Want To Play Halo 3? See You At Church!
from the master-chief-loves-you dept
Long heralded as the savior for lagging Xbox 360 sales, Halo 3 has done much to live up to the hype, reaching nearly $300 million in sales in its first week out. Some churches may have contributed to that figure since they are throwing Halo parties to encourage teens to join their ranks of parishioners. This practice is drawing the concern of many; opponents to the idea question if allying the church with a violent video game is in the church's best interests. Church organizers argue that they need to stay relevant in order to attract new churchgoers, especially young teenage boys. Perhaps the critics would be quieted if the church groups played the religious themed video games made by Left Behind Games. But, considering the awful reviews for the religious games, it is likely that nobody would show up. Bingo, anyone?Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Excellent Strategy
It is just a great business model, whether you are selling music or saving souls.
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Re: Excellent Strategy
It really says a lot about the church if it has to resort to stupid gimmicks to get people to attend. Perhaps it's the message that needs updating to fit today's youth and not the already over-zealous missionary efforts?
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Re: Re: Excellent Strategy
It also doesn't help that the Church is tied so closely to the media circus surrounding Intelligent Design and Creationism. It's not doing the Church any favors to convince youths to join their congregation if those supporters continue to espouse ridiculous ideas that the earth is 6,000 years old (with pseudo scientific evidence to back them) and evolution is seriously flawed (without even understand what evolution is).
I dare say, maybe the days of religion in the West are slowly coming to an end?
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Re: Excellent Strategy
Also, it would be freaking awesome if my church had a Halo party, usually we just play Mario Kart.
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Re: Video Games In Church
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Makes sense?
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Re: Makes sense?
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Re: Makes sense?
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I think it's hilarious
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Re: I think it's hilarious
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Hey
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THE CHURCH BECOMING MORE LIKE THE WORLD.
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Re: THE CHURCH BECOMING MORE LIKE THE WORLD.
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Re: Re: THE CHURCH BECOMING MORE LIKE THE WORLD.
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Re: THE CHURCH BECOMING MORE LIKE THE WORLD.
Hell am I paying church taxes for them to get satellite TV? Better internet than me? Cause that's what this thing called church does with our money... why not use it to lure in young kids? Wait I thought that was illegal... Guess religion is above law.
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Re: Re: THE CHURCH BECOMING MORE LIKE THE WORLD.
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Re: Re: Re: THE CHURCH BECOMING MORE LIKE THE WORL
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Re: Re: Re: THE CHURCH BECOMING MORE LIKE THE WORL
thank you.
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Re: Re: THE CHURCH BECOMING MORE LIKE THE WORLD.
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Mike, doesn't the Bible also mention..
I'm not saying I disagree with what you are implying, only the way you are saying it. You make it sound like the mad-man on the corner screaming "THE WORLD IS DOOMED". No one hears him, not because they can't, but because of his delivery. Speak with Love on your heart, and you'll reach many more then by just screaming at them.
Blessings Friend.
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Re: Mike, doesn't the Bible also mention..
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Re #10
Then he will give me a thumbs up, a high five, and let me pass.
Then we will play some FPS together and call each other a hacker when one of us does too well for too long.
It'll be great.
Hear that Jesus? I challenge you!!
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Re: Re #10
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Why would I listen to any message from somebody so ignorant and inconsiderate?
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Really, I'm a christian, and play Halo, Guitar Hero, Half-Life... I'm still devout, pray 30 minutes a day, read my bible, lead a small group bible study... I'm mature enough to know the difference between electrons and reality.
Rock on,
Doc
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Re:
Most people would argue that electrons are reality. Without them our atoms fall apart, and then where does that leave us? With no reality, that's where. A lack of a sound understanding of science is what got us into that whole "Intelligent Design" mess...
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Now that's what I call a good time!
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I don't go to church for the message. I don't even go to save myself from Hell or get myself 'in' with God. But - I'll go for punch, pie and a little first person shooter action.
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I used to attend youth group through my local church regularly (I've since out-grown the high school crowd) and we used to get together and have Halo parties just as well. The idea wasn't so much about what we were playing during a church-related activity, but rather that we were all doing something we liked to do with people we could openly discus our beliefs with.
The point is that while it's not quite the same as screaming battle cries and profanities at your close friends during a deathmatch, but rather about taking a part in an activity you enjoy while getting to know people withe similar beliefs. Sure, churches could use it as a tactic to attract a younger crowd, and I'm positive that many are. But for the most part, I'd like to believe that their actually interested in providing a safe and stress-free place for teens to do something fun.
Either way, I don't think it can hurt... The most common reason I've heard for trying drugs is that, "There's nothing better to do."
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the problem is, most churches are like businesses and membership clubs nowdays. that's hardly spiritual and exposes the true motive of simply getting numbers into their organization. the end does not justify the means.
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This is the whole point of all cults. Get the marks in, get control, get money, feed them a lot of hocus pocus to con them into thinking they will be happier, the leaders get rich and powerful. Everyone is happy.
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Re: cults
I agree. I know of a few 'churches' or spiritual groups that meet in homes or other smaller venues that do not engage in membership drives, fundraising, or other modes of furthering a 'business'. They're strictly limited to the sharing of beliefs and providing support to each other. Anyone reading the New Testament of the Bible can clearly see this was the example performed there. The modern church at large doesn't resemble it in the least.
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Unfortunately not, I suspect. Way too many people still insist on being told what to think. The masses, it would seem, still prefer fear and superstition to science and knowledge.
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And you knowledge isn't based on authority? Almost all knowledge is based off of the authority of another, scientist base their knowledge off of other scientist; Christians base their knowledge off of God.
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Re:
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enough said
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Games
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