Of Games and God
A Christian Exploration of Video Games
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Video games are big business, generating billions of dollars annually. The long-held stereotype of the gamer as a solitary teen hunched in front of his computer screen for hours is inconsistent with the current makeup of a diverse and vibrant gaming community. The rise of this cultural phenomenon raises a host of questions: Are some games too violent? Do they hurt or help our learning? Do they encourage escapism? How do games portray gender? Such questions have generated lots of talk, but missing from much of the discussion has been a Christian perspective.
Kevin Schut, a communications expert and an enthusiastic gamer himself, offers a lively, balanced, and informed Christian evaluation of video games and video game culture. He expertly engages a variety of issues, encouraging readers to consider both the perils and the promise of this major cultural phenomenon. The book includes a foreword by Quentin J. Schultze.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In his book on the intersection between Christian faith and video games, communications and media professor Schut offers well-researched ground for fellow believers to begin critically engaging with an oft-derided medium. He deftly addresses typical arguments lobbed against video games by presenting anecdotes, scientific studies, and interviews to start a critical dialogue about faith and games. At its core, the author asks: how does a Christian navigate and even enjoy a subculture that seems saturated with sloth, sexism, mindless violence, and iconoclasm? Without a thoughtful approach, games like Halo, Final Fantasy, or Zelda can corrupt an audience. Schut calls for a healthy Christian criticism that withholds absolute judgments, considers context, and synthesizes perspectives when it comes to games. While some may find his overview to be too broad or that it moves too quickly for the uninitiated, he makes an undeniably honest and heartfelt attempt to understand not only the relationship between Christianity and video games but also between faith and modern culture.
Customer Reviews
Kindred spirit.
This is the book I have been missing for the 8 years since starting to follow Jesus. I have always felt this disconnect and gap between my gamer life and my Christian life. It has only been in the last year that I have started to find ways to connect the two, and this book could not have come at a better time. I can't wait to recommend it to every person in my life who doesn't understand this passion I have. Thanks Kevin for your balanced perspective and thoughtful analysis into what I think is one of the greatest mission fields being ignored by Christians today. Expect an email from me very soon!