Pastor considers Nazi style game burning

[Cipher]

And now, in the continuing saga of Christianity versus video games, we have a new contender out of Newport News, VA. Pastor Richard Patrick of Abyssinia Baptist Church is contemplating a good ol'fashioned burning. But rather than burning books like the Nazi's enjoyed doing, he instead wishes to target CD's and video games.

Quote:

"We are considering having something similar to a rally where parents and children can bring CDs and video games that they consider are destructive to the mind set of our youth and have a burning, just like they had a gun buyback last year."

Although I have to say, that to me, the highlight of the interview was this.

Quote:

Q: How significant a problem do you believe violent video games and violent rap music is?

A: It has a tremendous influence on young people and violence. That's basically all they see. Most of them try to emulate what they see, when in reality, the people they see don't even live in those communities. Some of the rappers they see on TV portraying crime don't live in the urban areas — they live in the suburbs somewhere. It's all a facade.

Now, while this is the same kind of drivel we hear from people like Jack Thompson, it all does really get old after a while. As a parent myself, I may agree with the fact that some games are extremely violent, but I rectify that situation in an easy way. My children aren't playing those games. There are age ratings on games for a reason. Why is it the fault of game developers that there are so many rubbish parents out there that allow their child to do whatever they want?

But most of all, this is the question I would like answered by all of these zealots and fanatics. If there is too much violence and death on TV, that you feel our children shouldn't be seeing, wouldn't your time be better spent protesting the war in Iraq, which puts more violence and death on TV everyday than any other topic?

Chime in with your views on this topic, and maybe we will send a message back to the good Pastor regarding his draconian concepts.

Source

[Craig]

Sheesh... well, the good news is that Hillary is out of the running so we have one less major hurdle in our way. That's not to say she won't continue her anti-gaming crusades in other ways, but I digress.

This is pretty much expected. With Jack Thompson pretty much out of the picture now, it only stands that someone was going to take his place. Everyone hates lawyers so we sort of had a leg up on Jackie boy. But if a man of the cloth takes up this cause in a more intelligent way, it could mean trouble for us gamers.

[VincentVega]

And how many carbon credits would the church buy to offset this?

[SonicSpeed]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentVega

And how many carbon credits would the church buy to offset this?

Honestly though, lets not confuse the (without a better term) "Radical" Christians with everyone else. Most every Christian I've met likes video games (or at least has played them and doesn't really care). There is no "ongoing war".

[VincentVega]

Nobody ever mentions how those that don't learn from history's mistakes are doomed to repeat it. Everyone knows that Nazis are the bad guys, and these games help teach new generations how and why.

[ech0]

I hate these friggin radical pastors, like (*#$(@! I'm a devout Christian and seeing these kinds of things just makes me so pissed off. I don't even consider some Churches, such as the one that was affiliated with Barack Obama, church. he doesn't talk jack shit! he just yells praise the lord and everyone goes nuts.. and then this guy calling for everyone to burn their childrens video games. heck! the parents bought them didnt they? and video games and rap dont effect everyone, jeez. i do both and fuck! im still fine?

[BuddhistSoldier]

Donate your CD's and Movies to me instead of burning them... Sheesh!

[DennyCrane]

To draw a moral equivalency between some zealots burning games and music and our troops freeing a nation and fighting terrorists is astoundingly retarded.

[Cipher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DennyCrane

To draw a moral equivalency between some zealots burning games and music and our troops freeing a nation and fighting terrorists is astoundingly retarded.

Wow. Talk about completely missing a point. What I am equating is the desensitizing effects of "real life" violence and death all over our tvs on every news channel, and newscast for people of all ages to see; with the desensitizing effect of video games that are rigidly rated for certain age groups. If the pastor is serious about lowering the exposure of children to violence and death, I am saying he would be far more accurate in protesting the war rather than games and music.

I have no interest in debating about my beliefs concerning the war in Iraq, and I must say that I find your personal attack apalling. If you wish to disagree with me, that is fine. But please, make sure you get your facts straight, and show the maturity to leave the ad hominem out.

[Gantua]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DennyCrane

To draw a moral equivalency between some zealots burning games and music and our troops freeing a nation and fighting terrorists is astoundingly retarded.