I think people are really stupid to suggest anything in videogames is a "sin." Videogames are not real. I also don't believe in "sins." They are also man's invention from fantasy. I can't accept anything someone bases on imaginary things.

UncleMidriff Said:

"Are you implying that you believe that a group of people freely choosing to live their lives in accordance with a set of morals that says that desiring something is bad even if you don’t actually do it is the same as state sponsored, harsh persecution of people who say or think anything contrary to the State’s ideas? "

Sorry if my last post came out wrong.
What I am trying to say was, why there always exist group of people(government or otherwise) who wish to censor or sway the though of the mass to their agenda.
I have nothing against it if that group of people choose to live out what they believe in, but it is a totally different matter if they want someone else who do not follow their believe to practice the same. While condemning those who do not follow suit as sinner/unpatriotic/uncivilized/whatsnot(depending on who the group are).

Communist China once did it to hide fact of starvation, now they practice Internet censorship. While religious group in my current country condemn people of different religion as sinners, and politician using Patriotism to condole obvious act of self profiting.

Sorry again for anyone offended by my previous post.

@Bill
I think there are a few reasons why you might get the impression that Christians are attacked on this website. One, pretty simply is that people might write in absolutes, but that is not the intent. When I say I'm tired of Christians bashing video games, I don't mean all Christians, just some. However, it's much easier and quicker to leave out the "some" because I think that the reader should be able to infer that I don't literally mean to impugn all Christians. It's kind of like when you're having an argument with somebody close to you and you accuse them of "always" saying something or doing something to you. Of course, you don't really mean "always" but in the heat of the argument that's the easiest and possibly most effective rhetoric to use.
The second reason is that since 9/11, it seems as if the only specfically Christian voices that are heard are from the Christian Right. It seems as if they've turned Christianity from the loving, tolerant, compassionate religion that many believe it is and into the opposite. It seems as if Christianity today is defined by what you can't do rather than what you can do. It's made judging others not only OK, but necessary. I and many others always thought that Jesus was against the judgment of others. When gamers hear of Christian Right forces like Jack Thompson and Sam Brownback trying take away our gaming freedoms its kind of scary because we know that this is an unofficial Christian nation and that if these guys represent Christianity today, then the games we like are in jeopardy.
It is dumb for posters to attack those they agree with, but I can understand why they do given the current face of Christianity in this country. I wish moderate and liberal Christians would take a more forceful stand against their conservative counterparts and remind them that there is alot more important issues to focus on, like poverty. If the public image of Christianity can return to its more Jesus-like ways then I think you would notice a difference on this board and all forums where Christians and non-Christians meet.

# sir.jamesgreen Said:
April 17th, 2007 at 4:27 pm

"Question for you."

Me? :-)

"If you get angry playing an FPS game and seek revenge (threatening to kill that bastard, wishing him ill, generally being not a nice person towards your enemy) could that be considered sinful behaviour."

I'd say if it gets that extreme, where you are actually wishing and/or seeking to bring harm upon a person, then yeah, that's probably not a good thing to do. If it's just a little competitive frustration, I don't see the harm in it. I typically tell people, "I will KILL you" when I'm playing against them at a LAN party, but we're all friends and we all know it's harmless competitive jibber-jabber.

"Pushing the idea close to it’s very limit is it sinful to want the equiptment of your friends in an MMO… coveting your neighbours goods and all that."

Maybe...I dunno. I don't play MMOs so I can't really comment on the mentality of the people who do. I'd say if you're thinking about it or coveting it so much that it interferes with the relationship between you and your friend, then you should probably quit being so silly.

"If you see your character in the sims as a virtual realisation of yourself and you entice it to commit adultery is that sinful."

I'd say it depends on you're attitude about it. If you're all, "Hey guys, come look at these Sims humping, lol," then it's probably pretty harmless. If your setting up your Sims to commit Simdultery because it helps you fantasize about cheating on your wife, then that would be a problem. But think about this; maybe your setting up your Sim you to commit adultery to see how things turn out, how doing so affects the relationships he has. You could essentially be creating a story about your life if you made some very different decisions. That would be both enlightening and not sinful, in my opinion.

"It’s an interesting point to have been raised… shame some people just took it as “lololol teh Byble says things what are outdated” rather than a philosophical question. Meh"

Agreed.

For anyone who says that virtual violence is a sin, ask them:

"Will virtual praying get me into heaven?"

Morals without god? *shock*

Didn't know that was possible...

I'm a video game researcher, not a Bible scholar, but I'd say the New Testament puts forth an even better argument that playing games is NOT sinful.

More relevant than the verse about adultery, I think, are the verses about the "unclean" foods and eating rituals (Mark 7:13-23). The key verse here:

(15) "Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'"

This comes from the New International Version:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%207;&version=31;

I can see why you might go to the adultery part first, though there's certainly a lot of contention around whether that actually condemns 'thought crime.' It's in the context of calling out the Pharisees for being hypocrites, and basically telling people that they should strive to be perfect. Among most Christian denominations, the verse above about uncleanliness is actively in use, having been taken to undo the long-standing food proscriptions in Hebrew law. If you're going to use a 'consumption' metaphor for video game play (i.e., something you put into yourself), you're essentially putting it on the same level as animals with the wrong kind of hooves.

Well, I dunno if my opinion would hold much grounds, considering I practice something that in the old days, I'd have been burned at the stake in a heartbeat. Or some other "trial."

Buuut...no. Now, that may be because I have no belief in the Bible, but who's to say, heh.

Well, good thing I'm not married and therefore can't commit adultry.

Playing videogames is not in itself a sin, in just the same way that watching movies is not a sin. However, continuously putting yourself into a sinful state of mind is a dangerous practice and can be sinful -- you can sin by thought just as by action. So, watching movies is fine, but watching and enjoying pornography is sinful. Playing videogames is fine, but playing GTA with a vengeful mind (or to get some of that sweet sweet hot coffee) is probably sinful. Beyond that, you can debate whether playing videogames counts as sloth.

Definitely a gray area, but the most important thing is what goes on upstairs.

Videogames? A sin? Apparently my church doesn't think so. The Senior High youth group has a Gamecube and a Wii and one of the favorite games is 007: Nightfire. Yes, this idea was implemented by the youth pastor and the rest of the church is well aware of the consoles. They haven't done anything to stop it. The only rule about the games they play is that they aren't M-rated, which is understandable since, 1. It's a church, 2. There are students under 17 and as long as they're at their Wednesday Bible Study, they're the youth pastor's responsibility.

Wait, stop. According to Catholic teachings, temptation is /not/ sin. Remember, even Jesus was subject to temptation.

Okay, granted, not everyone is Catholic, but still...

Is videogame violence a sin?

Yes, if you are Christian. But, then you'll have a few Christian sects that weasel into explaining away the sin inherent in their hobby.

I want to be clear, I don't think there is anything wrong with video games of any sort, from a personal moral perspective. But to historical and standard Christian morals (The Gospels), the sin of thought is equated to actually acting on those thoughts. Historically, I am willing to write that off as a simple reason to get followers to reconcile their sins more often because even thoughts are sinful, and therefore getting more coins in the coffer. But modern Christianity, seems to want to take this to the next step and police thoughts. Specifically, I am referring to Christian moralists. I define that as a member of any particular brand of Christianity who believes that because his/her faith includes the "My faith is the only correct one" clause, that this gives them motive to control other people's morality.

I hope that I've been specific enough in the last paragraph so as to not offend ALL Christians - just the specific mind-set of some Christians.

Oscar

Watching porn can give actual physical arousal.

Playing a video game doesn't put you into a blood lust.

//Sounds like they’re trying to apply Matthew to the “video games make you kill” argument, though-just like JT and the gang-they have no solid evidence to support it.//

Not really, they're just saying that for Christian gamers (or religious gamers of any really) to consider if what they're playing is a sin. Jacky-boy pins crimes on games; these people are just saying "just watch what you're doing and what games you play".

Question for you.

If you get angry playing an FPS game and seek revenge (threatening to kill that bastard, wishing him ill, generally being not a nice person towards your enemy) could that be considered sinful behaviour.

Pushing the idea close to it's very limit is it sinful to want the equiptment of your friends in an MMO... coveting your neighbours goods and all that.

If you see your character in the sims as a virtual realisation of yourself and you entice it to commit adultery is that sinful.

It's an interesting point to have been raised... shame some people just took it as "lololol teh Byble says things what are outdated" rather than a philosophical question. Meh

Hey, guys!

The bible does have very important lessons...at the end of the day, Jebus was a good guy.

But there are parts of the bible that represented the moral attiudes of the time, and thus, should be taken with a grain of salt.

Consider that.

I made earlier comments disparaging the Bible, and was called out for failing to provide references to said sections. I would like to correct that mistake.

For the Bible encourages genocide, I present the entire book of Joshua. The Israelites move into the Canaanites' land and slaughter them "to the last man, woman, and child" claiming divine approval for their actions. That is the mass murder of an ethnic group, and as it is divinely ordained, and as the victims included the young or pregnant women, I believe that it condones the massacres of innocents, which I find morally reprehensible.

As for the Bible condoning rape, near the end of Judges, the tribe of Benjamin was nearly destroyed during a war, and to help rebuild their numbers, they were told to abduct innocent women. That constitutes as condoning rape, something else I find morally reprehensible.

If my godless morals are far stricter than the Bible's, it suggests there is a problem with the Bible.

Gosh, spending all your time pretending to kill people? Getting joy out of virtual violence, murder, bloodshed, destruction? Perish the thought! Video games are good and holy and wholesome!

Who are you kidding. Of course video game filth is sinful, as is every other kind of filth. Video games are just like pornography. If you've got no problem with media that destroys actual flesh and blood relationships while subtituting them with virtual ones(as both video games and pornography do) then no big deal. But if you see pornography as sinful, then video games are too--probably moreso.

~the1jeffy Said:

"Now, people who want to call themselves Christian can explain away their guilt as they wish, but Christian doctrine says otherwise."

Are you a christian? If so, are you Catholic or protestant? If Catholic, which kind(Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, etc.)? If Protestant, what denomination? Baptist? Southern Baptist? Methodist? Church of Christ? Pentecostal? Presbyterian? Episcopal? Non-denominational?

You speak of christianity as if it were some massive, unified whole, and it just isn't. There are about as many ways to interpret the Bible as there are people who deem it worthy to do so. About the only thing we have in common is the idea that Jesus Christ was a really special guy. So, when you say that "Christian doctrine" says otherwise, I don't really know what you're talking about.

I don't mean this post rudely, and I hope it won't come across that way. All I'm trying to say is that even if you post 3,000 links to 3000 different websites that all say, explicitly, that playing violent video games is a sin, it doesn't mean that all christians believe that it is. A person can disagree with that and still consider himself a christian.

@Silver_Derstin: "To some Christian groups, doing just about ANYTHING is a sin."

Example: The Shakers (I believe that's who it was).

NO sex. At all. Even married. Ever. And yet they still managed to reach numbers in the thousands (six thousand-some I read). Well, until it started to decline, that is.

Okay, I got it! The world's next huge game! SimMonk! You create a monk, and it'll play like The Sims or The Sims 2. You control his daily life! Meditate at the golden statue of whatever diety it is! Do daily chores! Eat! Go to sleep! And do it again the next day! THE EXCITEMENT!*

*No form of talking or rude gestures are programmed into the game. Or any hair. Rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

you had me till you said "sexual assault"
game over loser find somewhere else to troll.

Is there a \pray command in WoW?

I could see it now. If I set my character to pray for hours on end I must surely be able to go to heaven. Not much else to do since most quests require a bit of violence just to get high enough level to finish them.

A few months back on this site someone put it rather well.

"I think the point of that verse is that every time you see an attractive women you shouldn't think "Man I want to fuck that like a goat on wheels"."

"You left out the part about “shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them”. It’s a commandment about making idols to worship them as God. Not a commandment against art moron. "

True. I guess I assumed "any" meant, you know, "all", regardless of whether or not people idolized it. My bad.

"Dear Lord, what were you smoking when you read the bible? Rape encouraged? WTF? That’s just ridiculous. And Genocide? You need to study more of the history and culture. That’s like claiming the US, Russia, and England all commited genocide on the Germans in the 40s. Uncontextual and false generalizations hardly help a discussion. "
If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her.
(Deuteronomy 22:28-29 NLT

Is videogame violence a sin?

No. Videogames are a sin. They break the second (the graven image one whatever number I think second though) comandment

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth... (http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/10commandments-texts.htm)
Video games make a likeness of a thing on earth, beneath earth, and occasionally in heaven.

Of course, drawing, painting, sculpting, and picture books are all sins too! ;)

I have nothing to fear. I gave all my gold to the church in Oblivion. Virtual God is on my side.

I'm a christian, and I really do disagree with applying Matthew 5:27 to violent video games. The following might be seen as an attempt to "weasel into explaining away the sin inherent in [my] hobby," but I honestly don't think it think it is. What I am about to say is consistent with the way I have been raised and taught in the church, and not something I just pulled out of my ass yesterday because I like to play a violent video game every now and again.


When Jesus says, "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart," I really believe he means more than noticing some chick has a nice pair of boobs. I'm very happily married, but even so, and even as a christian who tries to live by the standards set forth by verses like Matthew 5:27, I do notice when a large-chested, bikini-clad woman walks by. At that point, if all I think is, "OMGBOOBS! Ok, done," I doubt I've broken the spirit of Matthew 5:27. If, however, I dwell on it and think to myself, "Man, if I wasn't with my wife, I'd bang her so hard. I wonder if I can get something going with her the next time my wife is out of town," then I've definitely gone against Matthew 5:27. The difference? In the first case, I merely acknowledged that there were some hot boobies in my field of vision. In the second case, I'm actively desiring to cheat on my wife. It is my belief that the difference there is huge.

Now, on to violent video games.

When I cap some fool in the face and laugh about it in Rainbow Six: Ravenshield, have I desired to kill anyone? Can anyone honestly say that the thoughts and feelings that go into that are the same as the thoughts and feelings that would go into me actively planning to shoot a real person in the face. Of course not! Even if I am playing against a human, and even if that human is really annoying in real life, I can honestly say that even though I desire to shoot him full of holes and watch him die slowly and painfully in-game, I would be absolutely devastated if that happened to him real life, especially if I had to watch or had any part in it. I would cry. I would rush to his aid. I would call 911. I would try my damnedest to save him. I would be psychologically devastated for a very long time afterward. No, comparing the desire to kill someone in a video game with the desire to kill someone in real life is, emphatically, absurd.

Doing something "sinful" in a violent game is not the same as thinking about it. In this context, thinking implies desire, which is not created by violent media. It's nothing more than dealing with a concept, which cannot be wrong.

And of course, if there's a video game that forces you to wantonly slaughter innocents, I haven't seen it. Even when violence is present, the vast majority of the time it's as a force for positive change (Kill the evil nazis/demons/commies, save the world, get the girl). Violence as a necessity to serve the greater good is hardly un-Biblical, no matter how much the pacifist wing of Christianity tries to pretend otherwise.


@HandOfCrom
Dear Lord, what were you smoking when you read the bible? Rape encouraged? WTF? That's just ridiculous. And Genocide? You need to study more of the history and culture. That's like claiming the US, Russia, and England all commited genocide on the Germans in the 40s. Uncontextual and false generalizations hardly help a discussion.

As a Christian, this is definitely a thorny issue. Personally, I think actions are far more important than thought.

I want to expand on my earlier posts, to more relevant points than just attacking the morality of the Bible through referencing select passages and coming off as mere "Christian-bashing." The Old Testament describes the history of a people, including many of their actions, both morally upright and reprehensible. It tries to put a positive light on their actions, because they're not going to bash themselves in their own histories, and to their perspectives what they did was acceptable, even if I am certain it is wrong. I have studied the Bible, and it does have some interesting moral lessons, but it must be studied intelligently, rather than blindly saying, "Some passage says we must (kill homosexuals/oppress women/slaughter anyone who disagrees with us), so let's do it, God says so!" St. Augustine said that any immoral interpretation drawn from the Bible is a fallacious interpretation, so the moral lessons must be derived by each person, rather than twisted by someone with a sick agenda (Phelps, Falwell, Robertson), than pushed on others. Overall, on Christianity, I think Gandhi said it best, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are not like your Christ." For the most part, people who take faith seriously and try to understand the lessons in a reasonable manner seem morally upright, but far too many people who call themselves Christians use it just as a badge while gleefully engaging in immoral activity, while the large organizations of Christianity (Catholicism, Evangelicism) are riddled with corruption and overall are a blight on humanity.

xengk Said:

"Here I am thinking that I have escape the Communist Thought Police when my family left Mainland China several generation ago.

Look like it is no better elsewhere around the world either. *sigh*"

Are you implying that you believe that a group of people freely choosing to live their lives in accordance with a set of morals that says that desiring something is bad even if you don't actually do it is the same as state sponsored, harsh persecution of people who say or think anything contrary to the State's ideas?

Here I am thinking that I have escape the Communist Thought Police when my family left Mainland China several generation ago.

Look like it is no better elsewhere around the world either. *sigh*

I don't wanna see another post about what Christians should say, do or whatever until I have seen a detailed definition of what a Christian is. If people's definition of "Christian" and "Christianity" differs, then what is getting accomplished by yelling about it!? I could say that Christians are always sinning if they get a tattoo because its a permenent marr on their "temple". Is that Biblically true? Is it unforgivable? Maybe if you people referenced more Bible and less "my church says"s or "I strongly believe"s, maybe something could get accomplished on the issue. Also, if you say you're a Christian and yet think the Bible is not what it says it is, then why call yourself a Christian. The Bible is the core of Christianity's documentation. Why not actually use it and provide a definition.

@Darknight

You completely avoided my point of the virtue of temperance and my gluttony example. I know the seven sins aren't in the bible (i think) but then again being able to stop yourself from sinning should count for something.

I know I've already responded but I really wanted to say this and I didn't have the time. Thinking of sin or even considering sin is in no way shape or form actually committing sin. I was in a short skit about the seven deadly sins so I thought about sin quite a lot before the show's run ended, however I didn't actually commit the sins.

Now let's consider one of the seven deadly sins in a hypothetical situation (in this case gluttony)

I'm near a casino buffet in Vegas, it is a huge, cheap buffet packed with all my favorite foods some of which I haven't tasted in years all made by great chefs and for little money (yes there are buffets like this in Vegas they use them to attract people to the casinos right next to them). However I just had lunch less then 10 minutes ago. Nevertheless I can't help but have my mouth water over the thought of tasting all the delicious food. I can't wait to engorge myself on all the excellent meals and to pig out on the dessert bar. I start aching with anticipation to eat and eat till my stomach can not handle another single morsel. Eagerly I get in line but then my mind warns me not to the commit the sin of gluttony, and I begin to think about this. Finally at the very last second I reluctantly give up my place in line and leave the buffet. Now in this situation undoubtedly I would've thought of the sin of gluttony but did I actually commit the sin even though I didn't touch any of the food? Logic and common sense tells you no. Taking this a step further by leaving the buffet I have commited one of the seven holy virtues (seven virtues used to counter-act the seven sins). I have commited the virtue of temperance (self-control) which is the virtue that counter-acts gluttony by not letting my desire of food get the better of me.

However the sins they seem to be concerned with in regards to video games are lust and wrath. Lust is Lust whether it is for something that is real or not. Wrath is up for grabs. By definition wrath is revenge. However if a guy named Bob angers me to some extreme length and I take it out by punching another guy named Fred in the face, that is not revenge (assuming Fred and Bob are unrelated and have never met). Now pretend that Fred is not real but is instead "Random pedesterian #1678342". Now pretend that it is not me who is actually doing the punching but is instead some other person who is not real that I have control over. So now instead of punching Fred in the face I have fake hero punch random pedestrian #1678342 in the face (repeatedly). How anyone can see this as being wrath is beyond me. As far i know the principle behind wrath is violently getting revenge on those who have wronged you instead of following Jesus's turn the other cheek policy. With video games you take it out on something that is not real and therefore could not have wronged you instead of the person who has wronged you. Call me crazy but this makes video games seem like a great way to avoid wrath.

I don't think these christrians who created the game company are condeming video games in the article. They just asked you to reflect upon your own beliefs and ask yourself is this right. As many have posted here yes it is to them, but there may be christains out there who reflected on it and may think differently. I know when i read it, I had to think about it for a minute. He has a good point.

all you HAVE to do is keep saying i don't believe in snipers I don't believe in snipers, I now mark the 5000th request for an edit button.

I'm sorry, just out of curiosity, but on what video game can you sexually assualt someone? I get the feeling that is more of a biased statement as seen in the New York Daily where they said you sell drugs to kids in Grand Theft Auto....

@Gameboy, E. Zachary Knight

Oscar = Jack? Nah. Not enough ranting, especially about we gamers ourselves. Not enough BS to be Jack-like. A bit more, though...

Anyhow, I already stated my opinion, so I won't add myself into the arguement.

There appears to be a lot of confusion here about various aspects of Christianity and the nature of sin - here are a few points, in no particular order.

The whole concept of the Sermon on the Mount (which people are quoting from Matthew) is that "the new standard is higher than the old". Christ finishes up by saying "Be perfect" - which pretty much impossible. Even with the assistance of God, it is virtually impossible.

Now, what Christ is meaning here is that the older Law where (for example) adultery was a sin is being replaced where the idea that contemplating carrying out adultery is a sin.

NOT, as many people are saying, thinking about a sin is a sin. That would be pretty ludicrous, and not what is being said.

So, for example - having sex with someone you are not married to = sin

Deliberately thinking about having sex with someone you are not married to = sin

Thinking "She's a bit hot" = not a sin

Thinking "Adultery is having sex with someone not my wife" = not a sin

What Christ says there is basically "If you think it and dwell on it, it is a sin." That's a key, core doctrine of the vast number of Christians and has been for nearly 2000 years. You can try to get away from that, but you can't. Sorry :)

The big question here is not "is entertaining notions and deliberate thoughts of committing a sinful act a sin if you are a Christian?" (because it absolutely IS) but rather "is playing a violent video game comprable to real violence on a moral context?"

I would suggest that it depends on the game - a game where you play a police officer who is trying to defend innocents and are rewarded for not killing civilians could be argued to fall under the "just war" doctrine and, hence, is not morally bad. A game where you play a serial killer or a bully could be morally bad.

Now, here is where it gets very murky.

A man watching a porn film does so for generally one purpose - to sexually arouse himself. Judged by Christian morals, that is a sin - because it is deliberate mental adultery. A man who watches a television program which is not porn (for example, Dancing With The Stars) but features pretty girls is not committing a sin so long as he does not delberately watch it to get aroused. But, if he has a real thing for one of the girls there and watches is specifically for that, then he is sinning.

Intent is a major factor in judging a sinful act. There are two other major factors; the general nature of the action - so, watching a movie which is generally designed to be sexually arousing and have no other purpose (porn) is generally speaking a sin no matter what your avowed intent.

The third factor is proximate occasion of sin; if you know you have a weakness for sex with prostitutes, walking down the red light district in Amsterdam (while not sinful in and of itself) is placing yourself in severe temptation, and can be considered a sin.

Note the massive numbers of "can be considered" and "might" etc. above - because this is the MOST important thing here;

The only person who can truly judge if something is a sin is God, although humans can have a very good go. A man who, for example, is married and hires a hooker and does the wild thing is very probably sinning. The exact level and nature of his sin is harder to determine - there can be factors which mitigate any sin.

The individual who might or might not be sinning has the responsibility to determine what is a sin, after informing his or her conscience according to correct moral principles. Note "correct" in that phrase - saying, "Yeah, well - Christ got it wrong about that adultery thing" is not a correct moral principle.

Bottom line? Only God knows if it is a sin or not for any individual in any given situation. Although most people are capable of making a judgement and understanding if anything is a sin or not.

The key point comes with what is the player thinking, and what are his motivations? What are his motivations for engaging in the game?

The best way to answer this question is very simple - would you play the game with Jesus sitting beside you? Or would you be embarassed? Would you think Jesus would definitely like this game, or at least say it was okay and had no moral negativity?

If you are not Christian, and therefore either think Jesus didn't exist, or was a loon, or whatever - well, you weren't really concerned with sin in the first place, were you? Frankly, if you are not a Christian, you are committing much bigger sins according to the Christian moral code than simply playing video games . . .

And if you are a Christian, no matter what you think of Jesus and what He might have done (and there is a great deal of difference between some of the more minor sects and the established Churches), you cannot be expected to have a better moral compass than that.

In short; this article and comment was only of relevance to Christians - because Christians saying something is a sin to non-Christians is kind of like saying to terrorists that littering is bad; they are already doing something far worse in the eyes of the person complaining!

"@ Oscar K
Jack? Is that you?"

It sure sounds like him.

hahahaha pw3nd

why are you doing this!!! you are looking at only a few video games. you are stupid

there are no limits in video games....that is what it makes them so fun. we do in games what we cant do in real life. people must understand the diference bettween video games and reality.

Oh - sorry . If video games tempt anyone to sin , they must be pretty stupid anyway. Or not very open to thinking about their motives.

I like Starcraft , so single person shooters don't apply. Mind you , I quite liked the original DOOM . Risk would be nice ; but works better with the board , cards , and friends.

[...] We apparently live in a society where science of any kind is twisted or flat out pushed aside for political or personal point of view.  It’s all about an agenda, only people either don’t care or are too stupid to see through the bullshit.  And people who are pushing their agenda know it.  Come on - it’s even been suggested that playing a video game can be a sin.  [...]