous true-believers have gone straight to Heaven. Those that have been left behind on earth (hence, the name) are the wicked and the nonbelievers, as well as those whose fate is not yet known.
"Left Behind" refers to the righteous as the Tribulation Force, an expression derived from the Christian Bible. In contrast, the evil ones, who are led by Satan's son, the so-called Antichrist, are called Peacekeepers. Cynics charge that the latter appellation sounds suspiciously like the United Nations."
This implications in this game amaze me. It seems like they don't care who they insult. Is it part of this multi-billion dollar industry? And can Christian and pop games exist without it becoming war of the video games and war of the ideologies?
"Evangelicals don't want to reject the world, they want to persuade others to the way of Jesus and engage other people in their religion," he says. "Embracing popular culture has allowed them to do that."--via Chron.com
But what is different about this game that makes it any better than "Jesus Camp" the movie? I can not say.
If it isn't something you want to play, or reas (as in the books), or watch (as in the two Left Behind movies) then don't engage in them. Let the people who will enjoy the game enjoy it. I don't think they have gone too far. They are targeting an audience and that is who will buy it.
Just like Country music, if country music put out way more CDs than usual one year, would you say that country music has gone too far? They have a target audience and that's who will buy it.
-L
"You're beautiful baby from the outside in. Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again. Go on, take on this whole world. But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl." BY: Tim McGraw
Rockstar games produces Grand Theft Auto, a game about stealing cars and killing people, did they go too far. EA games produced Battlefield 1942 about World War II, have they gone too far.
I think rap music is short for crap music but I don't tell people that they can't listen to it.
As humans beings we have the ability to choose what we listen to, read, and play. As Americans we have even more freedom in the choices available to us. Although there are many things that I object to morally and culturally I don't necessarily believe that prohibiting one groups product over another creates a benefit greater than the one it denies.
As an aside, I've seen the movie Left Behind and in the movie the Anti-Christ was leading the U.N. As an American I can't equate Kofi Annan with the Anti-Christ but he sure is Anti-American. Yet he keeps coming back here to UN meetings and the protection of America that the UN enjoys.
Chris
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
-Thomas Edison
and feel these things hurt our society.
***The thing is, if you control the Senate meetings, you control the gavel. And the gavel is a very important instrument... an instrument of power. An instrument that establishes the agenda.
Dan Quayle former Republican VP of George Bush Sr***
we as society should tell whats right and wrong
we as society shoudl KNOW whats right and wrong... but breeding ANY kind of fundamentallist viewpoint that the world MUST t hink as you, or follow your religion is going to far for me.
Thats where we hit problems with fundamentalist islam, and this movie encourages that with fundamentalist christians. IT all comes down to teh "YOU MUST CONVERT!!!!!" mindset.
they must convert
or
there must be death and destruction of all nonchristians before the savior will return.
I will start with the fact that I am a Christian but I AM SICK OF YOU AND OTHERS coming into threads and posting such condeming posts!!!!!
It's wrong in two ways. First off, if you are a Christian, which means a follower of Christ, He preached LOVE not disdain and hate and HE would NEVER have acted the way you have!! Second, you're not the only one who is getting the backlash of your comments, I have gottent HATE email and HATE post just for the fact that I am a Christian and it's all because of you.
You are acting SOOO far away from how Christ, who you claim to follow, try loving people instead of hating them.
You make me disgusted and I am SICK OF GETTING HATED ON HERE BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU!!!!
-L
"You're beautiful baby from the outside in. Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again. Go on, take on this whole world. But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl." BY: Tim McGraw
No. You are getting hated on because of an outspoken section of your religion that follows Christ in name, yet has FORGOTTEN or ignored that he taught love. THESE are the people we condemn. You don't like the way they act either? Than take the name of your religion back from them. Then speak out against them, or comment on the hypocrisies of their actions. The problem is that everyday Christians like yourself have been hijacked by the fundamentalists, who swear every peace sign or happy holiday is a war against christianity, not a recognition of diversity, or a freedom of ALL religions. These same fundamentalists who insist that if you are a Christian, you can only vote one way in politics(a way that CERTAINLY doesnt follow Jesus' teachings...). The Christians who truly are threatened by the presence of other beliefs, following the idea that each and every one of them is "inferior", and unsaved, and thus must either die, or convert.
I would NEVER send hate mail to someone because they're "Christian". I'm sorry that others have apparently sent it to you. IF its on this site, you should contact a moderator or Art for harassment. That would be a much better use of that anger than coming on this blog and attacking another poster.
My brevity probably made my post completely misunderstandable. And for that I'm very very sorry!
Next, since I can't explain it well, all I will say is that I don't believe ALL Christians are of that sort that I so incompetently described. I have many wonderful Christian friends who are like you; however, I also have the other sort of people in my life who are not as good as you are.
You're absolutely riight. Chritianity is suppose to be what you described. I'm sorry that portions of that group have brought about such anger against you.
I would NEVER EVER condone sending you emails as you've described. And you should immediately report them to the site owners if you do receive an email like that.
Once again, Lisa, I'm very very sorry that my brief words caused you such distress. It was not my intention at all.
Peace
that I have people in my life who have subscibed my family to those types of Christian magazines that promote the conversion of all Jews in Israel so that Christ can return. And they also believe in 'the Rapture'.
So it saddens me that normal-GOOD Christians like you are put on the defensive and attacked. I would call the people who gave that magazine to us (for a number of years and without our permission) the extremest.
I'm very sorry my earlier words upset you. And of course I hope my current explanation doesnt hurt your feelings either. Honestly, I've got very good friends exactly like you (and me) who feel that the extremests took away their self-pride and their religion.
Thank You!
-L
"You're beautiful baby from the outside in. Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again. Go on, take on this whole world. But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl." BY: Tim McGraw
This statement is posted from an employee of Left Behind Games on behalf of Troy Lyndon, our Chief Executive Officer.
There has been in incredible amount of MISINFORMATION published in the media and in online blogs here and elsewhere.
Pacifist Christians and other groups are taking the game material out of context to support their own causes. There is NO “killing in the name of God” and NO “convert or die”. There are NO “negative portrayals of Muslims” and there are NO “points for killing”.
Please play the game demo for yourself (to at least level 5 of 40) to get an accurate perspective, or listen to what CREDIBLE unbiased experts are saying after reviewing the game at www.leftbehindgames.com/pages/controversy.htm
Then, we’d love to hear your feedback as an informed player.
The reality is that we’re receiving reports everyday of how this game is positively affecting lives by all who play it.
Thank you for taking the time to be a responsible blogger.