Video game where Jews and Atheists must be killed or converted due for Christmas
Categories: Media, Toys & games, Gadgets & tech, That's entertainment
A video game about a Christian militia slaughtering Jewish and atheist New Yorkers who won't be converted in the name of a particular brand of Christianity will be on the shelves of more than 10,000 American retailers in time for the Christmas season, including Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target, Circuit City, GameStop, EB Games, CompUSA, Amazon.com, Costco and numerous others. The video game is a spinoff of the wildly successful collaborative novels about "the rapture" by conservative fundamentalist minister Tim Lahaye and the guy who used to write the dialogue for the Gil Thorpe comic strip, Jerry Jenkins.
In Left Behind: Eternal Forces, kids will assume the role of a member of a "Christian" gang wandering the streets of a post-apocalyptic Manhattan, killing or converting as many Jews, Atheists, and other unsavory types in the employ of the Anti-Christ as possible to get to the next level. If the heathen won't convert, the character can kill them. The company is offering a free demonstration model to churches. "We see it as a beacon of light that could shine in the dark world of video games," said Jerome Mikulich, "director of outreach ministries" for the company. "The most important thing is that it helps kids realize there is power in the spirit world, and that by praying they can endure and get through their real-life situations." Praying, and putting a shotgun in the mouth of Jews. Just like all those chapters in the gospel where Jesus preaches that the way to salvation is busting a cap into the ass of those who won't convert.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jonathon 10-30-2006 @ 10:47AM
And of course anybody who refused to sell the racist little game would be "predjudice" against Christians. Just like everyone who won't teach creationism -- I mean -- intelligent design in school.
Give me a break.
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Heather 10-30-2006 @ 10:54AM
WOW. I read those books and no where in those books did it have the Christians killing non- beleivers because they didn't convert. This is way off from the concet of those books. All killing was done in self defense because they were attacked. I can't beleive the authors would even approve the releasing of the game with the concept of convert or be killed.
Any game that does this should be banned weather it is against Christians, Jews or Muslims.
Did the inventors of the game even read these books? It doesn't sound like they did.
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Cheryl 10-30-2006 @ 10:58AM
Reason number 798,983,126,013 why I am proud to be an athiest.
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J.D. 10-30-2006 @ 11:03AM
I believe the gamemakers are claiming that all violence in the game IS "defensive" violence, in that the atheists, jews, and members of the U.N.-like "peace" force controlled by Satan attack the Christians, who must then either convert or kill them.
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Dan 10-30-2006 @ 11:19AM
If what J.D. says is correct, than that just makes this story sensationalist nonsense. However, as a Christian, I must admit that any type of "kill or convert" doesn't seem even remotely appropriate for a video game, especially one marketed to kids.
There are so many more effective to try to promote Christianity than a video game like this.
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LS 10-30-2006 @ 11:28AM
So, playing "devil's advocate" for a minute here... this game is bad because it advocates killing Jews and Muslims, but Vice City is ok because it's only advocating killing cops??
Frankly, I think both games are equally repulsive. But I'm sick and tired of hearing about how 'video games don't cause violence' and it's ok to sell games that show graphic scenes of gang-bangers killing police officers, and then hearing people turn around and say that this game shouldn't be sold because the killing has religion entertwined. Either the killing is bad or it isn't. Which is it?
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J.D. 10-30-2006 @ 11:31AM
what's "sensationalist nonsense" Dan? I don't believe these gamemakers for a second in the way they are trying to spin the game. They are trying to repackage it as a non-violent, spiritual "puzzle" type game, but from the beginning its central selling point (and controversy) is the killing of those who have not bought into the gamemakers' particular brand of Christianity. Tell me: do you think teens are going to want to play a game where the premise is praying and doing good deeds.
Oh well, fundamentalist Christian apocalyptic kookiness is so 2004.
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Nancy Toby 10-30-2006 @ 11:35AM
Sounds pretty normal to me. Hasn't "convert or kill" pretty much been standard operating procedure for most religions over the years?
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Alice 10-30-2006 @ 11:36AM
Oh. My. God.
Yes, killing in the name of religion. We need more of that in the world. (Not that you should kill at all, but seriously, this spin on killing just creeps me out.)
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Kellie 10-30-2006 @ 12:10PM
Sounds like something Osmama would like. Killing in the name of God.
Tell me if I am wrong here. I had heard that the authors of the books had sold the rights to the stories so they have no say in the game. I could be totally wrong though and it really doesn't matter.
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birdgal 10-30-2006 @ 12:14PM
So, can they show me where in the Bible Jesus says to kill people who disagree with you? I think the 'Christians' who put out these games are losing sight of what it actually means to be a Christian, if you ask me.
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Jessica 10-30-2006 @ 12:39PM
Video games DO promote violence. Killing Athiests or killing cops. They all have the same end-result. Killing.
But you can't blame the video game makers. They're just trying to mske their $--you know, live the "american dream". Would I make a video game which promotes killing in order to make a buck--hell no, but then again, i am a poorly paid teacher so $ is not what I am in it for.
Tell you what I will do, though. I will NOT allow my child to play violent video games. It's the parents who buy these games for their children that are doing the damage.
Now I am babbling but....I was having this conversation with nmy Honors level freshmen (majority agrees with us) and one student told me about his 7yo cousin whose mother bought him the Playboy game. NICE.
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Jacqueline 10-30-2006 @ 12:54PM
Wait, where are you getting this information? From what I can find on the game's website the fighting is against "Global Community Peacekeepers" who are trying to wipe out the underground Christians - which is a lot closer to the general idea of the books. If you have first hand knowledge of the game and it really is what you say, I'm horrified, but also pretty surprised.
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ann adams 10-30-2006 @ 1:59PM
I read that Rick Warren (Purpose Driven Life) has removed his name from the game so this is all news to me.
They'd substituted a non-violent version in early September and I'd hoped we'd heard the end of this garbage. Hadn't kept up since then.
It may be no worse than any of the other violent games but it makes me ashamed to be associated with it, even indirectly. Christian? Oh yeah, you're the ones running amok on the streets of New York.
No, I'm not.
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Tashlb 10-30-2006 @ 4:28PM
Check your information sources. This blog entry couldn't be more incorrect!
http://www.leftbehindgames.com/pages/controversy.htm
LEFT BEHIND: ETERNAL FORCES
A statement from Left Behind Games Inc.
Troy A. Lyndon, Chief Executive Officer
Recently, much controversy has ensued due to published articles in the media which discuss the violence in our upcoming game, Left Behind: Eternal Forces. However, references to “praise the lord and pass the ammunition” or “kill in the name of God” or others were made by journalists spreading misinformation, which is absolutely not true. And for this reason, I have published this statement.
There is no blood or gore in Left Behind: Eternal Forces. The game is designed to be a classic battle between good and evil, but it does not gratuitously depict violence or death.
Others are concerned about the pre-trib religious doctrine believed by the Left Behind authors. Left Behind is not the Bible, it is a fictional story and accordingly, situations resulting from the stories' post-apocalyptic time-frame are used to encourage gamers to think about matters of eternal significance, a topic largely ignored by modern games.
Because our game is a ‘strategy' game, never does a player click a key or press a button to actuate a first-person violent act. Instead, control is managed by the player in much the same way as an animated chess game would be when pieces fight for position, except that in ‘real-time' strategy games, many pieces fight for position at the same time.
In Left Behind: Eternal Forces, the players' objective is to find ‘tribulation clues', which include Bible mysteries, codes and fascinating and eternally relevant information. In the initial missions, there is little emphasis on physical warfare and gamers are introduced to powers of influence which result in a battle for the hearts and minds of people. As missions progress, there are no ‘objectives' to cause war physically. However, physical warfare results when the player is required to defend against the physical forces of evil; led by the Global Community Peacekeepers.
Several months ago, there was a news story with erroneous information about the game. Unfortunately, some readers accepted the misinformation as being factual, and then the rumor mill and the blogs were off and running.
If you hear someone making negative statements about this game, we encourage you to ask if they have personally reviewed the game. If they are merely passing on hearsay, it is false and misleading information.
At Left Behind Games, we are dedicated to making great games. Left Behind: Eternal Forces is coming to the PC and will be released on October 2006. We believe it will be a great day!
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pbl 10-30-2006 @ 4:34PM
Luke 9- Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out *to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.* He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. *If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them."* So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
I notice in this account Jesus didn't instruct his disciples to use weapons against anyone who didn't want to follow his way, just move on. oh, wait, that's right, Jesus was a pacifist. and a Jew. and a way better guy than anyone who would promote their own self interests to create and sell a video game that slaughters anyone in His name. this disgusts me.
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J.D. 10-30-2006 @ 6:55PM
Tashlg: consider the source. that is PR nonsense, which I read carefully before writing this story. Just because some PR person somewhere writes a press release doesn't mean that we should take off our critical thinking caps. note that the PR piece does not deny that characters who do not convert are killed.
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Meika 10-30-2006 @ 8:18PM
My first reaction to this post was to be absolutely appalled at the very idea that someone would even consider allowing this on the market, even the Left Behind people. But after reading the comments I did a couple quick Google searches, and frankly, J.D., I'm looking for YOUR critical thinking cap. This ABC News report says that killing people actually lowers your power level, and the reviews by IGN and GameSpy - independent game reviewers, not part of Left Behind's PR team - don't mention anything about the widespread slaughter of atheists and Jews, something I'd think they might mention. Convincing "neutral" people to join your side is a little different than what this post claims, though I can see how it could raise concerns for many who aren't Christian.
Let me be clear - I'm not by any means a fan of the Left Behind series. I disagree with the way they interpret the Bible and with many of their foundational premises, and I think that these inaccuracies can and do cause significant damage in real life. Unfortunately, I see the same thing in this article. This game raises real questions that are worth discussing - violence, and especially its intersection with faith; the role of women - but they're not the questions raised in this inflammatory post.
J.D.'s asked us to consider the sources of our information carefully. Taking his advice, I'd like to see his.
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Meika 10-30-2006 @ 8:24PM
I see that my links didn't go through.
The ABC News report: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=1958823
IGN: http://pc.ign.com/objects/757/757683.html
GameSpy: http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/left-behind-eternal-forces/
Sorry about that!
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J.D. 10-30-2006 @ 9:20PM
my source has been linked from the beginning, as are the sources for all blogging baby articles. click on the word "read."
Do you need it spelled out for you who these "enemies" in the video game are? Sure, no one is going to come right out and say "it's a game about killing jews!" they aren't going to be wearing star of david uniforms. but ask yourself this: why Manhattan? Who are the people in new york who will be "left behind" once all the Christians are magically teleported up to live with their whitebearded buddy in the clouds? who is going to left to convert. . .or kill?
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