Online Gaming...a platform for the "devil"?
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The church I went to discussed this with their followers. The pastor preached that anything which leads to obsession is most likely used by the devil to get a hold on the person and lead him away from christ and God. The church also invited 2 witness to come on stage and share their experience.
The witnesses went on stage and gave a testimonial on how they were addicted to online gaming that they played the game for almost 14 hours a day. They also mentioned that because of their addiction, bad things happened to them, e.g(1 of them failed his O lvls badly).
And somehow when they asked for help, God came into their life and helped them. One of the witness online game account was hacked into and he lost every item and equipment in it. He eventually gave up playing that game because he felt "xian".
The pastor therefore urged people to destroy copies of their online games and appeal to young fathers, who may have young childrens, not to be influenced by the game and stop playing games totally. The pastor also says self control is impossible for the long term. As online games are structured in such a way that it is impossible to gain satisfaction just by spending 1 hour or less playing it.
What do you think? Are online games evil? -
you know what's wrong?
they bloody see the devil in EVERYTHING except in their own hearts...
if their hearts are good and their faith is strong, nothing but NOTHING will corrupt them...
but no.. they blame everything else..
what next?
you need eyes to look at pornography, therefore the sense of sight is evil and the devil's work?
sheesh! -
everything is evil and bad when u become obsessed or addicted..
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hmm so the pastor whos obssessed about god and the bible is saying that god and bible leads one to the devil??
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so u are gonna quit dota? ask ur heart if u think its a platform for the devil
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think about this:
the bible-thumper goes around and pisses everyone off and drives the people from the church... is he doing God or the Devil's work?Originally posted by hisoka:hmm so the pastor whos obssessed about god and the bible is saying that god and bible leads one to the devil?? -
nth wrong wad.
i also play gunbound once a dae to kill time. -
no idea. maybe by doing so he drives the pple in his church to a true messenger from god. in that way isn't he doing god's work?Originally posted by the Bear:think about this:
the bible-thumper goes around and pisses everyone off and drives the people from the church... is he doing God or the Devil's work? -
Well, I personally think its up to the individual. Nobody has the right to decide what is "evil" or "good" for you. Self-decision, free will.
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drinking alcohol is satanic, ok.
gambling is satanic, ok.
online gaming is satanic?!
OK....... -
Yea, and sex....still have to state what kind of sex then is godly for married couples.
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Normal intercourse not against the order of nature.Originally posted by M©+square:Yea, and sex....still have to state what kind of sex then is godly for married couples.
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its the obsession, not the object of obsession.
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dumb ideaOriginally posted by shade343:The church I went to discussed this with their followers. The pastor preached that anything which leads to obsession is most likely used by the devil to get a hold on the person and lead him away from christ and God. The church also invited 2 witness to come on stage and share their experience.
The witnesses went on stage and gave a testimonial on how they were addicted to online gaming that they played the game for almost 14 hours a day. They also mentioned that because of their addiction, bad things happened to them, e.g(1 of them failed his O lvls badly).
And somehow when they asked for help, God came into their life and helped them. One of the witness online game account was hacked into and he lost every item and equipment in it. He eventually gave up playing that game because he felt "xian".
The pastor therefore urged people to destroy copies of their online games and appeal to young fathers, who may have young childrens, not to be influenced by the game and stop playing games totally. The pastor also says self control is impossible for the long term. As online games are structured in such a way that it is impossible to gain satisfaction just by spending 1 hour or less playing it.
What do you think? Are online games evil? -
I think the pastor's point was not to invite temptation and to flee from it.Originally posted by Ito_^:its the obsession, not the object of obsession. -
Seriously, I think the pastor is right...
It's not that all online gaming or computer game is evil, however nowadays there are alot of MMORPG with the basic idea and purpose and structured in such a way where players gain experience slowly and get hooked/ addicted.
What the pastor is saying is basically to avoid getting an addiction. As this kinda activity is vulnerable or potential to create addiction and will also disrupt you as a person, including your relationship, work/ study, etc etc. -
stop using religion as an excuse. u just cannot control your life between virtual games and real social life. addiction to games is just that you don't have a strong determination and perserverance against entertaining stuffs. religion just buff up what humans lack off in controlling themselves. and like most stories, it'll include some of the current trends to make it more realistic.
live as u like, without any regrets.
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Originally posted by shade343:The church I went to discussed this with their followers. The pastor preached that anything which leads to obsession is most likely used by the devil to get a hold on the person and lead him away from christ and God. The church also invited 2 witness to come on stage and share their experience.
The critical point here is: "obsession is most likely used by the devil to get a hold on the person ". It is not gaming per-se.
hey, cause and effect, bro. 14 hrs a day, they figured it's the devil? I'd say poor time management and poor prioritisation. I'd watched TV for 14 hrs and I'd failed my O levels too... no need for a pastor to tell me that.Originally posted by shade343:The witnesses went on stage and gave a testimonial on how they were addicted to online gaming that they played the game for almost 14 hours a day. They also mentioned that because of their addiction, bad things happened to them, e.g(1 of them failed his O lvls badly).
The problem is addiction. A person can be addicted to studying and loses his closeness with God and yield the same result (not failing of course).Originally posted by shade343:And somehow when they asked for help, God came into their life and helped them. One of the witness online game account was hacked into and he lost every item and equipment in it. He eventually gave up playing that game because he felt "xian".
Here's where I think the problem of the church when they start to meddled with such issues - a wrong identification of problems. This one of the few things I fought with in my church and with my sons' school. To identify these as firstly "a satanic" bond is really mislabelling the problem when the problem is obsession. Back in the old days when kids were failing the exams and not studying because of marbles and kites, you do not see pastors condemning marbles and kites, you get parents holding the cane and getting the kids back into the home to study.Originally posted by shade343:The pastor therefore urged people to destroy copies of their online games and appeal to young fathers, who may have young childrens, not to be influenced by the game and stop playing games totally. The pastor also says self control is impossible for the long term. As online games are structured in such a way that it is impossible to gain satisfaction just by spending 1 hour or less playing it.
What do you think? Are online games evil?
I wrote to my boys' school to share with the teachers that when they condemned Harry Potter and Pokemon trading cards, they missed out on the Manchester United and Chelsea cards. If the boys are obsessed with ManU and Chelsea trading cards, all their condemnations are useless because they are barking up the wrong tree.
I don't play online games - I prefer puzzle games.
My younger son don't play online games - he's more into television, arts and crafts and pop music.
My older son is in DOTA - he's disciplined enough to moderate his play time, spends huge amount of time in the school website to get his assignments done. An almost straight A student.
I do not believe that online gaming is evil per se.... like anything else, it can go out of control, or if the user is discipline enough, it's a good form of entertainment.
"Those of use who goes around looking for the devil is bound to find him - even under a rock" -
The problem with the story from shady is that the pastor asked the congregation to destroy copies of the games. It may be symbolic, but in itself it does not accomplish anything and some less maturity believer may be lulled into sense of security. It does not deal with the root of the problem - the addiction.Originally posted by Li Ka Shing:What the pastor is saying is basically to avoid getting an addiction. As this kinda activity is vulnerable or potential to create addiction and will also disrupt you as a person, including your relationship, work/ study, etc etc. -
It isn't about "evil" or "god" or whats not. Basically it ends up with yourself.
I am a hardcore and if i may say competative gamer. I train hard, join compys. sit at my com from the moment i get back from school till sleeping time. Of course i got a life la . But this happens almost everyday. But i too am a good student. I listen in class though i dont do my homework. I did pretty good in O lvls (Good enough to go a respectable JC) but i chose to go to a poly.
Everyone thought i would fail cause i didn't even pick up a book to study for Os but i did better than all of them. I have a great social life with both gamers and non-gamers.
Lemme tell you all this is bullshit. So lets say you dedicate your time to go to church, is that an obsession? so is that evil ?
There is no "good" or "evil" . There is only what you percieve as "good" or "evil" -
Its abit to late to realise that obsessive gaming is "demonic", it actually alters the way you think. I don't think spiritually developed person likes games.
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Originally posted by 022615:
....a rather subjective statement. would a spiritually developed person likes buffet? I know of at least one pastor who love to eat, so much so that he's extremely overweight, or another pastor who enjoys Elvis music. The issue is really what such genres does to you.... a person can enjoy gaming if the gaming part doesn't grip the person.
Its abit to late to realise that obsessive gaming is "demonic", it actually alters the way you think. I don't think spiritually developed person likes games. -
One word sums it all.
Moderation.
And everything will be fine. -
CS Lewis who loves a cigar a day is he "unholy", Luther who showed his backside to the pope will he go to hell?Originally posted by Chin Eng:....a rather subjective statement. would a spiritually developed person likes buffet? I know of at least one pastor who love to eat, so much so that he's extremely overweight, or another pastor who enjoys Elvis music. The issue is really what such genres does to you.... a person can enjoy gaming if the gaming part doesn't grip the person.
I was also told by some old-fashioned christians (no offence here) that i should not play WOW, D&D and even Maple story (DUH!!!) listen to Eagles, Rolling stones, wear jade etc etc... cause they are all "Demonic" and of the devil!
These pple claim that i am opening up doors for the "Devil" to tempt me. I mean every single thing we blame Satan until he kena jialat jialat left right centre upside down.
WAT CRAP!!! We should not be legalist. -
Inconsistency.... that's the word I use on some church members and leaders.Originally posted by babyys:CS Lewis who loves a cigar a day is he "unholy", Luther who showed his backside to the pope will he go to hell?
I was also told by some old-fashioned christians (no offence here) that i should not play WOW, D&D and even Maple story (DUH!!!) listen to Eagles, Rolling stones, wear jade etc etc... cause they are all "Demonic" and of the devil!
These pple claim that i am opening up doors for the "Devil" to tempt me. I mean every single thing we blame Satan until he kena jialat jialat left right centre upside down.
WAT CRAP!!! We should not be legalist.
I am one the few Christians who openly oppose the idea that Pokemon and Harry Potter are satanic.
I also played Hotel California to my SS class once..... to the disdain of some parents... ha ha....