Christian Skepticism

Friday, December 14, 2007

The New Digi-Religion - Skeptical of World of Warcraft and Second Life

Well, unless you have been living under a virtual log, you have heard of the "World of Warcraft (commonly known as WoW) - a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG)" as well as the phenomenon known as Second Life (abbreviated as SL), an Internet-based virtual world.

As I have observed the emergence of these massive virtual worlds, I am increasingly struck by the fact that these "games" are becoming, or have become, substitutions. Substitutions for genuine human interaction in the form of "fantasy". Substitutions for dealing with reality in a way that removes true societal regulation. Substitutions that, for many, have taken the place of religion.

I will admit to a certain allure to join into these worlds, but the nature of WOW, with its dark nature and D&D origins and SL with its own problems, make me step back and consider these "worlds" from a Christian Skeptic perspective.

At best, these "worlds" distract from our purpose of glorifying God and enjoying Him forever by removing us from interacting with and stewardship over His Creation and proclaiming His gospel. At worst they pull folk into a pit of dark magic and moral relativity that mirrors the pits of Hell themselves in that they sever the connection between God in Christ and Man.

It is hard for me to see any redeeming quality to these virtual worlds, although some have tried (see the wiki entries on WOW and SL or google them).

Acts 17:29
Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

So, what do you think?

2 comments:

Unknown said...: It seemed dark and evil to me from the beginning so I'm not real surprised.; Monday, December 17, 2007 at 4:33:00 PM PST
Julie Groenewald said...: If you want to serve the Lord Jesus with all your heart, this game is evil.
Firstly it is very time consuming -time which you could have used to preach the gospel or be in prayer or read the Bible.
Secondly, Spells/Ghosts/Resurrection stones/ dragons/ Superpowers/Totems etc is directly from the darkness, from satans world. A christian is not to associate himself with darkness, but with the light and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This game has also proved addiction and murder. (See the news for China.)
This is not from God, He does not want His children to play WoW or be associated with it. This game can open a door for satan to pull you deeply into the occult. It can bind you with all sorts of evil thoughts and even sin.
As christians we need to stand up for what is right by becoming doers of the Word and only hearers.; Monday, February 18, 2008 at 12:43:00 AM PST

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Quoteable

It is a battle between worldviews, and we are looking to see which worldview can account for itself best. In that battle, there is no neutrality or default position. (August: Circular Reasoning; July 07)

While many in the church today, who having bitten off the principles of the world rather than swallowing the word of God, fail to recognize it, the truth remains that CHRISTIAN SKEPTICISM is not only our great heritage and long standing tradition, but also our Christian calling! (Swordbearer: Christian Skepticism – Our Great Heritage and Calling; July 07)

The key is how the different schools of thought withstand internal critique. Naturalism struggles with internal critique, because it is inductive by nature. Any of its conclusions can be viewed with skepticism, because we can never examine all the evidence in all relationships in all senses. It further refuses to admit to its own metaphysical components. For example, how can the naturalist prove the laws of logic by use of the scientific method, without being viciously circular? It is a metaphysical assumption held to by a groundless faith. (Puritan Lad: Team CS and the clash of the worldviews!; July 07)

If you say that God is “unnecessary in everything we know about”, how do you know that? Do you know “everything we know about”? Who are “we”? How did you come to know the meaning of the word “be”? You said that you don’t know where the universe comes from. How does that remove the necessity for God? At the very least, it is equally an explanation as any other if you don’t know. So then God is not removed from everything we know about, since the universe had to come into existence in order to exist. (Puritan Lad: Team CS and the clash of the worldviews!; July 07)

You mean to say that you actually have evidence that the universe wasn’t created? That would be monumental. Can you point us to this evidence? (Puritan Lad: Team CS and the clash of the worldviews!; July 07)

Ligon Duncan on the Non-Negotiables of the Gospel