05/31/2006
Christian Video Game Urges: Hate Thy Neighbor
Look at what the wingnuts hijacking Christianity have created now. Left Behind: Eternal Forces is a real-time strategy game whose creators have ties to Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life. The game as described by Jonathan Hutson of Talk2Action:
"Imagine: you are a foot soldier in a paramilitary group whose purpose is to remake America as a Christian theocracy, and establish its worldly vision of the dominion of Christ over all aspects of life. You are issued high-tech military weaponry, and instructed to engage the infidel on the streets of New York City. You are on a mission - both a religious mission and a military mission -- to convert or kill Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, gays, and anyone who advocates the separation of church and state - especially moderate, mainstream Christians. Your mission is 'to conduct physical and spiritual warfare'; all who resist must be taken out with extreme prejudice. You have never felt so powerful, so driven by a purpose: you are 13 years old. You are playing a real-time strategy video game whose creators are linked to the empire of mega-church pastor Rick Warren, best selling author of The Purpose Driven Life."
The game also features characters exclaiming "Praise the Lord" as they exterminate people. Sweet Jesus.
The Purpose Driven Life Takers [talk to action]
(via boing boing)
Posted 3:30 PM EST by Andy Towle in Religion, Video Games | Permalink
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God help us.
Posted by: scott w | May 31, 2006 3:37:27 PM
Oh it gets better...the anti-Christ in the Left Behind books is the product of a gay relationship.
Posted by: Mitch | May 31, 2006 3:45:24 PM
Is this for real?
Posted by: john | May 31, 2006 4:31:12 PM
Putrid...
Posted by: Brian | May 31, 2006 4:31:51 PM
These are the American fundamentalists and they are no different--and no less potentially dangerous--than the Taliban.
Posted by: rake | May 31, 2006 4:38:28 PM
Don't worry guys-- with the way China is growing, Christianity isn't going to survive the next 1,000 years.
Church attendance is down, youth today believe far less in what their churches tell them (this coming from a college student who has had class with several kids who were raised devoutly Catholic and now laugh at the insane notions indoctornated into them)
Most of all, with all the "abstinence only" sex-ed going on w/ the wing nuts, their children are going to be far less protected when they do start having intercourse.
The result? I mean to offend no one, but I truly think there is going to be a spark in HIV/AIDS within this group.
I sincerely hope for their sake the drug cocktails keep working, or else they will be joining Jesus far sooner than they have planned...
Posted by: Jason | May 31, 2006 4:38:51 PM
*100 years
Posted by: Jason | May 31, 2006 4:41:03 PM
Oh, let Freedom ring...
I hope to hell it sells billions of copies so that we can finally show the rest of the world what kind of schmucks and low scum Christian American Terrorists have finally sunk to. Yes, let's proclaim that we are the best Democracy to the LARGER Muslim and Hindu population of the world while Bush-loving Christian terrorists are sitting in the back room blowing any non-Christian-loving charicature.
"...and what do you do for enterainment?"
This is the end of the world as we know it.
Rad
Posted by: Rad | May 31, 2006 4:50:09 PM
On another site, they say this may not be accurate. Maybe even a spoof. I don't know.
Posted by: Lady Heather | May 31, 2006 5:05:57 PM
It likely is a spoof.
In the real game, players would be required to ask, "What would Jesus do?" Then, they would have to get pissed off at religious leaders who place unnecessary burdens on others, while at the same time, assisting those in need, regardless of political affiliation, creed or sexual orientation.
Or something like that.
Posted by: Kevin | May 31, 2006 6:07:31 PM
I hope it is a spoof....
But is is sad as hell that for a moment we all believed it. We all have met xtians who have made us believe that such a thing is truly possible within their community.
Posted by: jimmyboyo | May 31, 2006 7:55:42 PM
What I want to know is where is the outcry over this kind of vile violence in a supposedly pro-Christian ideals video game that could best be described as "bigotry meets Grand Theft Auto." You certainly heard a lot of outcries about the violence and sex in "Grand Theft Auto." This would seem to be yet more proof that "Christians" are using religion as a smoke screen to achieve another agenda...
Posted by: Robert In WeHo | May 31, 2006 8:12:43 PM
"Christianity isn't going to survive the next 1,000 years."
incorrect, grasshopper. China has seen a swelling of evagelicalism of late. Xtianity is the fastest growing faith in Africa too.
this game shows that the new Ku-Klux-Klan has arisen.
Posted by: dolly | May 31, 2006 8:26:22 PM
When it comes to fundamentalists, never in my life have I seen a group of people who so loudly claim to have the truth, while being so completely devoid of it.
Posted by: vince | May 31, 2006 9:03:57 PM
I OFFICIALLY HATE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE NOW.
especially the moderate ones who enable franatics to ran amock by demanding "respect" for irrational beliefs
Posted by: Anrichrist | May 31, 2006 9:54:56 PM
Who needs horror movies? The religious right is way beyond my understanding. This 'game' totally scares me more than anything. The mindlessness of the average neocon wingnut in staggering and and those religious leaders make sure he's putty in their hands. Have you visited that webpage? The way they brainwash people is amazing. And WE recruit? Please! These people are NOT Christians. They are monsters.
Posted by: Xavier | Jun 1, 2006 3:09:20 AM
It hardly matters if it’s a spoof or not. These boys mean business. That ‘game’ reflects the real views and the real potential for Nazi style 'social cleansing' by theocrats.
When pulpit pimps need a quick buck to pay for their new manor hall, they know what to do. When a pitiful second-rate Napoleonic imposter like George Bush runs into a string of Waterloos, he wants to cover his ass.
Scapegoating by means of anti-gay bigotry is their preferred tactic. They play groups against each another based on gender, class, nationality, skin color and gender attraction. For them it’s just a tactical game, a scam to divide people and divert anger - but it has lethal consequences for us.
We should not let them organize and inspire thugs with impunity. Attempts to undermine the Constitution and replace the Republic with a superstition based dictatorship are an incitement to rebellion and sedition. We should campaign to treat them the same way we treated Jeff Davis and his gang of slave owning criminals.
We have to combine campaigns of ongoing massive mobilizations of ourselves and our allies to confront, intimidate and deter. If similar measures had been taken against the Nazis it's unlikely they'd be anything more than a footnote in the history books.
We can sue them, using legal strategies from the civil rights era, whether they’re street thugs, elected and appointed government figures, superstitious shysters, or cops.
Squalid parasites like Pat Robertson, Falwell, Jimmy Swaggert, Dobson, Billy and Franklin Graham, and a pack of roman bishops and cardinals live a life of undeserved luxury with mansions, servants, luxo cars, etc., all derived from paying no taxes and accumulating massive assets. (Plus the romans get altar boys.)
What the courts did to the KKK they can do to them. We should ask them to convict Swaggert for threatening to kill gay men when he said “I've never seen a man in my life I wanted to marry. And I'm gonna be blunt and plain; if one ever looks at me like that, I'm gonna kill him and tell God he died." And Phelps, for supporting the murders of Matthew Shepherd and others. And Robertson and Falwell, for trying to provoke a lynch mob mentality by blaming lesbians and gays for 9-11.
Keep in mind the words of the Department of Justice report on hate language; “the use of such language creates an atmosphere that permits conduct to escalate from mere words to stronger words to threats, and ultimately to violence.”
The law, including international law, is on our side. Let’s use the law. A legal offensive, with volleys of lawsuits whenever violence occurs, contributes to our defense.
They’re just in it for the money but the ruthless hatred these unrepentant extremists manufacture encourages beatings and murders. Massive demonstrations and aggressive legal actions are multi-edged weapons that can deter them and strip them of their assets.
Posted by: Bill Perdue, RainbowRED Organization | Jun 1, 2006 8:59:34 AM
"These are the American fundamentalists and they are no different--and no less potentially dangerous--than the Taliban."
The Taliban believes all homosexuals should be killed. Probably 95 percent of Christians believe homosexuals are sinful but don't believe they should be killed. Yeah, that's the same.
Posted by: Steve | Jun 1, 2006 9:29:48 AM
I have a feeling there's going to be an upsurge of violence at this year's Pride parades/marches.
Posted by: Tread | Jun 1, 2006 12:25:51 PM
I'm a Christian, and a video game like this one is definitely NOT Christian. "Exterminating" infidels...that's wrong. Killing ppl is wrong. I don't think God agrees with this either.
Posted by: Blushed | Jun 1, 2006 1:26:05 PM
"The Taliban believes all homosexuals should be killed. Probably 95 percent of Christians believe homosexuals are sinful but don't believe they should be killed. Yeah, that's the same."
Uh...Steve...you missed the point...and seemingly missed a very important word in what you quoted and responded too, which is why I put both in.
Fundamentalist.
Christian FUNDAMENTALISTS are VERY different from Christians. And the FUNDAMENTALISTS do indeed desire the death of Homosexuals, among others. You are correct when you state that a high percentage of Christians don't want the death of Homosexuals, but we aren't talking normal Christians here. We're talking FUNDAMENTALISTS.
Hence, the original poster was correct (since the Taliban are Islamic FUNDAMENTALISTS and no more represent Islam than the Christian FUNDAMENTALISTS represent Christianity).
Posted by: Vampchick21 | Jun 1, 2006 1:27:39 PM
I live in the South and come from a fundamentalist Christian background, Vampchick21. Of all the sermons, conferences and Bible studies I sat through over the course of 30+ years in Southern Baptist churches, not once did I hear anyone behind the pulpit or in the congregation call for the death of homosexuals.
Posted by: Steve | Jun 1, 2006 3:07:48 PM
I grew up going to Saddleback of which Rick Warren is the pastor. I havent been since I was in high school but my parents still go on Christmas and Easter. I find it hard to believe he or the church advocates anything like this.
Posted by: cmac | Jun 1, 2006 4:11:29 PM
i think it was created by these guys -- jesusloveseverything.blogspot.com
Posted by: NEL | Jun 1, 2006 4:54:57 PM
Reports about the game have been very inaccurate. The game does not have the player try to establish a theocracy or kill people who don't convert. In fact, you are penalized for killing people, even though Christian forces are fighting against the anti-Christ's army.
See more about the nature of the game, with quotes from secular reviewers who have actually played it:
http://christiancadre.blogspot.com/2006/06/truth-about-left-behind-video-game.html
Posted by: Layman | Jun 1, 2006 5:21:52 PM