Left Behind: Eternal Forces

As the latest game to bring Christian values to the forefront of online strategy games, Left Behind is an  invaluable case in the study of religion and virtual reality.  One interesting aspect of this game is “omnipotent” perspective taken while playing the game.  Though this same perspective has been used over and over again (namely in war simulations), it would take no stretch of imagination to see the player as God.  The player is never directly seen (yet you are acknowledged), there is total control (rule is infallible), and the player’s motives are fulfilled  through lesser agents.  Though the idea that the player is God is never acknowledged in the game, it is subliminally inferred via the perspective taken (who else could you be?)  What does this mean for the younger, more impressionable gamers that the game is intended for? Firstly, if the player is God, then they are righteous in their actions, and everything done to make the game progress is right.  Because of this assumption, all the messages received through the game, and all things learned from the game can be taken at face value as right.  If someone believes that they are taking on the role of God by playing this game, then their functions of the game can be commingled with the functions of God.  For example, say the player encounters a musician on the street that (in the game) is evil.  By taking the necessary action to make this person not evil, the player has correctly solved that part of the game, and fulfilled the basic function of any video-game player.  But because of the connection between the individual and God, it can be inferred that God thinks that musicians should be considered evil people who need to be saved.  In short, if this logically flawed perspective is taken by impressionable gamers, detrimental views a of Christian values can be developed.