In “Left Behind: Eternal Forces,” a violent video game marketed by one of the executives at Pastor Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life business empire, Christianist children are taught that violence against non-believers is not only acceptable, it’s fun
American madrasah: It is never too early in the year to speculate about what America’s Christian Nationalists will be buying their children for Christmas this year.
One strong candidate is a gory new video game, “Left Behind: Eternal Forces.” The game is produced by the folks behind the marketing of the popular Left Behind series of fantasy novels written by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye that depict the world after the Apocalypse — a cataclysmic biblical event in which God’s chosen are removed from earth and the rest of us experience hell on earth, literally.
Less obvious is the game’s association with genial Pastor Rick Warren, who is sometimes called “America’s Pastor,” and who is the guiding foce behind the corporation that produces the Purpose Driven Life self-improvement books, seminars and other media for Christians. Actual Christians among Pastor Rick’s followers might be surprised at the blood-thirsty violence depicted in the game directed at the secular world and even non-evangelical people of faith:
[You] are a foot soldier in a paramilitary group whose purpose is to remake America as a Christian theocracy … 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…”
We should pause here to point out that “you” are a 13 year old boy:
The game rewards children for how effectively they role play the killing of those who resist becoming a born again Christian … Is this paramilitary mission simulator for children anything other than prejudice and bigotry using religion as an organizing tool to get people in a violent frame of mind? The dialogue includes people saying, “Praise the Lord,” as they blow infidels away.
The overarching objective of the game, apparently, is to teach young Christian supremacists that terrorism is an appropriate response to secularism in our society. Killing people is okay — laudable, even — if they have religious views that aren’t in synch with yours.
It is hard to square this with the teachings of Jesus as presented in the Gospels. It is also difficult to square it with the seemingly reasonable philosophy of Pastor Rick Warren. According to the bio for Pastor Rick on the website for the Purpose Drive Church:
Dr. Rick Warren is passionate about attacking what he calls the five “Global Goliaths” – spiritual emptiness, egocentric leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic disease, and illiteracy/poor education. His goal is a second Reformation by restoring responsibility in people, credibility in churches, and civility in culture. He is a pastor, global strategist, theologian, and philanthropist. He’s been often named ” America’s most influential spiritual leader” and “ America’s Pastor.”
“Civility in culture,” huh.
But there is a direct connection between the marketers of Pastor Rick’s Purpose Driven Life and the violent Christian video game:
The international director of Mr. Warren’s Purpose Driven Church, Mark Carver, is a former investment banker who serves on the Advisory Board of the corporation created in October 2001 to develop and market this game. The creators plan to market their game using the same network marketing techniques that Mr. Warren used to turn The Purpose Driven Life into a commercial success. For example, they plan to distribute their merchandise through pastoral networks, especially mega-churches.
As one critic told the Los Angeles Times:
“[They’re] going to push this game at Christian kids to let them know there’s a cool shooter game out there,” said attorney Jack Thompson, an author and outspoken critic of video game violence. “Because of the Christian context, somehow it’s OK? It’s not OK. The context is irrelevant. It’s a mass-killing game.”
The “money quote” comes from Left Behind author Tim LaHaye, who told the Times, “We hope teenagers like the game. Our real goal is to have no one left behind.”
Oh good. This is exactly the wholesome video game experience I’ve been looking for after my fragile, impressionable soul was warped and twisted to the dark side after Grand Theft Auto.
This simply reaffirms that religion is not the true aim of the “religious right”. Total domination of the human mind and spirit in the name of “god”, and the laying to waste of all who would disagree. They claim to love Jesus, but they apparently know nothing of his teachings and seek only to force their will upon us all. This is Jesus:
THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Nowhere within these simply stated and beautiful words do I find any reference to homophobia, xenophobia, intolerance, hatred for those different from ourselves, or the urging of preemptive wars in the name of God to rain death and destruction on the world while utterly failing to care for and uplift the poor, the elderly, the infirm, and those less fortunate than us.
These “religious” people like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, Ralph Reed, and Tony Perkins are nothing but agents of hate, divisiveness, and deserve nothing but contempt for their actions. Perhaps, someday, a REAL man or woman of god will someday convert their hatred and bigotry into love for their fellow man, and they themselves might actually find religion and not just another tax-dodge. Otherwise, I believe god has a very special place in hell reserved for those of this ilk who use god’s name for ill purposes.
Excellent comment by Mr. Arnett.
Warping young minds used to be the province of the Jesuits, but these days, anyone can claim to be a man of god and advocate violence against anyone who has a different belief system.
It’s a bit ironic that this country was founded by people seeking to escape religious persecution in Europe.
Looks like the Spanish Inquistion, Part II is coming soon to a town near you.
Now accepting applications for the next Torquemada.
Haven’t these folks ever heard of “Thou shalt not Kill”?
Like the song by 10 Years After, entitled “Religion” says,
“I never really understood religion, except it seems a good excuse to kill”.
Greg Bacon
Ava, MO
Dead on comment, Bill. Thanks!
This report was 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:
Truth about Left Behind Video Game
Layman, please stash your Christian Nationalist truth-stretching game-playing in rightwing fantasyland.
The nuances of the rules are insignificant. The purpose of the game is to indoctrinate young people into a fascistic hate group by teaching them that the massacre of innocent people who don’t subscribe to their particular bizarre religious beliefs is okay. So what if you “lose points.” You murdered innocent people just because they were Jewish, Catholic and/or gay. That’s no different from the ideological training given to 13 year old boys in Hitler youth programs (like the one the current Pope was a member of) or the fundamentalist madrasahs of modern Islam.
Be advised: We are liberals and thus are immune to the paranoid delusions of Bush-worshippers.
You are under the control of a blood-thirsty cult. Seek help.
Nuances?
The game standa accused of advocating the murder of people who do not convert. In fact, the game discourages all killing and killing civilains turns you into one of the minions of the anti-Christ.
That is hardly nuanced. Just admit you’ve bought a whopper and be a little more skeptical next time.
This statement is posted from an employee of Left Behind Games on behalf of Troy Lyndon, our Chief Executive Officer.
There has been in incredible amount of MISINFORMATION published in the media and in online blogs here and elsewhere.
Pacifist Christians and other groups are taking the game material out of context to support their own causes. There is NO “killing in the name of God” and NO “convert or die”. There are NO “negative portrayals of Muslims” and there are NO “points for killing”.
Please play the game demo for yourself (to at least level 5 of 40) to get an accurate perspective, or listen to what CREDIBLE unbiased experts are saying after reviewing the game at www.leftbehindgames.com/pages/controversy.com
Then, we’d love to hear your feedback as an informed player.
The reality is that we’re receiving reports everyday of how this game is positively affecting lives by all who play it.
Thank you for taking the time to be a responsible blogger.
I am a Christian and a Pacifist. The LB Games “spam” insinuates that there’s something wrong with this. This is the same thinking that led to the crusades and the inquisition. Doubtless, this is where these people want to lead us again. Through this game they’ve shown their hand. They are leading us to the Christian equivalent of jihad.
Jesus Christ was the ultimate “Christian Pacifist” - He laid down His life. I’m disturbed that SJR thinks that this is somehow a bad thing.
I have been hired by LEFT BEHIND GAMES for the purpose of STATING THE TRUTH about the game. Contrary to what people are saying who want to bash Christianity or Religion, the LEFT BEHIND games are the first games in history whereby the use of PRAYER and WORSHIP is more powerful than the use of GUNS. Isn’t this a good thing? There is NO convert or die! You lose the game for focusing on killing! But unfortunately, the fact that we do not ban guns in the game is a wrongful interpretation that we encourage them. After all, what teenage gamers these days want a game without a gun? Isn’t it better to show them how their use is not effective, is destructive and will eventually cause you to lose? So, please, be a RESPONSIBLE BLOGGER and find out the truth about this GREAT GAME FOR OUR YOUTH before saying another word about it. SEE IT FOR YOURSELF. Then, we welcome any CONSTRUCTIVE criticism so we can improve the game further every year. Thank you.”