'Convert or die' game divides Christians

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:04pm

Maybe we should counter the game with an alternative
"feed the christians to the lions" game.

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.

The Campaign to Defend the Constitution and the Christian Alliance for Progress, two online political groups, plan to demand today that Wal-Mart dump Left Behind: Eternal Forces, a PC game inspired by a series of Christian novels that are hugely popular, especially with teens.

The series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins is based on their interpretation of the Bible's Book of Revelation and takes place after the Rapture, when Jesus has taken his people to heaven and left nonbelievers behind to face the Antichrist.

Left Behind Games' president, Jeffrey Frichner, says the game actually is pacifist because players lose "spirit points" every time they gun down nonbelievers rather than convert them. They can earn spirit points again by having their character pray.

"You are fighting a defensive battle in the game," Frichner, whose previous company produced Bible software, said of combatting the Antichrist. "You are a sort of a freedom fighter."

A Wal-Mart spokeswoman said the retailer has no plans to pull Left Behind: Eternal Forces from any of the 200 of Wal-Mart's 3,800 stores that offer the game, including just seven in California. The nearest are in Chico and Redding.

"We look at the community to see where it will sell," said Tara Raddohl. "We have customers who are buying it and really haven't received a lot of complaints about it from our customers at this time."

Clark Stevens, co-director of the Campaign to Defend the Constitution, said the game is not peaceful or diplomatic.

"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."

The Rev. Tim Simpson, a Jacksonville, Fla., Presbyterian minister and president of the Christian Alliance for Progress, added: "So, under the Christmas tree this year for little Johnny is this allegedly Christian video game teaching Johnny to hate and kill?"

Both groups formed in 2005 to protest what their 130,000 or so members feel is the growing political influence and hypocrisy of the religious right.

In Left Behind, set in perfectly apocalyptic New York City, the Antichrist is personified by fictional Romanian Nicolae Carpathia, secretary-general of the United Nations and a People magazine "Sexiest Man Alive."


Will you be left behind for Christmas?

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:16pm

Ewwwww...

One of my biggest pet peeves is Christians who think that no matter how good a person you are if you don't believe in Jesus, you're a bad person. I don't believe in Jesus, but I consider myself to be a fairly good person and I constantly strive to better myself. Why is this not good enough? And why is it anyone else's business?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:19pm

Because you are part of the anti-Christ's army of course. **fades SorryGrateful out** j/k

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:23pm

Noooooooooo..... don't fade me!

And my problem also lies in the fact that if they're going to kill us non-Christians, at least have the balls to do it in a rain of blood and gore because I sure as hell am not just going to disappear.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:27pm

What an amazing game! I want to play!!

What makes this so interesting is how it really boils down the Christian right for who they are: violent people who kill because they have to, not because they want to -- even though killing sort of helps in the end. Amazing game. I can't wait 'til the Academy starts releasing papers on this game and doing quantitative studies on the games' effects on child development and humanization.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:29pm

Do Christians who want to shun or kill non-believers really give a rat's ass about "spirit points"????

[Kringas]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:32pm

I don't think it's that they think you're bad people. I think they think you're going to hell.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:36pm

You have to be a "liberal" or "progressive" Christian now to know that killing is wrong? Huh.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:36pm

So - is Kirk Cameron behind the game too? I know he produces and stars in the Left Behind films.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:37pm

It's the Christian answer to Grand Theft Auto. I'm not surprised in the least. I don't approve of either game.

[MatthewAddison]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:47pm

I agree. I equally oppose this game as I do the other violent and pointless video games on the shelves.

This one just happens to have a religious theme.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:50pm

I really, really, really want to play this game.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:51pm

I found this in the WorldNetDaily store after reading about how tofu makes men gay.
Shooting Back: The Right and Duty of Self Defense

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:54pm

Heh. I'm all about semi-violent video games (hello X-Men games!) but not in the name of religious salvation or claiming to instill some sort of Christian values code.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:54pm

Well, at least some Christians are speaking out on the issue.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:58pm

I just want to play a game where you kill someone and your character says, "praise god!"
I mean, come on! That's cool!

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 12:59pm

Yeah, except that it actually happens in real life.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 1:10pm

I agree that this game needs to never see the light of day. This goes COMPLETELY against Christian morals.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 1:14pm

As RTFan has repeatedly illustrated, "Christian morals" has become something of an oxymoron. I mean, if they're going to completely ignore the teachings of Christ, why don't they just convert to Judaism?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 1:16pm

Well, "Christain Morals" have become sort of an oxymoron . . . but I am talking about the Christian morals set down by Jesus, not years of human hatred.

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 2:31pm

Screenshot...I suppose of Righteous Christian Warriors about to kill Satanic Scientists.

Updated On: 12/12/06 at 02:31 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 2:39pm

Gee, I bet if it were a game about the homosexuals Walmart would be all for it . I myself wouldn't have such garbage in my house.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 2:41pm

Really? What kind of garbage DO you have in your house?

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 2:42pm

RT - isn't it time to feed your flying monkeys?

Updated On: 12/12/06 at 02:42 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 2:45pm

Also you can't force someone to convert. Everyone is converted in his/her own time. And it's of their own free will. God doesn't make you do anything you don't want to do. That's why he gave everyone free will. Which is way the world is so messed up.