Can a Christian Enjoy a Scary Game?

With the recent release of such titles as Outlast and Daylight on this current generation of consoles, the issue has been brought up; is it appropriate for a Christian to play this type of game?

In one court you have the mindset that the games are just media and they are no more than entertainment value. With that thought process you have to consider the same could be said about games that have violent, graphic or pornographic content. There are those that believe that what convicts one person may not convict the other and that as long as we don't encroach on our fellow believers convictions, we can be fine. This argument has also been used to justify drinking alcohol or eating pork.

[SpiralTear]

Yes, they can, because fear is a biological reaction and is not something isolated to one's religion. Would a Christian WANT to is another story, but then again, you could direct that question to anyone from any faith. Fear may appear in different forms, but it's a universal reaction.

This question also seems to treat all who follow the Christian religion as identical, lumping them together into one hive minded mass, and that's not how things work. If two people follow the same faith, that doesn't mean they're identical. They have their own fears; what scares one might not scare the other.

So, yes. Of course a Christian can enjoy a scary game. There's no reason why they outright can't.

[Aleithian]

This is one of the most objective responses I've read on this site. Congratulations for being rational.

My wife is a Christian and loves scary games/movies. I fail to see what could possibly prohibit a Christian from enjoying fear.

EDIT. It occurs to me that my last sentence might be taken out of context. It presupposes the accuracy of PostMesmeric's comment.

[Retroman]

no BORN again bible believing Christain holy ghost tongue speaking saved person should be playing any Devil game.

enough said.

[joab777]

Great post!

[MONOLITHICIDE]

Sure they can. Just like any other religion. Religion in general uses fear to convert corrupt and conquer. If you dont do this your going to hell. Theres an invisible god in the sky always watching you. All your dead relatives are in the sky watching you.
When are we all as a human race going to wake up. Its just holding us back. Dont get me wrong though, believe in whatever the hell you want!

[woodchipper89]

This is a very thoughtful piece. Great stuff.

[SoulSercher620]

Christianity and horror have nothing to do with each other. WTF!?

How do you link a psychological reaction to a religion?

[I_am_Batman]

Actually it has a lot to do with each other. A lot of horror books, movies and even games have religious themes. The Apocalypse, religious possession, exorcism, the anti-Christ, pregnancy with satan's spawn and so on.

In reverse history shows that a lot of horrifying things have happened in the name of christianity (just like other religions).

Wether you believe in god, allah, buddha or nothing at all doesn't determine you, your actions do.

[Zodiac]

God and Allah are the same thing. Allah is arabic for God.

[Ittoryu]

@ I am bat man the buddha isnt someone you believe in for most Buddhist. See the buddha Kill the buddha.

[Am_Ryder]

uhh double post

[Am_Ryder]

At least Buddha was a real guy. Like he actually walked around and wrote tons of stuff back in the BC.

[Ittoryu]

@am_Ryder yeah just like Christ he didnt write anything he expounded but his followers wrote it all down.

[iSpeakTruth__]

I'm Christian and I love horror games. I don't understand the point of this article

[MidnytRain]

Stupid titles should be banned

[iceman06]

I wouldn't say that most horror games/movies cross any sort of line with Christianity. Besides, isn't your faith the shield that you need against the "invitation" that was spoken about in the article? That being said, personally I have found nothing as scary as reading the book of Revelations as a kid. I didn't understand everything. But, what I DID scared the crap out of me!

[Voyevoda]

Well that's an akward headline.

[The 10th Rider]

Yeah, I fail to see the point of this article. It's more of a question designed to make people think. The one concerning thing would be dealing with the occult or controlling spirits, which most 'horror' games right now don't deal with. If there was a game where you made a pact with and worked with legitimate demons I can see where it might be a concern.

[chinto20]

I don't believe in supernatural stuff, ghosts and the likes and I still enjoyed games like F.E.A.R., I know pokemon isn't real, yet I've played those games for hours, a lot of what I see in videogames goes against what I know about science yet I still enjoy them, so I don't see any reason for a christian with thinking capacity to not enjoy any kind/genre of game.

[PersonMan]

Pokemon isn't real? WTF???

[GreenRanger]

I'm Roman Catholic and I've no problem with horror games.

I also have no problem with homosexuals, women, Protestants, black people, Jews, Atheists, transgender/transexual people, evolution, scientists....uh, what's the character limit on N4G again?

[WeAreLegion]

Christian and a gamer. Much like movies, certain books, or rock, it takes a while for the majority of society to find these harmless things "ok", Christian or otherwise. It's fine. :)

[kevnb]

Wtf

[Ittoryu]

What doea being Christian have to do with video games? Thats right nothing. Leave religion and political crap out of gaming. We as Americans get enough of this crap.

[Chespin]

So now your religion should decide what you can and can't play? This is getting out of hand...

[Tru_Ray]

This is one of the more bizarre posts that I have seen on this site.

I am agnostic when it comes to religion, so I am probably not this best source for this discussion...

I will say that it you honestly believe that playing a game like Demon's Souls actually invites Demons into your house, then your experience playing the game will be infinitely more terrifying than that of a non-believing heathen (such as myself).

Tru_

[AidenPearce]

This has to be one of the most random articles I have ever come across.

Religion has nothing to do with somebody enjoying a form of media/entertainment. smh

[PersonMan]

It's just a video game guys. Play what you enjoy. You're not going to go to Hell for playing a video game.

Sheesh.

[ArtificiallyYours]

Seriously cut it out with the flame bait it's getting toxic.

[cruxito]

i am a Christian Theologist and i do play Survival-Horror games, in fact, thats the only thing i played whenever i get a chance. And it shouldnt be problem for any Non_denomination person to play these type of games, there is nothing wrong about that, all it depends on how that person perceives the content of the game.

[MatthewTrujillo]

I am a christian myself and love games like silent hill, siren, and the older resident evil games. I know lots of christians who enjoy horror in general whether it's games or movies or other sources of entertainment. I also know people who are christian who avoid any type of horror stuff because it scares them. The key thing here is not if they are a christian or another type of religion..... You can easily find a christian, and atheist who either enjoy or hate scary forms of entertainment. It's on both sides...... I have honestly never been scared of a game or movie nothing has even as a child.... I love the lore of the setting that these forms of entertainment bring.

[jessupj]

I'm Christian and horror is one of my favourite generes in both movies and games.

One of my friends is quite overly sensitive about "what he lets his eyes see". It irriates me severely when he says something like that, but I try to hide my disdain for that logic as best I can.

I simply say to him it's simply a story told in a visual narrative. Just because their might be demons or evil spirits in the narrative doesn't make the narrative evil.

The bible has many stories of evil people doing atrocious evil things, but just because it's in written form it gets a free pass. Never understood that logic.

[D3ATH_DRIV3R_777]

Who the #%&! writes this stuff? gimme a break! everybody is entitled to what they play, even if you're christian or not. But since this is directly towards christians, don't read this garbage!

[barfly99]

"Hey Dan, get a load of this christian neckbeard's article on....ahh forget it."