Left Behind: Eternal Forces (Seriously?)

Thursday, January 11, 2007

So......

I received an e-mail from a Pagan Forum regarding a newspaper article on a video game called, "Left Behind: Eternal Forces". Now it didn't occur to me immediately but this game is based on the "Left Behind" book series.....to the extreme.

Since there are gamers here, I wanted to get their opinion on this as well everyone else's. Here's the article -

"Stanislaus County, CA (AUP) - When Al Queda flew two planes into the
World Trade Center it left a dark gloom over New York City, but that
gloom wasn't half as bad as the dark and dismal representation
displayed by the game "Left Behind: Eternal Forces". The game,
released in December 2005, is a strategy game that sets the
apocalyptic stage for a war between good and evil. The gaming
community boasts, "The object of the game is to convert heathens,
Muslims or Jews; if they don't come over to your side, you can kill
them."

The Left Behind game, as well as the Left Behind book series and the
Holy Bible, teaches that a very REAL war is coming and it is just
around the corner. The game further teaches how to recruit militia
and gives guidance on various other militant strategies. Not unlike
Al Queda, it teaches players that there are rewards for them in
heaven if only they can gain enough spirit points to get there. It
also teaches that there is only one side that one can choose and
win.

Will Hatfield, President of The Association of United Pagans, says
that the game is just what it states it is, "a strategy game". But,
it is a strategy game that he thinks may very well be a training
material for christosupremist terrorists in disguise. Hatfield goes
on to say, "The game teaches today's children and tomorrow's
generations of a coming war here in the U.S. between good and evil;
a war that the makers of the Left Behind books and strategy game
believe is real, their prophecy clubs and churches believe is real
and so do the majority of the people who buy and play the game."

"We will not be safe here as long as the worst weapons
can fall into the worst hands" - Rep. Rick Larsen (D – Wash)

In the wrong hands and with the right guidance, "Eternal Forces"
could be used as a weapon. Hatfield opines, " This is a weapon that
can, in our opinion, be used to brainwash the children of the U.S to
hate heathens, Muslims, Hindus and Jews", He goes on to state, "With
a stockpile of weapons like this, all it takes is one fanatic to hit
the switch to the Apocalypse; not an Apocalypse involving angels,
but rather one built by man and produced by Left Behind and its
associates."

"What we've decided to do is embed our message in a game so that
it's not overt but it is in the game," Left Behind Games President
Jeffrey Frichner said. Frichner further states, "We're not ashamed
of it. There are Scriptures in the game and we're faithful to those
Scriptures."

"The comparisons are simple," says Hatfield, "Al Queda teaches of
religious wars, the conversion of militants, rewards in heaven,
infidels taking over the United Nations, prayer for forgiveness of
murder. So does the game. While Al Queda is stuck with obsolete
versions of "Flight Simulator," "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" sports
some very advanced battle tactics." Left Behind will be releasing
the sequel to Eternal Forces this year boasting an even more
powerful graphics engine and plenty more of the End of Days.

"Our first and highest duty as members of this Congress
is to protect the American people, to defend our homeland
and to strengthen our national security," - Majority
Leader Steny Hoyer (D – MD)

Here in the United States, we have the right to Freedom of Religion.
As American people, whether Pagan, Jew, Muslim, Hindu or Christian,
we have the right to have our religious preferences protected
equally. This doesn't just include protection from foreign invasion,
but includes protection from domestic terrorism as well.

Those opposed to this game that would like to see it banned from
stores in the U.S. and the producers investigated further are: The
Association of United Pagans, The Council on American-Islamic
Relations, The Christian Alliance for Progress, CrossWalk America,
The Beatitudes Society, The Center for Progressive Christianity,
Talk to Action and the Campaign to Defend the Constitution."

Upon my own investigation of the video game, I found this brief description of it on playfuls.com:

"Wage a war of apocalyptic proportions in Left Behind: Eternal Forces - a real-time strategy game based upon the best-selling Left Behind book series created by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Join the ultimate fight of Good against Evil, commanding Tribulation Forces or the Global Community Peacekeepers, and uncover the truth about the worldwide disappearances!

Features:

- Lead the Tribulation Force from the book series, including Rayford, Chloe, Buck and Bruce against Nicolae Carpathia - the AntiChrist.
- Conduct physical & spiritual warfare: using the power of prayer to strengthen your troops in combat and wield modern military weaponry throughout the game world.
- Recover ancient scriptures and witness spectacular Angelic and Demonic activity as a direct consequence of your choices. Command your forces through intense battles across a breathtaking, authentic depiction of New York City.
- Control more than 30 units types - from Prayer Warrior and Hellraiser to Spies, Special Forces and Battle Tanks!
- Enjoy a robust single player experience across dozens of New York City maps in Story Mode - fighting in China Town, SoHo, Uptown and more!
- Play multiplayer games as Tribulation Force or the AntiChrist's Global Community Peacekeepers with up to eight players via LAN or over the internet!"

Last time I checked, spiritual warfare had NOTHING to do with guns, spies, tanks, or any other kind of weaponry for mass destruction.

Is it me or did someone miss the point of the books?