Church of England calls for strict games regulation

[wraggster]

CoE fears ‘bubbling sewer of violent games’, resists taking a balanced view on industry
An unfortunate muddle of fear and disgust towards violent game content was expressed by the Anglican church last night – with its legislative body calling for strict regulation of games.
A Church of England general synod meeting saw the subject of game content re-treaded, with the council calling on the government to implement tighter controls on game advertisment campaigns.
“There is a bubbling sewer of gratuitously violent and sexual pornography and games all around us,” said Church of England synod lay member Tom Benyon.
“I have seen its pernicious effect. A family member saw a so-called ‘game’ and he had nightmares. The images remained with him for months," he added.
Benyon was willing to show the general synod members a DVD compilation of violent game scenes which, we imagine, narrow-mindedly condenses a complex and important issue into a ghastly snuff film montage, void of context.

However, Benyon’s revulsion for violent content spurred the former Tory MP to condemn games that don’t even exist:

"Why is it acceptable, indeed lawful, to portray the killing and burning of a woman in Fatality, [or] the sawing up of a woman in Mortal Kombat, or playing football with severed heads; the chainsaw killing of a man in Saw III, $#@!, torture and so on?”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/37548/CoE-...-violent-games

[symbal]

Thank God religion has little influence over UK politics anymore, we'd all be living in mud huts and playing wooden Playstations if they did.

[Sonny_Jim]

"Why is it acceptable, indeed lawful, to portray the killing and burning of a woman in Fatality, [or] the sawing up of a woman in Mortal Kombat, or playing football with severed heads; the chainsaw killing of a man in Saw III, $#@!, torture and so on?”

Because, most people aren't so idiotic that they can differentiate between fact and fiction.
Besides, I seem to remember lots of incest, buggery, murder etc in the Bible.

The Bible has done far more damage than any video game ever did....

[Insomniac-Evolution]

LOL yeah! what is it with religious people? playing video games isn't a scapegoat to brainwash others like they do with religion, same aspect, why not blame movies? because they been more graphic long before video games, the truth is you can't stop it if money is involved, neither can you stop an individual who decides to kill somebody, so blaming a video game or movie for what? fueling their sick thoughts? lol to the majority of true gamers we want realism, i couldn't care less what nightmares or reactions 1 in a million may get

[John Vattic]

Wait didn't the church of england participate in the inquisitions when churches burned women and children? Doesn't the church continually get busted having sex with alter boys? Exactly who are these sickos to criticize and say something is violent?

Sorry but the moral compass of the church has been skewed since god abandoned it

No offense to anyones religion but it's fact that churches burned people and tortured them to death.

[Eviltaco64]

"Why is it acceptable, indeed lawful, to portray the killing and burning of a woman in Fatality, [or] the sawing up of a woman in Mortal Kombat, or playing football with severed heads; the chainsaw killing of a man in Saw III, $#@!, torture and so on?”

Last time I checked, virtual blood-lust didn't hurt anyone. In fact, it may (in certain cases) prevent real blood-lust!

[psyfirefly]

I think that they are pissed because other people are now doing the corrupting instead of them. Religion used to have a monopoly on evil, now it has to share the limelight.

There are some disturbing and wrong games, but at the end of the day everyone has their own mind to decide whether or not they are right for them or their kids. I might disagree with the content of some of the games, but if it helps keep those twisted desires in people satisfied, then at least they are less likely to go out and do it for real.

Religion can do one, its nothing to do with them. They need to sort their own problems out before interfering with others. Religion is an incurable disease upon the human race.

[fpcreator2000]

Actually, they are unhappy because the young children are not at church (where they could be moslested by priest) and instead are at home playing games. Heaven no! This is not acceptable (It seems priests need to get their jollies too!) LMAO! I think the Catholic church would agree with the statement. ROTFLMAO!

[VampDude]

I've not been inside a church since I was... Ummm, I can't remember. But all I can say, is that I've played video games all that time.

The only religion, forced via schools who have these ridiculous assembly's in the morning where you sing all these stupid religious songs and then the ever so boring "Lord's Prayer". Monday to Friday, I would rather have the detention and arrive fifteen minutes late.

Religion shouldn't be forced, because of all the people in the world who were forcefully baptised/christened or whatever when they were born, I'm thinking that like myself they've never stepped foot within a religious building or said prayer for anything without having to be forced.

Oh, I remember once when I was stopped for having my morning break at school because I didn't put my hands together and pray with the other 500 pupils.

Anyway, enough about my boring school experiences...

I have never had a nightmare after playing a game, I've dreamt about playing a game which was pleasant.