Religion of Halo helps churches find young congregants
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Oct 7th 2007 at 11:08AM }
The New York Times explores how churches are using Halo to attract young congregants and the criticism it has caused. The article focuses on Protestant youth groups using the game to get young people through the door, then giving them the church spiel so that it'll be "hard for [the] teenagers to go to hell."Critics say that allowing young people to play a game like Halo -- that they should not be able to buy on their own because it's rated M -- is actually a corroding influence. One critic put it succinctly when he said, "If you want to connect with young teenage boys and drag them into church, free alcohol and pornographic movies would do it."
As this blogger can clearly remember wanting to join the "troubled youth" program in elementary school because they got to play Nintendo and talk about their feelings while the rest of us were learning, it's pretty understandable how the allure of video games would get kids to do things they wouldn't necessarily want to do.
[Thanks Anonymous]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Nick @ Oct 7th 2007 11:13AM
Thats pretty sick.
bearattack79 @ Oct 7th 2007 1:39PM
You mean Sick good or Sick bad?---------> Can never tell these days.
Ska Oreo @ Oct 7th 2007 1:53PM
bad sick. It's obvious that religion needs a kick in the pants if video games (especially a violent one) is what is needed to get people interested in the church.
colin @ Oct 7th 2007 6:33PM
off topic, but ...
anyone down for coop legendary? i'll help you get skulls?
GT: oo D3ADPOOL oo
Crono (NDF - French Taunting from Holy Grail Ring) @ Oct 8th 2007 9:30AM
Have people truly become so disconnected from what church is about that they can't tell its just a youth leader trying to get kids to go to church?
I can't count how many people on these boards have said they would let their young teenage kid play halo because its a sci-fi fantasy, and the violence isn't realistic.
There is nothing wrong with a church using popular culture to bring in the youth. And nobody makes them stay for the message after the tourney either. But maybe they'll think "this church is in touch with me, and I feel I might could connect with this community", and stay around.
And you seriously find something wrong with that?
neight @ Oct 7th 2007 11:16AM
Oh dear lord let the religion bashing ensue. *sigh* =/
neight @ Oct 7th 2007 11:20AM
Or maybe I'm just too jaded from Digg...
upz @ Oct 7th 2007 3:50PM
No, it's pretty much like that everywhere on the internet. If your tender ears don't like to hear anything but pro-church goodness, go to church.
outforprophets @ Oct 7th 2007 4:22PM
oh noes, bad ass internet patrol is here now too
Michael C. Sherrin @ Oct 7th 2007 11:18AM
Me, I would much prefer a Church of Halo. You can sing, well, hum, all the music during the service. Sins would be using mods or cheats in multiplayer. And if you sin, you have to play using your index finger on the analog stick. Yeah, that's tough love.
*******
Michael C. Sherrin
http://www.prodigeek.com/
Proteus @ Oct 7th 2007 11:19AM
I had a neighbor who was a pastor at some super-evangelistic church, and I remember he bought an original XBox JUST so he could keep himself "relevant" with the youth he said, and bring the teenagers in his youth group together.
I found it funny, how in Halo, it's five hundred years into the future, where Christianity will most likely have gone extinct, and Earth has made contact with multiple alien races--which Christianity tends to frown upon.
Did Jesus die for the Arbiter's sin's too? lolz
Damian G. @ Oct 7th 2007 12:53PM
"...Earth has made contact with multiple alien races--which Christianity tends to frown upon."
Upon what do you base this slander?
Also, fun fact: The abolitionist movement was successful in large part due to faithful Christians.
Ally @ Oct 7th 2007 1:25PM
Not so fun fact: It was also white christians that started it to begin with though. ;)
Zaidyn @ Oct 7th 2007 2:26PM
Fun fact: Marines in Halo shout "Jesus Christ!" and make references to God.
Damian G. @ Oct 7th 2007 3:48PM
"Not so fun fact: It was also white christians that started it to begin with though. ;)"
Even less fun fact: It was non-Christian African tribal leaders who helped them get the slaves in the first place.
PWN3D!!!
rowd149 @ Oct 7th 2007 4:16PM
Not really fun at all fact: White Christians were the ones who came for slaves in the first place, and when Africans found out about the atrocity that was the Middle Passage, they made efforts to stop the slave trade. Except, that doesn't work to well when you don't have guns.
Damian G. @ Oct 7th 2007 5:03PM
Least fun facts of all: The Arab and Indian slave trades began before and ended after the Atlantic slave trade.
And there is still non-Christian slavery in Africa today.
samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 7th 2007 7:36PM
What the Hell? I've been seeing this a lot...is this new talking point, "African tribal leaders sold rivals to white Christians" some new talking point amongst the Christian community or something?
I keep seeing this bullshit moron "point" come up, as if it does anything to lessen the evil upon other human beings that was primarily perpetrated by white Christian men.
Also, I've seen on several occasions denouncements from the (mostly Evangelical) Christian movement that there are no other life forms in the universe.
Damian G. @ Oct 7th 2007 11:01PM
"What the Hell? I've been seeing this a lot...is this new talking point, "African tribal leaders sold rivals to white Christians" some new talking point amongst the Christian community or something?
I keep seeing this bullshit moron "point" come up, as if it does anything to lessen the evil upon other human beings that was primarily perpetrated by white Christian men."
Uh, it's not so much a "talking point" as it is an "historical fact." And I learned it from watching an interview with a black African female professor. It doesn't lessen the evil. It just makes the point that we're all human and thus all capable of equal evil. To suggest otherwise would be racist.
"Also, I've seen on several occasions denouncements from the (mostly Evangelical) Christian movement that there are no other life forms in the universe."
Well, I wouldn't know, as I'm not Evangelical. But the original point was that "Christianity" - as in, the entire faith - opposed the notion of alien life. Remember that Evangelicals are an historically recent phenomenon when compared to the Christianity of old. Nothing in Catholic or even mainline Protestant teaching (and for the record, I am Orthodox) opposes the idea that God created other life, so long as one acknowledges the special nature of the human species as being made in God's image.
When we finally cross that road, it will certainly spark an interesting theological debate. I think we can all agree about that!
phattie @ Oct 7th 2007 11:24AM
Religion? Nah, its not really relevant in day to day life outside of certain parts of USA and MiddleEast. Most of the world has moved on.
TK00 @ Oct 7th 2007 12:09PM
What do you base this on? The people in your homeroom?
Religion is a lot more relevant then you think, even in this country alone. Look at our current administration. You think that train wreck would have been back for a second term without evan-christians?
Mr Khan @ Oct 7th 2007 12:50PM
In some ways its taken more seriously in places like Germany, even though it doesn't look like that
I believe German citizens have to pick a faith then pay taxes to whatever faith they picked, although i'm not sure
blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Oct 7th 2007 12:52PM
would you have to pay taxes to atheism? lol
Zaidyn @ Oct 7th 2007 2:30PM
...never been outside your home country, have you?
Ever been to Asia? Or Latin America? Or Africa? Or East Europe? Or much of West Europe? Or much of North America? Religion is HUGE, and has been huge for the past 10,000 years or so of human history.
upz @ Oct 7th 2007 3:57PM
I've lived in various parts of East Asia for nearly 20 years. It's a largely secular region with strictly secular governments and honestly speaking, it's a whole lot better that way.
michas_pi @ Oct 7th 2007 5:11PM
Don't feed the troll, people.
StrangeBum @ Oct 7th 2007 5:29PM
@blooh's response to Mr. Khan
Maybe I just didn't get it, but I think you are referring to nihilism, those who don't believe in anything. And if you meant atheism..then let's just say nihilism is another one, that would be weird to pay taxes for.
Phranctoast @ Oct 7th 2007 11:34AM
Believe.
Alex @ Oct 7th 2007 11:40AM
HALO 4! THIS TIME AROUND THE ARBITER AND MASTER CHIEF GET SOME ASSISTANCE FROM THE OTHER SAVIOR OF THE WORLD! ALL NEW PLAYABLE CHARACTER JESUS CHRIST! HE ATTACKS WITH HIS WOODEN CROSS WHILE THROWING NAILS AND THORNS AT HIS ENEMIES! COMING SOON TO A YOUTH GROUP NEAR YOU THIS CHRISTMAS!
...I cannot wait 'till Christmas.
FM @ Oct 7th 2007 11:53AM
Master Chief is Jesus.
Geist @ Oct 7th 2007 12:32PM
Best final reveal ever.
TK00 @ Oct 7th 2007 12:06PM
Talk about hypocrisy. Go ahead and shoot each other in the head, just don't masturbate! Praise Jesus!!!
Ska Oreo @ Oct 7th 2007 3:23PM
ummm wouldn't anyone be a hypocrite if they played halo since we are all taught that killing and violence is wrong, regardless of whether you believe in god or not?
Gamer XoverY @ Oct 8th 2007 12:23AM
Its a freaking Video..Guess You cant tell the difference between reality and Make believe. But then again neither can kids right.
victor @ Oct 7th 2007 12:11PM
The comment saying "why dont we just give them alcohol and porno" is retarded. He is taking a video game and setting it at a degree of unlawful things. Since when did a video image become a drug substance.
Silver R. Wolfe @ Oct 7th 2007 1:12PM
Because the game is rated M, the "young congregants" they're attracting aren't supposed to be playing the game in the first place.
Porn and alcohol were just two other things that the young'uns shouldn't be using either.
Crono (NDF - French Taunting from Holy Grail Ring) @ Oct 8th 2007 9:40AM
Except the argument still doesn't hold up, since porn and alchohol are legally restricted, and video games are not. Additionally, the M rating is a suggestion for parental guidance, not a written in stone moral edict.
Plus, the youth minister is drawing parallels between the master chief and Jesus Christ.
What next, you gonna lambast the church for showing the R rated movie "Passion of the Christ"?
Does the internet just turn all its logic off when the topic of religion comes up? I've seen more stupid comments in just the first page than I've seen in any console fanboy flamewar.
beans @ Oct 7th 2007 12:14PM
Youth groups are big in Protestant churches, which is why they have my preference. When we're off the Bible clock, it's always nice to have some laid back time and video games are a nice fit. People go to school to learn, doesn't mean they can't have fun there either; the same applies towards other organizations.
horngreen @ Oct 7th 2007 12:15PM
I'm not religious at all but those of you who think religion doesn't play a part in the world are IDIOTS and your world is painfully tiny. You, your dog and your sad room filled with action figures and old consoles proudly displayed for nobody to see. This little ole terrorism issue is relion based as are all wars dealing with the middle east. You don't think part of why are insane government is fighting it is partly based on christianity and not just cheap oil? Hitlers war was based on his beliefs as well. A belief is a belief and taken to a certain level it approaches religious belief. If religion keeps people from killing themselves or killing others then go for it. Please just don't try to convert me.
neight @ Oct 7th 2007 1:36PM
"You, your dog and your sad room filled with action figures and old consoles proudly displayed for nobody to see."
Who laughed out loud because this described them perfectly? I know I did.
Lifted 0ne 4l9 (NDF - Fire!) @ Oct 7th 2007 2:37PM
Hitler's beliefs were Catholic beliefs which is why the Catholic church did nothing about the holocaust and the swastika was also a catholic symbol believe it or not.
upz @ Oct 7th 2007 4:04PM
The swastika is a symbol from several Eastern religions. Stop making us atheists look so uneducated.
Lifted 0ne 4l9 (NDF - Fire!) @ Oct 7th 2007 4:55PM
i'm not making atheists look uneducated, i never said it wasn't used in any other religions now did i, but Hitlers use of it was from the Catholic church as it was used in front of the church he attended.
samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 7th 2007 7:31PM
"This little ole terrorism issue is relion based as are all wars dealing with the middle east."
Actually it's not. It has more to do with them wanting us to leave them the Hell alone and stop supporting their oppressive governments which are, for various reasons, making their lives shit (I don't feel like typing it all out because it's complicated and multi-paragraphed).
Religion is just a motivating factor for the masses, as it typically is in these cases.
What? You actually think the Crusades were a quest for the Holy Land? Try trade and spice routes instead.
Lifted 0ne 4l9 (NDF - Fire!) @ Oct 7th 2007 7:52PM
good post samfish, also during the "Holy War" many woman and children were killed and raped in the name of God, and also gave birth to the illuminati (aka Free Masons)
Crono (NDF - French Taunting from Holy Grail Ring) @ Oct 8th 2007 10:56AM
Hitler wasn't a Christian, he just recognized the peoples willingness to follow the church and manipulated the dogma to get people to follow him.
There was nothing that Hitler did that is Jesus approved.
blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Oct 7th 2007 12:24PM
boy i sure wouldn't want to go to church to watch porn, that's fucked up
but i also don't go to church for any other reason either
jay @ Oct 7th 2007 12:26PM
Am i the only one who finds this a little ironic--them using HALO, i mean? The war between the Covenant and humans was founded upon religion, or rather, the delusion of the prophets and their ability to basically trick the other Covie species into believing. The prophets believe the Ark is the path to salvation, when it really will just kill everything. The war against the humans... um, hello... Crusades?? Halo is jam-packed with undertones dissing Christianity. It's just funny how the church can find a way to incorporate it just to draw kids in.
Brad Lee @ Oct 7th 2007 3:11PM
I was thinking the same thing, actually.
Brian Carlson @ Oct 7th 2007 5:46PM
These comments are much more interesting than the topic itself. The Covenant are overzealous religious nuts, and the humans don't appear to be religious at all. Someone said the Marines say "Jesus" a bit, but that probably has more to due with choosing a common reaction to surprising events, more than being Christians. I was thinking perhaps that the games could be about a struggle between two religions rather than atheism vs. religion. That goes against my previous thought, but these are just ideas, not real points. Or maybe the humans have for the most part chosen a single religion that does not interfere with politics and war, and largely keeps the race relatively peaceful (no grand holy wars). But, when the time comes, a messiah will appear and save the day (Master Chief). But don't take this as fate, as the humans themselves created this savior (Spartan II program) and Space Marines must fight as well ('common person' must do their part as well). I'm not sure if that is a main point of any religion, or just ranting on my part. That's enough out of me for now.