[Ninja Dodo]

Certainly, they are free to express these views. I may get annoyed when they do but I'll be the first to defend their right to. I'm just saying that in certain situations/positions such views can lead to bad and potentially very harmfull decisions... like for example in the government. *cough*bushadministration*cough*

[bpfinsa]

Let's see, Zelda promotes paganism, Mario's combat with ghosts promote the occult, the Pokemon creators follow the wishes of the "spirit of darkness" (exact words), and anyone who touches a Xenogears CD is damned to hell fire.

Oh, yeah, and the Bible does kind of mention about not judging, lest you be judged yourself. So, with that note, I give this site a 1 out of 5 Christian rating due to high arrogance and pride, as well as trying to speak for God.

--BPF

[Kingzjester]

Religious fundamentalists are great fun.

[remixor]

They're certainly good for a laugh, but as a couple others have mentioned it's just how they live their lives. There are people doing things much worse than reviewing games for their perceived moral content.

One reason this strikes a particular chord with me is that my aunt and uncle's family is sort of like the people reviewing these games, except that they also don't own a TV or a computer, because they don't believe in them. It can certainly seem silly in our society, but I will tell you without the slightest hint of doubt that they are by far the kindest people I have ever met. They have gone through more tragedy (which I won't get in to here) than I could ever imagine, but they maintain the same philosophy and (most of the time) level of happiness without becoming bitter and jaded. The children are home schooled and both my aunt and uncle each have two PhDs. They are a happy family who gets along fine and has definite ideas of Christian morals and how they should lead their lives. However, they are not condescending or patronizing or evangelical. Of course there are people who are violently fundamentalist and people who are just annoying, but the amount of Christian-bashing I see all the time makes me uncomfortable, since so close to me in my family is an example of a "fundamentalist" Christian family that has probably done more good and persevered through more shit than I likely ever will.


Anyway, sorry if that puts a damper on the thread; I may delete this post if I look back on it and determine it's uncalled for. It's just that in the last few days for some reason, I've been hearing ludicrously absurd amounts of religion-bashing and it's just starting to get to me. Believe me, though, I know that none of you guys mean any harm.

[Kingzjester]

Originally Posted by remixor

They're certainly good for a laugh... any harm.

My definition of 'fundamentalist': Whoever schools his or her children on Rush Limbaugh.

I have to question how ultimately good are people with rock-solid, unyielding moral fibre. The people who don't see the rationale behind existentialism, postmodernism and moral relativity are the ones who through their well-intentioned actions cause the most overall misery in the world. I don't bash religion because it is stupid but because it is relatively bad.

[remixor]

Originally Posted by Kingzjester

[color=olive][color=#000000]I don't bash religion because it is stupid but because it is relatively bad.

I have to disagree here. I think that for the vast majority of religious people, their religion simply helps them lead their lives better, or easier, or whatever. Religion can be a scapegoat and an excuse, or a magnifyer of instabilities people already have. To say it is inherently bad is, I think, a very flawed statement.

I know this is one of those arguments I can never win, however, so I'm going to leave it at that.

[fov]

I may delete this post if I look back on it and determine it's uncalled for.

don't delete your post. you're right. just yesterday we were saying how awful it is that gay-bashing is rampant on other gaming boards and how good it is that this board isn't like that. how is bashing fundamentalist christianity any different?

just because i don't agree with the viewpoints doesn't give me any right to pick on or judge the person who holds them (especially if that person's not here to defend himself).

-emily

[pleto4_ryan]

Religious persons aren't bad. I am a religious persons.

Dumb and idiot religious persons are really bad...(like Bush )

Religion was created because it can help community. Believe it or not, it can be really good

[Ninja Dodo]

Originally Posted by Ninja Dodo

... which is exactly what's wrong with the world. They're the sort of people that with their narrow minded views are doing theirs to make the world a worse place than it already is.

That said, there are of course things that are much worse. But it's just that as Feisar said, it's this sort of uncompromising, black and white thinking that, though generally not the initial cause, is what keeps all the conflicts in this world going.

I am not Christian-bashing though. I am an atheist myself but I fully respect others for having differing beliefs. I also know several Christians personally that are very open-minded and to which my comments in no way apply.

Fundamentalism in any form always leads to suffering. From your description though, remixor, I wouldn't class your aunt and uncle as such at all. To me the difference lies in how pushy people are. Someone who ask me if I'm religious and when I say no, asks "Well aren't you afraid of hell then?" I would kindly suggest to go that way themselves if I believed in such a thing. But anyone who is able to respect differing beliefs and opinions is not a fundamentalist.

[DomStLeger]

I don't understand why this site has sparked any debate. As far as I have read it's written for christians by christians. It's not trying to preach to people or convert people; but merely provide certain types of christians with reviews of games taking into count their moral perspective.

Nothing wrong with that is there?

[Garyos]

I agree with Dom that this site isn't in the least bit offensive to non-christians. But that's jsut compared to the other loonies that are out there...

EDIT: WHy aren't you an ape anymore, Dom??? I can hardly see it's you....

[Ninja Dodo]

I consider the way they describe certain things as dangerous or complain about lack of black & white morals an insult to the books and games they review.

[James]

Books and games are art, and are therefore open to any interpretation one may care to place upon them. No one of this site is forcing it's views upon others, quite like more mainstream sites like IGN, Gamespot, and indeed Adventure Gamers and the MOJO Network. These views may be somewhat regressive, but they appeal to a clique of individuals, gamers who see their faith as an important element of their gaming.

I believe it is more narrow minded to not tolerate their views, which may indeed be intolerant of the less salubrious elements of gaming than most, than the views themselves.

"Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." - Dr. Martin Luther King.

[pleto4_ryan]

Originally Posted by Garyos

this site isn't in the least bit offensive to non-christians.

nope, it's just very offentive towards Logic.

[feisar]

Im sorry if a over-reacted a bit. I wasnt lashing out on Christianity, only on the people that twist religion to control or hurt people. Tolerance is good but where do you draw the line? Should we be tolerant of discrimination?

I think you all know my personal opinion of that site now, although I don't think it should be banned or anything, although it is probably more offensive than most of the games they review *meiow*

[Tamara]

Hmmn, just had a look, it's not *nearly* as bad as the (really) fundamentalist Christian site that was reviewing movies some time ago.

However, I'm somewhat curious, after reading the Myst review. I never actually finished the game -- could someone who has tell me what may have made it deserve this score (it's not explained in the review)

Genre: Puzzle/Adventure
Christian Rating: 3 of 5
(some objectionable elements)
Gameplay: 4 of 5
(good)
Violence: 3 of 5
(mild)
Adult Content: 3 of 5
(mild)

[fov]

there is NO adult content in myst. unless they're considering the conflict between a father and two sons (both of whom are somewhat treacherous) to be "adult." but come on... you find that in the bible!

there is also no violence that i can think of... except for a few descriptions of violence in history books, but again you find that in the bible... and a few weapons that you see that allude to the fact that violence has taken place, but nothing actually happens in the game.

didn't read the review of myst (i'll go do that now) but i really don't know what would be objectionable... unless the fact that atrus has "god like" powers of creation is at odds with the reviewer's faith...

-emily

[scabb]

I hate the idea that this particular site is aimed at "Christians". If I were to find Jesus, and regularly adopt a seat in the local church, I certainly wouldn't become allergic to curse-words or avoid violent programming about the world of voodoo. My kids wouldn't be locked out of 237 television channels and only allowed into certain sections of the library either. It works both ways too, I'm sure a lot of non-Christian individuals want son and daughter to stay pure and whole and good.

I can see the good of having reviews explaining exactly how adult or violently evil a game is, but it irks me how just decide what's Christian and what isn't. For instance, regarding the Curse of Monkey Island - "there is hardly anything offensive from a Christian standpoint" - what is this standpoint? I'm sure that to most Christians everything isn't black and white. I bet a few would be offended by the Christian stereotype that this site enforces, too.

[DomStLeger]

Originally Posted by fov

there is NO adult content in myst. unless they're considering the conflict between a father and two sons (both of whom are somewhat treacherous) to be "adult." but come on... you find that in the bible!

there is also no violence that i can think of... except for a few descriptions of violence in history books, but again you find that in the bible... and a few weapons that you see that allude to the fact that violence has taken place, but nothing actually happens in the game.

didn't read the review of myst (i'll go do that now) but i really don't know what would be objectionable... unless the fact that atrus has "god like" powers of creation is at odds with the reviewer's faith...

-emily

Maybe the ratings means thats the propencity to violence and adult behaviour you will feel after playing it

[bpfinsa]

My main problem with the site is that it takes on the tag "Christian". I'm a Christian, but I don't believe Pokemon are warping kids into a life of neverending fighting or that Wind Waker is going to make kids worship the 3 gods of Hyrule, or that kids will practice witchcraft from what they read in Harry Potter. It seems to be implying that person can't be a true Christian if they enjoy games like Silent Hill, Zelda, or Xenogears.That notion I take offense to and that they think the faith of Christians are so weak that a video game will shake it. My faith will never be shaken by a video game.

--BPF