Faith Fighter

Via mediawatchwatch, a moving story of religions at last finding common cause - expressing outrage at a new video game:

Religious groups are calling for a ban on an online game where holy figures such as Jesus and the prophet Muhammad fight to the death.

Critics say the free Faith Fighter game is 'deeply provocative' and 'disrespectful' towards all world religions.

Muslims are particularly outraged because Islamic tradition prohibits drawings of Allah.

Hindus and Buddhists are also upset as the god Ganesha and Buddha are two of the six 'players'.

'This game is going out of its way to upset people and I think it should be taken off the internet,' said Douglas Miller, pastor of the Link Church in Birmingham.

'Playing violent video games will ultimately affect your behaviour and this game is deeply offensive and provocative.'

A spokesman for the Federation of Muslim Organisations said: 'In the current climate, this game can only create fear about religion. 'Having images depicting Muhammad in this way is also very offensive to our faith.'

Brian Appleyard, former chairman of the Buddhist Society, called the game an 'offensive futile project'.

You can access the game at the Molleindustria site, where other exciting games on offer include Operation Pedopriest.

On Faith Fighter - "religious hate has never been so much fun":

Choose your belief and kick the shit out of your enemies. Give vent to your intolerance! Religious hate has never been so much fun.

Should you for a moment think that this is in any way intended to offend, the disclaimer will set your mind at rest:

This game is not intended to be offensive towards any religion in particular. Its aim is to push the gamers to reflect on how the religions and sacred representations are often instrumentally used to fuel or justify conflicts between nations and people.

The game contains a depiction of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. If you feel that such a depiction would be offensive, we ask that you play the censored version of the game in which the character's face has been removed. Or better yet, don't play the game at all.

Update: Molleindustria have removed the game from their site. See here.

 

Comments

[Bob Borsley]

If all those from a certain religion who are keen to kill adherents other religions (and the wrong sort of adherents of their own religion) could confine themselves to doing this sort of thing in computer games, the world would be a much better place.

[Martin Adamson]

Honestly, where is the fun in a game like that? Obviously Ganesha would kick all their butts.