Left Behind Should be Left Out
We’ve signed the petition for the withdrawal of the Left Behind: Eternal Forces video game, which teaches religious intolerance by encouraging players to kill all those who don’t convert to Christianity at the end of time. If you would like to find out more or sign the petition, visit the Crosswalk America or Jews on First website.
January 11th, 2007 at 5:31 am
This statement is posted from an employee of Left Behind Games on behalf of Troy Lyndon, our Chief Executive Officer.
There has been in incredible amount of MISINFORMATION published in the media and in online blogs here and elsewhere.
Pacifist Christians and other groups are taking the game material out of context to support their own causes. There is NO “killing in the name of God” and NO “convert or die”. There are NO “negative portrayals of Muslims” and there are NO “points for killing”.
Please play the game demo for yourself (to at least level 5 of 40) to get an accurate perspective, or listen to what CREDIBLE unbiased experts are saying after reviewing the game at http://www.leftbehindgames.com/pages/controversy.com
Then, we’d love to hear your feedback as an informed player.
The reality is that we’re receiving reports everyday of how this game is positively affecting lives by all who play it.
Thank you for taking the time to be a responsible blogger.
January 14th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
After reading this post by an employee of the company that makes the Left Behind games, I went to the Left Behind website to read Left Behind series co-author Jerry Jenkins’ letter and to see how the company itself portrays the game. Jenkins writes, “Yes, there is killing in self-defense, but more points are scored by building the Tribulation Force and its infrastructure. There is zero targeting of specific people groups. The enemy are the forces of the antichrist who have already taken the mark of the beast and committed themselves to his service.” In other words, the bad guys aren’t necessarily Muslims or Jews; they are just culled from those who don’t believe in Jesus Christ. And when they are shot by the good guys, they disappear in a puff of smoke, the site says, there is no blood. To me, those qualifications do not address the main reason that I am opposed to these games. I am opposed to all “End Times” prophecy that promotes a belief that in order to enter the kingdom of God you must profess a belief in Jesus Christ. For that reason, Left Behind and I will never agree. — Suzanne Oliver
January 14th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I agree with Suzanne, The Faith Club.
Mr. Jenkins evasively neglects to identify who “the forces of the antichrist” are. I can only assume he means those who don’t believe in Jesus Christ. For Mr. Jenkins to say “the bad guys aren’t necessarily Muslims or Jews; they are just culled from those who don’t believe in Jesus Christ” is to say Muslims and Jews ARE targeted since we don’t believe in Jesus Christ. What’s the difference? It’s the same thing. When he says they are shot without blood, what does THAT say? That the murder is nice and sanitized? Dying in a gas chamber is a bloodless death. According to Mr. Jenkins, as long as there’s no blood, shooting people is OK and the Christian thing to do. And what does he mean by “killing in self-defense”? The Nazis killed Jews and other “undesirables” to defend the Aryan “race.” That too makes it OK?
So Mr. Jenkins’ explanation just raises more questions than it answers.
January 16th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
I have read quite a few of the Left Behind books. They were very disturbing unless I reminded myself that this is someone else’s myth or just another science fiction series. But it was not lost on me that this entire collection is a proselytizing venture. They did have characters who were non-Christian, however these characters did not fare well until they converted, i.e. , a pagan girl and an elderly jewish scholar.
I did not finish the series as I could not align myself to the message being preached, the black and white, “my way, or the highway” kind of thinking. There are too many other novels out there with likeable characters and compelling plots to continue to pay money to a cause I cannot stand behind.
There is nothing entertaining about entertainment that even hints at “us versus them” mentality. In my book that goes in the chapter on ” evil done by mankind.”
Thank you for the opportunity to join the conversation!
December 11th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
I followed the link and signed the petition. Thanks for the information and for opportunity to add my voice.