Is Killing in a video game a sin?

[Marc2x]

I finally bought a game called Gears of War 2 and it came out in Nov 7. i think.And its a FPS which is First Person Shooter and its a game about aliens going to take over the world and exterminate humans.And in the game your a human trying to save the world by killing and destroying every single alien.It has cuss words in it but th game developers put a filter in the game so if you put that on there will be no cuss words in the game.I don't like playing GTA4 because im more of a Hero based FPS guy.I also like Wa based games like Call of Duty.Is killing in a video game a sin even if its not real?I asked a few people about this and they said no and some said depends on the person.Do you believe its a sin to kill in a virtual game?

[Marc2x]

Oh and if you say yes can you tell me why you think it is?

[Howdyboyalan]

I don't think so

Obviously you have the 1 in a million people who play video games to get rid of frusteration and actually simulate killing people, they are dealing with their desires of the flesh in which case (and it often escalates to actual murder), then yes,

However for me and many others, it is simply a case of point and click within the context of a story, and it induces no sinful thoughts.

[MegaJedi]

I say no.  Due to it is not real, and if you want to advance in the game then it must be done.  But if you are worried, there is a discussion in the video game section about a non-violent game called Toontown.

[Bonnie]

I don't think they cause harm unless the violent tendency is already there. It's more sophicated than the Cowboy and Indians with pistols that shot caps and blew off some smoke.

If I had children I think I would try and steer them towards the less violent type games. It just seems the safest way to go.

[zoonance]

If you hate without killing, Jesus called it murder - a sin.  If you lust without the physical act, Jesus called it adultery - a sin.   If you kill imaginery people on a game?  1) Possibly the concience is numbed (similar to what hate and lust produces I suppose) 2) Possibly skills are learned that will help in law enforcement later?  3) Does if "feel right?/seem wrong?/raise red flags in your mind?" right?  If it doesn't feel right or seem wrong - it is likely sin!   


I don't personally like these games at all.  My boys enjoy playing them and they tell me both in conversations and by lifestyles that they recognize the difference between fantasy and reality.   We had toy guns growing up and I have never killed anybody either.  Nor do I want to.

[Bonnie]

Amen, Zoo.  We had BB guns and shot at pop bottles, .5 cents down the drain with every one we broke.  I have no desire to harm anyone either.  LOL   

[chosenone]

Whether or not it is wrong or a sin, is it actually beneficial for us spiritually tor emotionally to play such games? I would say no, it isnt beneficial.
God told my son recenly to sell his x box. he didnt even play violent games like this but it was because he spent too  much time on it. However it gives an indication about what God thinks about computer games.

[mikeyjc]

I can't help but think that people with serious anger issues shouldn't play these games.  Fantasy can become reality.  Scary...

[chosenone]

I can't help but think that people with serious anger issues shouldn't play these games.  Fantasy can become reality.  Scary...

Agreed.
They have done experiments on young children who played 'fighting' computer games or watched fairly violent things on televsion, (obviously not too violent for their age), and without exception they all became more violent in their games afterwards than they were before.I cant understand why people keep saying that we arent affected by what we do or watch, its obvious that we are, even if we are relatively well balanced normally.We are seeing these things with our eyes and hearing them with our ears, and therefore they are going into our souls and affecting our spirits.Why do you thnk that children get nightmares after watching violent films or programmes? I am sure that some wil get them after playing some video games also.

[Flying To]

Well some of them are comepletely trash...Grand theft auto...you play as a criminal....or anoyther called Manhunt..where the whole point is to go around killing people.

[dfc1959]

u already said u dont like playing..even though u like to be the hero..ur desire to be a hero and the idea u dont like to play..sounds like a little bit of conviction..u would not like to play because ur a child of God..but ur flesh says lets go for it..u should look for some other game where u can be a hero and still not let ur spirit be weakened to invite spirits u dont want..u may think its nothing right now..but its more then u realize..just remember God is not confusing..look through ur spiritual eyes to see if it is right..

[anchorman]

  What- or rather- is there a difference between these games and porongraphic films? Don't both allow the user to live in a fantasy world? Perhaps just for the sake of arguement- and perhaps not- I will be the first person to say use of such video games are a sin

[bemark]

  What- or rather- is there a difference between these games and porongraphic films? Don't both allow the user to live in a fantasy world? Perhaps just for the sake of arguement- and perhaps not- I will be the first person to say use of such video games are a sin

Play the game again and they reapear    so you haven't killed them at all

and they are alive on every other game out there as well

If there is a problem with one who cant separate themselves form fantasy and reality then it goes past the game the movie or the romance book     

Now I have a question if you read a book about a fictional character and they get killed    then are you not also a accomplice to that murder    I don't think so

[jonah135588]

Sometimes killing someone in real life isn't a sin. Sometimes it is (in fact... USUALLY it is, but there are exceptions to the rule).

I really like violent video games. Obviously, I'm a horse of a different colour, but I can't get into video games that don't have a "Mature 18+" rating on them.

I'm pretty desensitized I guess. But, in this world you kind of have to be sometimes (depending on your mission;)

Have at it bruh! ^^

[chosenone]

Sometimes killing someone in real life isn't a sin. Sometimes it is (in fact... USUALLY it is, but there are exceptions to the rule).

I really like violent video games. Obviously, I'm a horse of a different colour, but I can't get into video games that don't have a "Mature 18+" rating on them.

I'm pretty desensitized I guess. But, in this world you kind of have to be sometimes (depending on your mission;)

Have at it bruh! ^^

Trouble is that the things that we may like, or sometimes can become addicted to, are often things that are not at all good for us.

[jonah135588]

Sometimes killing someone in real life isn't a sin. Sometimes it is (in fact... USUALLY it is, but there are exceptions to the rule).

I really like violent video games. Obviously, I'm a horse of a different colour, but I can't get into video games that don't have a "Mature 18+" rating on them.

I'm pretty desensitized I guess. But, in this world you kind of have to be sometimes (depending on your mission;)

Have at it bruh! ^^

True dat!
I agree.

I may be wrong, but I look back on my life sometimes, and I am reassured that God had me go through certain things (situations, affinities, trauma, desensitization, etc.) for a purpose that I don't exactly know about fully.
All I know is he's in control.

Trouble is that the things that we may like, or sometimes can become addicted to, are often things that are not at all good for us.

[fanuvmxpx]

You can't kill anything in a video game. A video game is computer programming. In the computer program, if you 'kill' a character, you advance to a future portion of code where the character is no longer present.

If you restart your game, restart the level, you begin at a point of time in the code where the character still existed. A character in a game is a picture that is bound by laws the programmers make for it. It is physically & logically (according to programming) impossible to kill in a video game.

Now, if we're talking about war, where your not defending yourself...where your actually on the offensive...that's a whole new thread...I personally wouldn't tread those waters.

oh, and no its not a sin 

[OneLung]

Now, if we're talking about war, where your not defending yourself...where your actually on the offensive...that's a whole new thread...I personally wouldn't tread those waters.

And please remember those who do tread those waters so you don't have too.

[bemark]

Now, if we're talking about war, where your not defending yourself...where your actually on the offensive...that's a whole new thread...I personally wouldn't tread those waters.

And please remember those who do tread those waters so you don't have too.

::amen!::and  for that

When I you play those games I cant help but think of those who actually are fighting so we don't have to

And I also realise that I would have died quite a few times over

[fanuvmxpx]

Now, if we're talking about war, where your not defending yourself...where your actually on the offensive...that's a whole new thread...I personally wouldn't tread those waters.

And please remember those who do tread those waters so you don't have too.

I have the utmost respect for our troops. And I believe in defending America. But the Bible says "Thou shalt not kill", not "Thou shalt not murder", so you see my dilemma of conscience.

I can differentiate further. What if you kill a 'suspect' and it turns out, you had the wrong person OR your intelligence was flawed. Is it a sin, or not?

[kristinaf]

Does if "feel right?/seem wrong?/raise red flags in your mind?" right?  If it doesn't feel right or seem wrong - it is likely sin!   

This is how I tell if something is a good influence or a bad influence in my life...if I feel unrest while I am listening, watching or doing something, then it is either sin or something close to it.  If something makes you question whether it is right, then it probably isn't right.  If something makes you uneasy then why are you doing it?  You probably shouldn't be doing it.  I myself have had some uneasiness about playing Tetris.  I know this might sound silly.  I have felt in my spirit while playing Tetris, that it is keeping me away from God, like I could be praying or reading the bible instead of spending time playing a game.  But that is just me.  So, do I think it is sin? Only if it becomes an idol for you, and is separating you from God, or if it's something that comes before God, or if it is something that is giving you unrest in your soul. 

[artm]

my Story:

I was watching a western on TV, In the movie there was a bar room brawl, Five men against one Man,( the good guy.)

In the movie people were watching this guy get beat up, and did nothing to help, Then one man steps up and says, I am gonna help this man, and he grabbed a pick handle and ran in to help this guy.

When he did, I said to myself, " Good, bash their brains in."

God spoke to me instantly, and said, " See how easy it is to enter into sin, ? "

Somehow in my heart I had entered into sin by wanting these guys to get their heads bashed in.

So, we need to be careful as to what we watch on Tv, or what we play, even a game can be sin if we get some sort of pleasure from the deeds or actions taking place.

Just a thought. just something to think about. Pray about it and ask God.

[3AM]

Video games that require killing, merely prepare a person to do so later on.

They are an educational device by satan....which should be quite obvious.

Ephesians  6:12   For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. 


video games are satan's principles in actions.

God says: "Thou shalt not kill"....even in thoughts, as shown by Christ's Sermon on the Mount (Matthew , chapter 5)

[the J Man]

I finally bought a game called Gears of War 2 and it came out in Nov 7. i think.And its a FPS which is First Person Shooter and its a game about aliens going to take over the world and exterminate humans.And in the game your a human trying to save the world by killing and destroying every single alien.It has cuss words in it but th game developers put a filter in the game so if you put that on there will be no cuss words in the game.I don't like playing GTA4 because im more of a Hero based FPS guy.I also like Wa based games like Call of Duty.Is killing in a video game a sin even if its not real?I asked a few people about this and they said no and some said depends on the person.Do you believe its a sin to kill in a virtual game?

If a video game promotes killing or war as being okay, then yes it is a sin. If you really care about the well being of others, than how could you justify murder just because it's in a video game? That would be like if you played a game that justified sexual perversion, would you think it's now okay just because it's a video game?

On the other hand, if the game is designed where you save others and protect others from harm, then that wouldn't be sin. In real life, that would be the right thing to do. That is not murder when you kill in order to protect others. If you were a cop, you saw someone about to shoot or stab someone, you order thme to drop their weapon and they refuse, your response would be to use your gun and shoot the person.

Many video games promote bad ethics and morals. They glorify war as if it is okay. That doesn't teach people to have respect for others when it promotes to kill others. This is where you have to distinguish whether it is sin or not.

[bemark]

Get real   its  made up       Now it would be different if I was actually thinking of killing a person and plotting it in my head    projecting evil thoughts towards them     


God is a warrior      I can hardly wait for Christians to bring out a competitive game where we get to slay demons  and  dragons       Bringing justice and judgement where needed    let the lion come forth

[MegaJedi]

Ok it has been said.  You kill someone in a video game , go back to the level and there they are again.  You only have a buch of Pixels in a shape of something gat a different color.   "THERE IS NO KILLING!!!"   lol.  Now in real life, Killing is a sin I am sure that wars are subjected though.  After all If I remember correctly GOD did not have David invite Goliath over for Tea and cookies and talk out their diffrences.

[D_N_T]

Well, I've thought of this too! Sometimes there is malice in our hearts even when we're in a fantasy situation- don't know...

[bemark]

Well, I've thought of this too! Sometimes there is malice in our hearts even when we're in a fantasy situation- don't know...

Now if this was displayed towards one and another outside of the game     then it would be true    But it wasn't the game that was the problem    but what was in the heart   so if you are saying there is a draw towards that what is in the heart,  so it can have a expression for that   Maybe

But then sports could be labeled wrong and also posts like these      as it could bring out the issues of pride within the heart     not to mention anger


So why do people really come hear     Don't look to deep    you may not like what is looking back   :(

[the J Man]

Get real   its  made up       Now it would be different if I was actually thinking of killing a person and plotting it in my head    projecting evil thoughts towards them     

Games, movies and music that promotes violence plants a seed in someone's heart. It gives people the impression that violence is okay. If children are brought up watching movies and playing video games that glorify violence, then what kind of message do you think that sends to them? 

God is a warrior      I can hardly wait for Christians to bring out a competitive game where we get to slay demons  and  dragons       Bringing justice and judgement where needed    let the lion come forth

Yeah, our battle is against Demonic spirits rather against flesh and blood(see Ephesians6:12). But that has to be done in the Spirit, not by natrual means. You can't fight demons through man amde weapons, only though spiritual warfare prayers and taking authority over demons.

Speaking of spiritual warfare, the united satanic front's main desire is to get people to follow after occultism and witchcraft. Ever notice that many video games have occultic stuff in it??? Satan uses these type of video gasmes, he uses the music industry, the movie industry, certain TV shows the reach the masses for the occult. The occult is the counterfeit of the gospel. Instead of people following after rightouesness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost(Romans14:17), Satan seeks to get people into his kingdom which is based on carnality and the works of the flesh. Games the promote violence is promoting the kingdom of darkness as well.

[bemark]

May be it adds water to the seed that is already there     And you are right where children are concerned

But also     That video game could be used to enlist the younger ones into the real fight    and get the message out there that the Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force

Not weak Christians but those who are determined to bring heaven to earth    To never give up  to keep going   to find a strategy against the enemy  to grind him into dust    Psalm 18

37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
         Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
38 I have wounded them,
         So that they could not rise;
         They have fallen under my feet.
39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
         You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
         So that I destroyed those who hated me.
41 They cried out, but there was none to save;
         Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.
42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
         I cast them out like dirt in the streets.

[bemark]

Now there are occult themes you are right    But don't label them all    If not you would never pick up a book     Dont play those games

[wolflet7]

The Chronicles of Narnia has come out with video games and they pretty much promote killing.  They are Christian based and pretty obviously Christian based.  Is that too bad?

[the J Man]

The Chronicles of Narnia has come out with video games and they pretty much promote killing.  They are Christian based and pretty obviously Christian based.  Is that too bad?

This is when you need discernment. To see what is acceptable unto God and what is not.

[MorganTheAngel]

I don't see a problem with Killing in video games, as long as it doesn't get out of control. Especially with kids because if they are young and they are playing violent video games and they see the "good guy" kill someone, they might get the wrong ideas. But I really don't see a problem with it, because sometimes that relieves stress for me when I play games like Grand Theft Auto and Halo.