Fist of Jesus

This thread should be renamed:

Is Religious Humour Offensive (and Why)?

If you think necessary by all means but I think most of the relevant points have been made IMHO. Farligopptreden kinda nailed it for me, anyone, can take offense at anything, why single out religion.
 
If you think necessary by all means but I think most of the relevant points have been made IMHO. Farligopptreden kinda nailed it for me, anyone, can take offense at anything, why single out religion.

If that thread gets created, it will turn into an even bigger dogshow...

Please remember: I spoke of renaming not creating, but I did make suggestions as to who should create the thread, so I'm responsible for delegation, should such a thread ACTUALLY be made.
 
So while it's difficult for me to understand why Graal doesn't understand my offense and visa versa, never the minds shall meet.

I'm trying to get you to think about why you're reacting so heavily to the game. Why do you insist that it's a mockery? Jesus is the hero in this game. He's the main protagonist who accidentally sets off a zombie apocalypse and then goes on to save the day, albeit in a funny, somewhat slapstick way.

I honestly don't see why this needs to be offensive. So far the only thing I've seen is people saying he does things like fart on his enemies, therefore it's offensive. So it's a silly game, therefore offense? I don't know man. I think it's a lot of hullabaloo over something silly. That infamous violent stickman cartoon where the protagonist is attacked by Jesus and slices him in two, multiple times across multiple episodes; I'd understand if you took offense to that. This, not so much. Jesus is the hero of this game, not the villain. If it was intended to mock him, it probably wouldn't have made him the hero. It's a humorous little game, nothing more.

I've never been a fan of the mindset that religious material is off-limits to humour. I think that sometimes we're a little quick to take offense to things when we really shouldn't. It's the whitest of all white people problems. I actually think the market should be flooded with religious media such as this. Make a Fist of Muhammed. Make The Chronicles of Mary: Tooth of the Eel. Make a movie called Jonah: The Hunt For The Grey Whale. Don't stop making them until people eventually start to realise that this has no real world impact. Your faith meter doesn't drop a notch every time you see something like this. You don't get clobbered over the head with a fish by angry atheists because of Fists of Jesus. Keep going until people start to realise that religious material and humour are not incompatible and that any offense taken to something silly like a game about punchy punchy Jesus is just an unnecessary increase in blood pressure.
 
That's the question I asked (maybe with a different context) in a previous reply that nobody read:cry

Awww, I read it, Saint!

The game's existence is also not something I have a problem with, it's the free advertising based on controversy that they are receiving. The gaming websites should know better than to indulge them.

I have a problem with people viewing editorial as "free advertising". It's editorial. Articles and angles get chosen for a variety of reasons and the last thing I for one think of is "how much could we charge this guy for advertising instead of putting up this article."

Is Religious Humour Offensive (and Why)?

Don't say I didn't warn you :D
 
I have a problem with people viewing editorial as "free advertising". It's editorial. Articles and angles get chosen for a variety of reasons and the last thing I for one think of is "how much could we charge this guy for advertising instead of putting up this article."

This thread has made it clear that the game is clearly offensive to a number of MyGaming users. If anything MyGaming should have been aware that it could cause offence and should have added a warning to the page explaining the situation and the possible offence to the user and then allowing the user to choose whether to proceed or not. My publishing the article MyGaming shamelessly jumped on the bandwagon and then even expanded the story further (Will you pray your way through some zombie slaying? Let us know in the comments and forum. Amen.) to cause even more offence to people who might already find the situation offensive.

By publishing the story you are contributing to the goal of the developer to drive sales on his game through controversy.
 
I'm trying to get you to think about why you're reacting so heavily to the game. Why do you insist that it's a mockery? Jesus is the hero in this game. He's the main protagonist who accidentally sets off a zombie apocalypse and then goes on to save the day, albeit in a funny, somewhat slapstick way.

I honestly don't see why this needs to be offensive. So far the only thing I've seen is people saying he does things like fart on his enemies, therefore it's offensive. So it's a silly game, therefore offense? I don't know man. I think it's a lot of hullabaloo over something silly. That infamous violent stickman cartoon where the protagonist is attacked by Jesus and slices him in two, multiple times across multiple episodes; I'd understand if you took offense to that. This, not so much. Jesus is the hero of this game, not the villain. If it was intended to mock him, it probably wouldn't have made him the hero. It's a humorous little game, nothing more.

I've never been a fan of the mindset that religious material is off-limits to humour. I think that sometimes we're a little quick to take offense to things when we really shouldn't. It's the whitest of all white people problems. I actually think the market should be flooded with religious media such as this. Make a Fist of Muhammed. Make The Chronicles of Mary: Tooth of the Eel. Make a movie called Jonah: The Hunt For The Grey Whale. Don't stop making them until people eventually start to realise that this has no real world impact. Your faith meter doesn't drop a notch every time you see something like this. You don't get clobbered over the head with a fish by angry atheists because of Fists of Jesus. Keep going until people start to realise that religious material and humour are not incompatible and that any offense taken to something silly like a game about punchy punchy Jesus is just an unnecessary increase in blood pressure.

I've thought a lot about my position on this, so it's not a knee jerk reaction. I get it you don't see any issue, my view is different to your view.

Your insistence to try and get everyone to see and agree with your view is troubling, it does point to a level of intolerance on your side.
 
Your insistence to try and get everyone to see and agree with your view is troubling, it does point to a level of intolerance on your side.

Against my better judgement I'm throwing my 5c into this. Been watching this thread for a while.

I don't argue with anybody about religion, or anything related to it. Because everybody wants to convince everybody else of their view, without being able to be convinced of the other person's view.

I find this game offensive. So I'll avoid it, and play Far Cry or Call of Duty instead. End of story.
 
This thread has made it clear that the game is clearly offensive to a number of MyGaming users. If anything MyGaming should have been aware that it could cause offence and should have added a warning to the page explaining the situation and the possible offence to the user and then allowing the user to choose whether to proceed or not.

Surely the headline was a dead-giveaway of what was coming?

(Will you pray your way through some zombie slaying? Let us know in the comments and forum. Amen.) to cause even more offence to people who might already find the situation offensive.

So funny story about that (and some insight into MyGaming's operations): Kevin (the author) is an atheist. His original draft of the story did not contain the "Amen". Our Christian sub-editor put it in because he thinks it's funny.

By publishing the story you are contributing to the goal of the developer to drive sales on his game through controversy.

Despite what people believe, not all publicity is good publicity. People might be talking about the game, but that doesn't mean people will buy it.

While I found it hilarious (mainly because of the developer's obvious attempt to drum up controversy), I won't be buying the game because it looks rubbish.
 
So funny story about that (and some insight into MyGaming's operations): Kevin (the author) is an atheist. His original draft of the story did not contain the "Amen". Our Christian sub-editor put it in because he thinks it's funny.

Now I need to go and read the article.

EDIT: Read it now. Well done, it made me laugh.
 
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I've thought a lot about my position on this, so it's not a knee jerk reaction. I get it you don't see any issue, my view is different to your view.

Your insistence to try and get everyone to see and agree with your view is troubling, it does point to a level of intolerance on your side.

Isn't the point of a debate to try and convince the other party of your view? Else what is the point of a debate? Don't tell me you expect everyone who engages in a debate to give their opinions, then agree to disagree and then go home?

I'm trying to engage posters on why they think this game is offensive. I've been given reasons thus far, but they've either been without much substance or very lacking. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not trying to offend you or convince you your religion is wrong or whatever theory someone is cooking up. So far I think I've been pretty civil about it, meanwhile I've been told in countless posts that I'm stupid, with Ike_009 even going so far as to tell me I'm stupid in a reputation comment.
 
meanwhile I've been told in countless posts that I'm stupid, with Ike_009 even going so far as to tell me I'm stupid in a reputation comment.

This should be a matter solved between yourself and Ike. Otherwise take it to an Admin, or anyone else whom you think might help. I'm not trying to be rude, but, messages in rep comments should be dealt with personally, or left alone.
 
I'm pointing out the responses I've been dealing with, while simultaneously being painted as the big bad meanie. There's nothing to resolve between me and Ike_009 because he attached it to a positive rep comment and I can't really be arsed by what he thinks of me either. It's just some hilarious hypocrisy.
 
Isn't the point of a debate to try and convince the other party of your view? Else what is the point of a debate? Don't tell me you expect everyone who engages in a debate to give their opinions, then agree to disagree and then go home?

I'm trying to engage posters on why they think this game is offensive. I've been given reasons thus far, but they've either been without much substance or very lacking. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not trying to offend you or convince you your religion is wrong or whatever theory someone is cooking up. So far I think I've been pretty civil about it, meanwhile I've been told in countless posts that I'm stupid, with Ike_009 even going so far as to tell me I'm stupid in a reputation comment.

Okay just one last post because Graal keeps on saying that the reasons given are without substance. I've posted exactly why it's offensive but you've ignored my points.

1. Offensive meaning in this context: "Causing anger, displeasure, resentment, or affront"
2. Jesus is part of the Holy Trinity. Thus Jesus is part of God according to Christian scripture.
3. This game makes you play as Jesus in a demeaning way thus making a mockery of God.

I'm all for free speech and I say sure the game has a right to exist and those who don't want to play it don't have to.

Is it offensive to Christians? Yes. May Christians say that the game offend them and post their views? Yes.

What does it take to see that the game is offensive to Christians? Empathy.
 
Surely the headline was a dead-giveaway of what was coming?

So funny story about that (and some insight into MyGaming's operations): Kevin (the author) is an atheist. His original draft of the story did not contain the "Amen". Our Christian sub-editor put it in because he thinks it's funny.

Despite what people believe, not all publicity is good publicity. People might be talking about the game, but that doesn't mean people will buy it.

While I found it hilarious (mainly because of the developer's obvious attempt to drum up controversy), I won't be buying the game because it looks rubbish.

Fair enough, I guess the real problem here is that I expected more from MyGaming. I will adjust my expectations.
 
Ubisoft paraphrasing (for MyGaming):

"MyGaming is a multicultural community of various faiths and beliefs.”
 
Isn't the point of a debate to try and convince the other party of your view? Else what is the point of a debate? Don't tell me you expect everyone who engages in a debate to give their opinions, then agree to disagree and then go home?

I'm trying to engage posters on why they think this game is offensive. I've been given reasons thus far, but they've either been without much substance or very lacking. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not trying to offend you or convince you your religion is wrong or whatever theory someone is cooking up. So far I think I've been pretty civil about it, meanwhile I've been told in countless posts that I'm stupid, with Ike_009 even going so far as to tell me I'm stupid in a reputation comment.

So how do we satisfy this 'desire' of yours to understand? Provide reasons that meet your standards, whatever they are? I believe that many have tried to explain to you, but you don't seem to accept that another view, other than yours is valid. You've turned this into a pointless exercise.
 
So how do we satisfy this 'desire' of yours to understand? Provide reasons that meet your standards, whatever they are? I believe that many have tried to explain to you, but you don't seem to accept that another view, other than yours is valid. You've turned this into a pointless exercise.

Makes me think of a terrible meeting with a client today. We were arguing in circles and they kept refusing to understand our view, even though we spelled it out as clearly as humanly possible. Even the member of their own team that minuted each meeting tried to explain to them our point of view, as she understood it correctly.

Point is, people will stick to their opinions and seldom, if ever, change it. We're all at least a bit selfish and stubborn. That's human nature. I do believe we need to respect each other's views and right to taking offence. We all react emotionally different to situations. Some might think I'm an emotionless prick for not grieving my sister's death for more than a day, but I deal with tradegy quite well. Heck, I was the only one at her deathbed.

Graal has the ability to see the lighter side of most, if not all, things in life. It's an admirable quality that I lack in. I get offended by certain things, but I have respect for others views/opinions/choices in life. I think Solitude's post sums up why some Christians take offence to this game quite clearly. We just need to be tolerant and empathetic towards one another.

This thread isn't really a debate anymore. It's turned to Graal asking for reasons why Christians might find it offensive, valid reasons being provided, but him posting the same replies every time. Christians then respond with the same reasons, Graal refuses to accept them on the same grounds and it starts all over...
 
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