What is it about games that makes them any more of a time waster than other things? How is this form of entertainment any different to any other form of entertainment that it requires special condemnation? What is the difference between this and twitting every 30s, blogging constantly, FB’ing, reading in all it’s forms, excessive sport, movies, TV, etc?

hey man – i’m not sure if you read my comment properly.
i didn’t give games special condemnation… here’s what i said:

i think that video games are an incredible time waster – just like watching 3 movies a day is a great time waster, ’social networking’ on facebook for 6 hours a day is a great time waster and being able to quote more of the simpsons than the bible. too many Christians spend too much time on video games – that it’s no longer good for their health and godliness.

There is one, relatively small, strand of philosophical thought that considers all these forms of art to be a subset of lying. I don’t think that cuts it. So, the need is for a theoretical framework: how do we deal with the rules of representation?

To make the whole thing more specific: I think it’s one thing to represent acts of violence, and quite another to engage in them.

What is it about games that makes them any more of a time waster than other things? How is this form of entertainment any different to any other form of entertainment that it requires special condemnation? What is the difference between this and twitting every 30s, blogging constantly, FB’ing, reading in all it’s forms, excessive sport, movies, TV, etc?

The problem is games in excess and not games in themselves. There is quite a big difference.

@Sam: I found 1 & 3 helpful mate! good point

@Seumas: great questions mate.
re 1: true, but that understanding of rest and leisure shouldn’t preclude evangelism should the opportunity rise.
re 2: could you please explain “representation” for the ignorant (like myself)
re 3 & 4: good call. I’m with you on those.

1. We need a strong enough understanding of rest and leisure that doesn’t compell us to turn every single moment into explicit evangelism and workaholism. That’s what secures a space for culture and gaming in particular.
2. We need a strong enough theology of representation, otherwise we will need to abandon drama, movies, art, and gaming. Artistic mimicry has important differences to reality (I think this is key in understanding violence in gaming).
3. We need to stop giving violence a free ride in media consumption. Christians regularly worry and get uptight about the portrayal about sex. I suggest we should pay more attention to the place of violence in our media.
4. Learn to play games with a moral code within the game. Many games these days are deliberately set up to have ‘good’ and ‘bad’ paths. Refuse to play to evil.

1. Is the content (audio/visual) I’m taking into my mind as *leisure* something which Christ would approve of? How does it stand up against Philippians 4:8?

2. Is this game glorifying violence & sin? (ie. CS)

3. Is this *helpful* for me in becoming more like Christ?

4. How much time do I waste on games? Am I going to look back one day and weep at my rich white Western butt sitting in front of computer while the needs of the world (both temporal & physical) roll by?

On top of the above, personally, I know I find it easy to use games/movies/fiction etc as a form of escapism and a way to avoid the real world (2.c in Stephens post), and this is very unhelpful for me.

Also, totally agree that we shouldn’t dismiss all sense of enjoyment had from games as “sinful”. But it is hard to divide it up. There’s the abstract enjoyment of competition and strategizing, which I think is quite harmless. But then one could also wallow in violence and fantasy and enjoy that too, in a vicarious manner, but perhaps not so innocently. I wouldn’t want to try and define this too rigidly, but I think these two poles of “enjoyment” do exist.

Blessings,
Sam.

i can’t help but think of video games as a great tragedy.
yes – there is good. there are relational opportunities to get to know people and talk to them about Jesus (i know of a guy who owns one of those computer link up lan shop things that runs a bible study with a bunch of the young guys who come along – that’s shrewd).

i think that video games are an incredible time waster – just like watching 3 movies a day is a great time waster, ‘social networking’ on facebook for 6 hours a day is a great time waster and being able to quote more of the simpsons than the bible. too many Christians spend too much time on video games – that it’s no longer good for their health and godliness.

i don’t want to stand before God having wasted my life. video games aren’t a problem for me – but i nonetheless have my own ways of wasting my life.

don’t waste it homies.