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Traditional Catholic Faith => Anσnymσus Posts Allowed => Topic started by: Änσnymσus on April 06, 2024, 02:50:46 AM
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I am currently under heavy temptations and would like to discuss this topic.
When I think about it, it is quite odd that it is so normal to 'kill' others in video games. Sure it's not really murdering someone one but it just seem a little odd, even in movies it's become so normalised. Now there is a certain difference between games where death is depicted very gory, verus not so. Obviously games that have sɛҳuąƖ relation content or simple inappropriate dressed characters should be avoided due to the occasion of sin. But is it wrong to play games if they have some depiction of killing?
As for my temptations;
Over a year ago I made the decision to stop playing video games in-order to be closer to God, recently I have been tempted to play games again and the temptation has been very strong. I mainly used to play a game called 'Destiny', a first-person shooter set in a mythic science fiction world, which starts with your player character is being revived from the dead by a 'Ghost' ("a small, sapient machine created by the 'Traveler'" ("an ancient and immensely powerful machine entity") using the power of 'light' ("also known as the Sky,[1] is a paracausal force (effectively 'magic', it is a video games)[2] that is associated with the Traveler. It is the direct and opposing counterpart of the Darkness).
At the time I was still a recent convert to Traditional Catholicism and took quite an extreme route following some of the material from MHFM and others related to their group, I am also scrupulous (not a much as I used to be). When I thought about the narrative concerning the game I was worried that it might be idolatrous/blasphemous to play so I quit.
The in-game story has always been garbage from day 1 so it wasn't why I played the game, the main reasons I enjoyed the game was because I enjoyed the game-play mechanics, the RPG elements, and was decent at the game and it was basically my only hobby i.e for fun.
I have been recently tempted to go back to playing the game as an hobby. I know most users of CathInfo have much more experience in life and Catholicism than me so I will appreciate the responses and advice you have to offer. Thanks.
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My take is, *in real life* we should not take pleasure in watching another person/people/animal being hurt, tortured, or be the subject of some kind of violence like being shot/blown up, or hurt/killed by falling off a building, down stairs or some other accident that causes them major hurt or death. God did not make us to take pleasure in another person's tragedy, to do so is perverted. Are we not supposed to be above the Romans who enjoyed watching people getting ripped apart by lions for their pleasure?
The problems with gaming is that after firmly gripping it's players, *the idea* becomes acceptable for many - perhaps not for all, but all are affected to at least some degree, which in turn leads to accepting or being inclined (tempted) to accept other ideas, which are immoral.
Give up the video games.
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Why don’t you start a hobby or activity which would be good for your physical health and for your soul? You do say that your present activity has been garbage since day 1.
Go bike riding, hiking, walking, reading good books (not garbage), Woodworking, writing, learn a useful skill, take a course in public speaking, learn a new language. The choices are limitless.
Remember God gave you limited time here on this earth. Use it for your own betterment and the benefit of your fellow man. You will be judged on how you used the time He gifted you.
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My take is, *in real life* we should not take pleasure in watching another person/people/animal being hurt, tortured, or be the subject of some kind of violence like being shot/blown up, or hurt/killed by falling off a building, down stairs or some other accident that causes them major hurt or death. God did not make us to take pleasure in another person's tragedy, to do so is perverted. Are we not supposed to be above the Romans who enjoyed watching people getting ripped apart by lions for their pleasure?
The problems with gaming is that after firmly gripping it's players, *the idea* becomes acceptable for many - perhaps not for all, but all are affected to at least some degree, which in turn leads to accepting or being inclined (tempted) to accept other ideas, which are immoral.
Give up the video games.
I half agree with your 1st paragraph, realistic violence and gore should be avoided. What about 'cartoon' violence?
As for your 2nd paragraph, I can understand the idea behind what you said but I don't see it as a video game specific issue.
Why don’t you start a hobby or activity which would be good for your physical health and for your soul? You do say that your present activity has been garbage since day 1.
Go bike riding, hiking, walking, reading good books (not garbage), Woodworking, writing, learn a useful skill, take a course in public speaking, learn a new language. The choices are limitless.
Remember God gave you limited time here on this earth. Use it for your own betterment and the benefit of your fellow man. You will be judged on how you used the time He gifted you.
I already do some exercise (avoiding the gym and public areas due to how women dress), I currently already have a prayer life with spiritual reading where if I add anymore to it I would be overloaded and it would spiral out of control. Many of the things you recommended don't interest me or I can't do them to due to cost/space constraints, though I thank you both for your input.
Also while I said the story of the game was bad (garbage) I played it for the gameplay, a sort of outlet where I can relax and focus.
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I too have been tempted to go back to video games, but it is just such an unproductive waste of time. Now I can too easily pass much time meditating and thinking on various things both of the faith and not. At least it is much more productive to review the faith and modern errors, to practice the use of reason when meditating on God and creation, and planning ahead for life and solving problems in daily life.
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I half agree with your 1st paragraph, realistic violence and gore should be avoided. What about 'cartoon' violence?
As for your 2nd paragraph, I can understand the idea behind what you said but I don't see it as a video game specific issue.
Right, it's not game specific, and I do not think this applies to "cartoon violence," but what I said can apply to other things as well, like reading. Consider if someone narrated your game play into chapters of a book, would they tend to edify or to defile? Think about what you said in the OP: "it is quite odd that it is so normal to 'kill' others in video games." With the outstanding graphics and sounds, playing these games effects the brain, it just does.
That which is in reality immoral or vile, is/becomes something normal and even sought after for the sake of the game, therefore acceptable. After hours and hours (and hours) of eagerly exposing oneself to such immorality or vileness, they condition themselves away from "normal," replacing "normal" with immoral, which can only be a detriment to a good interior life - which, like all of today's pop/rock/rap/etc. music, is imo, the purpose of these games - as you alluded to in the OP: "Over a year ago I made the decision to stop playing video games in-order to be closer to God"
Once one accepts the immorality of the games, after hours and hours of practicing and enjoying it, it's much easier to put that practice into use and incline yourself toward accepting other immoral things that have nothing to do with the game.
Anyway, that's my opinion, but either way give up the games. Listen to some good trad sermons (https://www.youtube.com/@promotorfidei1766) when you want to relax profitably and in order to grow closer to God
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Sigh. Talk to your confessor. A traditional Catholic priest. Don't just field opinions for practical moral questions on a public forum.
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No, killing people in a video game is not a sin. The only argument I could see is in a game like "Grand Theft Auto" where you play the role of a criminal and going around committing crimes. But this type of game is a rare exception. Most first-person shooters either place the player in the role of a soldier in war, or in some type of zombie apocalypse or end-of-civilization situation where it would be more likely to be self-defense, and so on. Then again, there is a large minority of games where you shoot monsters or zombies or non-humans anyway.
And most games actually penalize the player in various ways if they shoot non-combatants, hostages, their own team-members, or anyone else whom it would be immoral to kill.
Video game violence strikes me as more or less a non-issue, in terms of Catholic morality.
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Video game violence strikes me as more or less a non-issue, in terms of Catholic morality.
This brings to mind my opinion that there are many things that may be non issues and not sinful that we still should not do, say, or even think let alone will, but that is probably in the realm of nit picking what it perfect and prudent.
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Give up the video games. From my own experience it's a drain on the spiritual life and a vehicle for demonic influence.
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If you do play video games, resist playing the usual triple A titles-- for at least a decade these games have been designed as propaganda alternate realities. Even if they're not technically sinful, they're a drain on the soul and will probably cause an anxious and depressed disposition as you go through your life just waiting to get back to the game. Opt for minimal graphic strategy games which stimulate your mind more than your senses, and indie developers who are (not guaranteed, but at least more likely) to be making games that aren't designed to corrupt your mind.
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There's nothing inherently wrong with playing video games, even IMO the "violent" ones (impurity being a separate issue). MOST people can tell the difference between fake violence (in movies and video games) vs. real violence. I for one would have no problem hacking things up with a chainsaw in a video game (though I really haven't played any video games in probably 20 years ... not interested anymore) ... but in real life I don't like even crushing bugs (but will throw them outside) and always use the humane mouse traps, etc. ... and especially find it difficult to see people suffering. It's usually the people who have no sense of morals that are influenced into violence by these games. Also, more and more, real-life war is conducted via drones or other unmanned vehicles, and you get footage all the time of "solders" controlling these drones remotely and blowing away innocent civilians, and often laughing about it ... thinking of it as if it were a video game. Now the US armed forces have armies of skilled gamers ready to control deadly drones to slaughter people, having become desensitized to it in video games.
Now, the problem is that if you are like some and go back to gaming, that, if you're liable to being addicted to it, soon you could find yourself wasting many hours a day where you could have been doing something more productive and more for God's glory. That's why alcoholics can never "just" have one drink. As soon as they take their first sip, they tend to fall off the wagon. Same thing is true of many gamers. If that's you, where you would not be able to limit yourself to just an hour or two per day, then it's probably not good for you to start back up.
You do want to avoid anything that might have certain occult elements in them, though I think a certain amount of fantasy "magic" per se is OK, provided it's not dark, or especially if you're fighting AGAINST various nefarious forces in your game.
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If you do play video games, resist playing the usual triple A titles-- for at least a decade these games have been designed as propaganda alternate realities. Even if they're not technically sinful, they're a drain on the soul and will probably cause an anxious and depressed disposition as you go through your life just waiting to get back to the game. Opt for minimal graphic strategy games which stimulate your mind more than your senses, and indie developers who are (not guaranteed, but at least more likely) to be making games that aren't designed to corrupt your mind.
This is very true. Most of the big game companies are controlled or heavily influenced by various "deep state" elements that have agendas.
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If the OP was able to play only acceptable games in moderation he wouldn't be asking the question.
The only appropriate answer is to advise him to give it up for God's greater glory and the salvation of his soul.
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(https://www.cathinfo.com/index.php?topic=73726.msg933002#msg933002)
Now, the problem is that if you are like some and go back to gaming, that, if you're liable to being addicted to it, soon you could find yourself wasting many hours a day where you could have been doing something more productive and more for God's glory. That's why alcoholics can never "just" have one drink. As soon as they take their first sip, they tend to fall off the wagon. Same thing is true of many gamers. If that's you, where you would not be able to limit yourself to just an hour or two per day, then it's probably not good for you to start back up.
This, and Nadir's response are the best in this thread, in my opinion.
The reality is that just about ANYTHING ELSE you did instead, including "hanging out" at the Mall, would be better for your body/brain/future. At least hanging out with gang members would increase your social skills, awareness, motivate you to get in better shape, perhaps increase your self-defense and fighting skills, etc.
My point: anything else you could do (not involving a screen) would AT LEAST involve being in reality -- even if you sat on a lawn chair in the front yard and thought about stuff for 2 hours instead of 2 hours of screen time. At least the former would allow your thoughts and brain to develop, allow for meditation, be a true chance to rest and recreate, etc.
Do literally anything else involving your body and real life -- that's my advice. And my favorite quote "only boring people get bored". Likewise, only boring people need to reach for a screen offering canned, mainstream, passive entertainment. A truly interesting person would have dozens of things he wanted to learn, explore, and do.
And some guys wonder why they're not married yet -- why would a girl want to marry someone who was completely uninteresting, and whose life was a total drag? Who would want to be a part of such a life? Make yourself an interesting man, that any wise or smart girl would WANT to be a part of. You'll be much happier in the long run.
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The harm is in the screen. It’s addicting in and of itself. It’s not the play violence. On a screen, one is always reacting rather than initiating action, no matter how cleverly designed. Like war games or crime mysteries, play board games. (Not D&D as that’s occult based.) There are lots still available, battle re-enactments with alternate strategies, that can last for weeks, all the way down to chess or the child’s game Battleship. I never heard of anyone getting addicted to Battleship or playing cowboys and Indians!
Find another game other than those on a screen.
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Some people can get addicted to anything. Some people aren't prone to addictions at all. Video games aren't the issue. As the Greeks told us -- know thyself.
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Yeah, there's something about video games in particular. They're not "just another thing" one can become addicted to.
Here's what I mean:
Back in the 90's, with my Super Nintendo, my mother (a Baby Boomer) offered this sage observation:
"We never got so addicted to playing Monopoly back in the day..."
And as a teen, I thought she was silly. I mean, our video games were SO much better, so much more advanced, so much more fun than Monopoly! Don't you DARE compare our games to your crappy Monopoly!
But today I would side with her, and say the same thing! What IS it with video games that make them different from every type of game that came before -- from tag, to hide and seek, to cops and robbers, to board games, etc.
No one spent all day, or stayed up into the wee hours of the night, playing board games. You get tired of them after a while, and you put them away. People didn't propose a "Professional Monopoly league" where people spend 12+ hours a day playing Monopoly to become absolute masters of the game and then competing professionally. People would have laughed at you.
But today, you DO have professional video gaming. People play the games 16 hours a day like Olympic athletes to become masters, and then compete professionally. So playing THESE kind of games like an 80-hour-a-week full time job is a thing!
So yeah -- they're different all right.
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Put away the video games and take up cards and board games.
Video games are very isolating and egoist. Cards are board games are social
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No one spent all day, or stayed up into the wee hours of the night, playing board games. You get tired of them after a while, and you put them away. People didn't propose a "Professional Monopoly league" where people spend 12+ hours a day playing Monopoly to become absolute masters of the game and then competing professionally. People would have laughed at you.
Video games aren't any different than other games. Technology just upped the ante and created an environment where $ could be made, the games involved more social/team work, and thus, games are played all day long.
But today, you DO have professional video gaming. People play the games 16 hours a day like Olympic athletes to become masters, and then compete professionally. So playing THESE kind of games like an 80-hour-a-week full time job is a thing!
Back in the day, there were professional poker players who played (professionally) all hours of the day. You also had chess clubs, and professional chess players who played 12+ hours of the day (i.e. Bobby Fisher).
The main difference is that technology has allowed more of a social aspect and the internet has expanded the pool/variety of games which can be played. And betting has increased the $ available to be made.
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OP here, yesterday I played for 3 hours, today 5.5 hours, first time in over year. Honestly I was bored playing, as if I was playing the game for the sake of playing the game. The annoying thing about many modern video games is that you can't just play for 1 hour and get much done in the game. But thinking about my experience in the last 2 days I was definitely not enjoying myself playing, maybe minecraft would be have more enjoyable but I felt like gaming was just a chore.
I will say, I didn't have work on those days and I did do all my prayers + religious readings and attended mass so despite spending a decent chunk of time on a video games I still did the important stuff. Now I am starting to wonder if novels/movies/tv shows are also a waste of time? Perhaps they are more enjoyable due to the story content and they take less time than video games but I am not sure how I will spend my 'free time' as I don't enjoy most things.
2 (https://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=23&ch=1&l=2-#x)Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity. (https://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=23&ch=1&l=3#x)
3- (https://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=23&ch=1&l=3#x)What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun [Ecclesiastes 1:2-3] (https://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=23&ch=1&l=3-#)
I used to read a lot of manga in the past but dropped them after becoming religious. I supposed 'picture novels' are just an easy consumption, and many have sci-fi/fantasy/pagan elements. And most movies and tv shows are Jєωιѕн crap so they certainly don't interest me anymore. I used to enjoy a good fictional story but i'm not sure if I can 'get into it' anymore.
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Video games aren't any different than other games. Technology just upped the ante and created an environment where $ could be made, the games involved more social/team work, and thus, games are played all day long.
Back in the day, there were professional poker players who played (professionally) all hours of the day. You also had chess clubs, and professional chess players who played 12+ hours of the day (i.e. Bobby Fisher).
The main difference is that technology has allowed more of a social aspect and the internet has expanded the pool/variety of games which can be played. And betting has increased the $ available to be made.
The first-person roleplay in video games is a lot more insidious. Chess players might get a tiny dopamine hit each time they intermittently take an opponent's piece, yet this barely compares to the constant and repetitive stream of hits in video games. Thus gamers sometimes do sort of begin to inhabit their favorite role without realizing it due to the immersive-ness of the visual and sensorimotor interface.
Tech makes all that money precisely because those games are designed purposely to be mentally addictive.
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The first-person roleplay in video games is a lot more insidious. Chess players might get a tiny dopamine hit each time they intermittently take an opponent's piece, yet this barely compares to the constant and repetitive stream of hits in video games. Thus gamers sometimes do sort of begin to inhabit their favorite role without realizing it due to the immersive-ness of the visual and sensorimotor interface.
Tech makes all that money precisely because those games are designed purposely to be mentally addictive.
That was me.
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OP here, yesterday I played for 3 hours, today 5.5 hours, first time in over year. Honestly I was bored playing, as if I was playing the game for the sake of playing the game. The annoying thing about many modern video games is that you can't just play for 1 hour and get much done in the game. But thinking about my experience in the last 2 days I was definitely not enjoying myself playing, maybe minecraft would be have more enjoyable but I felt like gaming was just a chore.
I will say, I didn't have work on those days and I did do all my prayers + religious readings and attended mass so despite spending a decent chunk of time on a video games I still did the important stuff. Now I am starting to wonder if novels/movies/tv shows are also a waste of time? Perhaps they are more enjoyable due to the story content and they take less time than video games but I am not sure how I will spend my 'free time' as I don't enjoy most things.
2 (https://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=23&ch=1&l=2-#x)Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity. (https://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=23&ch=1&l=3#x)
3- (https://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=23&ch=1&l=3#x)What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun [Ecclesiastes 1:2-3] (https://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=23&ch=1&l=3-#)
I used to read a lot of manga in the past but dropped them after becoming religious. I supposed 'picture novels' are just an easy consumption, and many have sci-fi/fantasy/pagan elements. And most movies and tv shows are Jєωιѕн crap so they certainly don't interest me anymore. I used to enjoy a good fictional story but i'm not sure if I can 'get into it' anymore.
St. Anselm: “If thou wouldst be certain of being in the number of the elect, strive to be one of the few, not of the many. And if thou wouldst be quite sure of thy salvation, strive to be among the fewest of the few… Do not follow the great majority of mankind, but follow those who enter upon the narrow way, who renounce the world, who give themselves to prayer… that they may attain everlasting blessedness.”
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Speaking to my confessor he recommended that I limit myself to 1 hour a day with the max being 2 hours. However I don't think I will be able to do this, so I am just going to quit games altogether.
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My baby parents are addicted to television.
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I gave up video games in my late 20s because even those games became boring for me and because I got married and it seemed silly to me to continue to do that as a married man. I was a lukewarm N.O. catholic at the time, if I could even call myself that.
Video games trap you in a constant search for the latest and greatest game where you pushing the boundary a bit more each time. So I got rid of my gaming console and if I ever played a video game was by going to an arcade place and the distance to it and the cost of the tokens to play the games were enough to deter me from spending too much time or doing it very often. Additionally, going to the arcade place reinforced that uncomfortable feeling of "being too old" to do something because at the arcades you would be alongside little kids and due to uncomfortable feeling, it becomes a necessity to leave those games behind.
Imagine yourself playing cops and robbers or tag with kids who are not your kids; and if you think about it, that is what you are doing online with the multi-player games, most of the other players are just kids. While on your gaming console in the comfort of your own home, you do not get that perspective (of seeing yourself still playing with other children). Eventually, I completely lost interest in video games and found healthy hobbies that took the place of video games.
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Speaking to my confessor he recommended that I limit myself to 1 hour a day with the max being 2 hours. However I don't think I will be able to do this, so I am just going to quit games altogether.
Going to sleep I had strong resolutions, now upon awakening I am heavily tempted to limit my self to 1-2 hours a day... I can see why my confessor said that even if I delete everything that 'people always find a way to get it back'. I am heavily conflicted, perhaps if I was married I wouldn't have this issue but I am no where ready for that.
I gave up video games in my late 20s because even those games became boring for me and because I got married and it seemed silly to me to continue to do that as a married man. I was a lukewarm N.O. catholic at the time, if I could even call myself that.
Video games trap you in a constant search for the latest and greatest game where you pushing the boundary a bit more each time. So I got rid of my gaming console and if I ever played a video game was by going to an arcade place and the distance to it and the cost of the tokens to play the games were enough to deter me from spending too much time or doing it very often. Additionally, going to the arcade place reinforced that uncomfortable feeling of "being too old" to do something because at the arcades you would be alongside little kids and due to uncomfortable feeling, it becomes a necessity to leave those games behind.
Imagine yourself playing cops and robbers or tag with kids who are not your kids; and if you think about it, that is what you are doing online with the multi-player games, most of the other players are just kids. While on your gaming console in the comfort of your own home, you do not get that perspective (of seeing yourself still playing with other children). Eventually, I completely lost interest in video games and found healthy hobbies that took the place of video games.
I don't agree, this is apple vs oranges here. Many modern games have a high skill ceiling and you would be surprised perhaps even shocked how many adults play video games, the age group would perhaps depend on the game. Arcades and games like tag with other people's children are a different thing altogether, however I will still play similar things with my nieces and nephews...
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My baby parents are addicted to television.
:pray: This is worse in my opinion.
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Going to sleep I had strong resolutions, now upon awakening I am heavily tempted to limit my self to 1-2 hours a day... I can see why my confessor said that even if I delete everything that 'people always find a way to get it back'. I am heavily conflicted, perhaps if I was married I wouldn't have this issue but I am no where ready for that. I don't agree, this is apple vs oranges here. Many modern games have a high skill ceiling and you would be surprised perhaps even shocked how many adults play video games, the age group would perhaps depend on the game. Arcades and games like tag with other people's children are a different thing altogether, however I will still play similar things with my nieces and nephews...
I should add, that my confessor said that as long as I do all my duties first it would be not a mortal sin to play video games (unless it was anything impure, but that is a different ballpark). Even playing 6 hours a day would not be a mortal sin, though it would be a venial sin. I don't know if 1-2 hours a day would be a venial sin, I should probably ask him again as somethings I forget things or they go over my head in confession, but I do not want to commit even venial sins. As even that is hitting Jesus in the face.
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perhaps if I was married I wouldn't have this issue but I am no where ready for that.
And if you don't find a wife .... If you intend to marry wouldn't it be better to prepare sooner than later.
Six hours a day is a waste of God's precious gift. God will judge you on how you use His time.
Doesn't sound like wisdom on the part of the priest (the 6 hours I mean). Even your use of language points to the fact that, for you, it is a problem.
Do you do any works of charity? Is there a neighbour who would need help with shopping, gardening, whatever?
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And if you don't find a wife .... If you intend to marry wouldn't it be better to prepare sooner than later.
Six hours a day is a waste of God's precious gift. God will judge you on how you use His time.
Doesn't sound like wisdom on the part of the priest (the 6 hours I mean). Even your use of language points to the fact that, for you, it is a problem.
Do you do any works of charity? Is there a neighbour who would need help with shopping, gardening, whatever?
He said that 6 hours was definitely too much and the time could be better spent, though if I had done all my duties, having 6 hours to waste wouldn't be a mortal sin, though it is time better spent elsewhere.
I don't speak my with my neighbours.
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Neighbours were only an example. The main point was "Do you do any works of charity?"
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Neighbours were only an example. The main point was "Do you do any works of charity?"
I make anonymous donations every now and then. That's about it.
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Going to sleep I had strong resolutions, now upon awakening I am heavily tempted to limit my self to 1-2 hours a day... I can see why my confessor said that even if I delete everything that 'people always find a way to get it back'. I am heavily conflicted, perhaps if I was married I wouldn't have this issue but I am no where ready for that.
That is how the devil works. Your resolution brought you peace but the devil is here to take it away. You won't be able to limit yourself to 1-2 hours, but with God's grace you will prosper if you sacrifice video games for Him.
I deleted all video games years ago and have never played them since, excluding a couple of LAN parties and a couple of browser games.
If they were installed on my PC they would be a constant temptation.
For the love of God please delete the games or you will have to learn it the hard way.
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Another thing, you have to find a habit to replace games.
Examples
Pray
Exercise
Play sports
Read books
Learn a language
Learn to sing
Learn to play the piano
Study philosophy
Enter a debate club
Evangelize
With the time you waste on games you could become a model man.
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By the way, the first few weeks of abstaining will be the hardest but it will progressively stop being an issue, especially if you find something else to fill your time.
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One last thing, you really thought that after you made your resolution the devil will just let you go in peace?
I've learnt the hard way how this works and it was almost never a good idea to back down on my resolutions which the devil will then bring up on judgment day.
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I should add, that my confessor said that as long as I do all my duties first it would be not a mortal sin to play video games (unless it was anything impure, but that is a different ballpark). Even playing 6 hours a day would not be a mortal sin, though it would be a venial sin. I don't know if 1-2 hours a day would be a venial sin, I should probably ask him again as somethings I forget things or they go over my head in confession, but I do not want to commit even venial sins. As even that is hitting Jesus in the face.
In the OP you said: "Over a year ago I made the decision to stop playing video games in-order to be closer to God."
This tells me (and should tell you) that you recognize that playing games separates you or makes you drift away from God, which means that for you, playing games is a danger that you need to completely and immediately avoid.
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In the OP you said: "Over a year ago I made the decision to stop playing video games in-order to be closer to God."
This tells me (and should tell you) that you recognize that playing games separates you or makes you drift away from God, which means that for you, playing games is a danger that you need to completely and immediately avoid.
At that time I was still learning the faith and was still in my old habits of over gaming. I took a very extreme route and was overlay zealous and not prudent.
I should be able to limit myself if I use a timer.
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Waking up this morning I was resolute suddenly to delete and uninstall the game, so after my morning prayers I did. Please pray that I may continue to abstain from video games.
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:pray:
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Waking up this morning I was resolute suddenly to delete and uninstall the game, so after my morning prayers I did. Please pray that I may continue to abstain from video games.
Praise God! :pray:
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Waking up this morning I was resolute suddenly to delete and uninstall the game, so after my morning prayers I did. Please pray that I may continue to abstain from video games.
I think for me the worst part of games is i cant just not think about the game. Yesterday i was able to limit myself to 2 hours, but afterwards I was thinking about how I can maximise the next 2 hours and be a better player at the game, even looking at information on YouTube etc. Yes I am autistic like that.
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I think for me the worst part of games is i cant just not think about the game. Yesterday i was able to limit myself to 2 hours, but afterwards I was thinking about how I can maximise the next 2 hours and be a better player at the game, even looking at information on YouTube etc. Yes I am autistic like that.
I'm the one who kept telling you to lay off the games. I'm also autistic like that and could limit the playing time but not the absolute obsession of min-maxing and competitive excellence.
The only solution was to quit cold turkey.
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The solution is not to avoid the games, but to realize you have an obsessive personality (which is a blessing) and use it in a positive manner. Use your God-given talent in more productive ways — to learn a skill, to repair something, to study the Faith, to write a book, to focus on your job/studies, etc.
Once you put your priorities in order…then…you can play games. Obsess all you want, enjoy the game, and have fun… because you will have deserved this mental break from real work.
You can’t stop nature and you can’t alter your personality. Use your personality and gifts for their best use, then have fun with games, in moderation.
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Yeah, there's something about video games in particular. They're not "just another thing" one can become addicted to.
Here's what I mean:
Back in the 90's, with my Super Nintendo, my mother (a Baby Boomer) offered this sage observation:
"We never got so addicted to playing Monopoly back in the day..."
And as a teen, I thought she was silly. I mean, our video games were SO much better, so much more advanced, so much more fun than Monopoly! Don't you DARE compare our games to your crappy Monopoly!
But today I would side with her, and say the same thing! What IS it with video games that make them different from every type of game that came before -- from tag, to hide and seek, to cops and robbers, to board games, etc.
No one spent all day, or stayed up into the wee hours of the night, playing board games. You get tired of them after a while, and you put them away. People didn't propose a "Professional Monopoly league" where people spend 12+ hours a day playing Monopoly to become absolute masters of the game and then competing professionally. People would have laughed at you.
But today, you DO have professional video gaming. People play the games 16 hours a day like Olympic athletes to become masters, and then compete professionally. So playing THESE kind of games like an 80-hour-a-week full time job is a thing!
So yeah -- they're different all right.
:laugh1: Having grown up with Monopoly and other board games this post made me lol.
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This thread encouraged me to leave them too. What I don't know is what to replace them with, in my case I think I used them to have a temporary evasion from problems.
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This thread encouraged me to leave them too. What I don't know is what to replace them with, in my case I think I used them to have a temporary evasion from problems.
The problem for me (OP) is that I started watching a lot more youtube after I quit video games a year ago.
The solution is not to avoid the games, but to realize you have an obsessive personality (which is a blessing) and use it in a positive manner. Use your God-given talent in more productive ways — to learn a skill, to repair something, to study the Faith, to write a book, to focus on your job/studies, etc.
Once you put your priorities in order…then…you can play games. Obsess all you want, enjoy the game, and have fun… because you will have deserved this mental break from real work.
You can’t stop nature and you can’t alter your personality. Use your personality and gifts for their best use, then have fun with games, in moderation.
I am so tempted to download the game again. Sure it's probably more pleasing to God to quit altogether but I am considering if I should take my confessor's advice of 1 to 2 hours MAX. I know we are supposed to listen to our priests but his was advice and not a command. I can somewhat see why my priest said that quitting altogether may not be the best option, seeing how I am already thinking about the game without even playing it...
I think the worst things to me though is that pagan elements. Typical of modern society, it features 'light' and 'darkness' and these could have once been 1 and maybe the 'darkness' isn't really bad, typical.
I know that real evil is just the lack of good and not a substance in and of itself. Also I don't like how the community refers to the best weapon rolls as 'god rolls', seems blasphemous but I am scrupulous.
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The problem for me (OP) is that I started watching a lot more youtube after I quit video games a year ago.
I am so tempted to download the game again. Sure it's probably more pleasing to God to quit altogether but I am considering if I should take my confessor's advice of 1 to 2 hours MAX. I know we are supposed to listen to our priests but his was advice and not a command. I can somewhat see why my priest said that quitting altogether may not be the best option, seeing how I am already thinking about the game without even playing it...
I think the worst things to me though is that pagan elements. Typical of modern society, it features 'light' and 'darkness' and these could have once been 1 and maybe the 'darkness' isn't really bad, typical.
I know that real evil is just the lack of good and not a substance in and of itself. Also I don't like how the community refers to the best weapon rolls as 'god rolls', seems blasphemous but I am scrupulous.
You're not scrupulous, if you were scrupulous you'd give up the games. What you are is luke-warm and indecisive and that will cost you.
You don't need to follow your priest's bad advice since Our Lord has told you how severely to deal with occasions of sin.
And if thy hand, or thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
I recommend St. Alphonsus' sermon on avoiding occasions of sin, you can find the text online or audio on Defeat Modernism YT or Odysee.
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You're not scrupulous, if you were scrupulous you'd give up the games. What you are is luke-warm and indecisive and that will cost you.
You don't need to follow your priest's bad advice since Our Lord has told you how severely to deal with occasions of sin.
And if thy hand, or thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
I recommend St. Alphonsus' sermon on avoiding occasions of sin, you can find the text online or audio on Defeat Modernism YT or Odysee.
How is it an occasion of sin? Recreation is not a sin. If i do all my prayers and other duties first there is nothing wrong with taking some leisure in my free time.
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How is it an occasion of sin? Recreation is not a sin. If i do all my prayers and other duties first there is nothing wrong with taking some leisure in my free time.
Not all leisures are created equally. See Matthew's post on Monopoly.
Video games are not just any leisure, if they were, you'd have no problem swapping them with one of the many examples given. No, they are very special, that's why you won't give them up for much better leisures such as sport, reading, etc.
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Not all leisures are created equally. See Matthew's post on Monopoly.
Video games are not just any leisure, if they were, you'd have no problem swapping them with one of the many examples given. No, they are very special, that's why you won't give them up for much better leisures such as sport, reading, etc.
I have no interest in 'sports' and I already do reading.
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How is it an occasion of sin? Recreation is not a sin. If i do all my prayers and other duties first there is nothing wrong with taking some leisure in my free time.
It's not an occasion to sin (unless the game has indecency in it).
If it was an occasion to sin, your priest would absolutely forbid it. But he didn't. He advised moderation in playing, which is the correct answer.
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“My children, jump, run and play! Make all the noise you want, but avoid sin like the plague and you will surely gain heaven.”
-- St Don Bosco
My interpretation, in regards to this thread: St Don Bosco's point is that having fun is better than idleness and boredom, which can often lead to temptations. Occupy your mind (in moderation) with entertainment and it's harder to sin. Thus, you are using entertainment as God intended (i.e. to relax and refresh the mind, after the day's work and duties are fulfilled).
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Exploring art and nature, the kinds that lift our mind to God, is a good hobby. Find interesting things to look at with a powerful magnifying glass or microscope. Learn to play or even build musical instruments. Try taking on the challenge of composing a strategy/formula for converting people to the true faith. I figure the best way is to guide them along a thought process by providing the information and questions to ask themself, but have them make all the conclusions, so they actually do some thinking.
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This sounds like an addiction to me. Is there such a thing as a Video Games Anonymous group like Alcoholic Anonymous?
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This sounds like an addiction to me. Is there such a thing as a Video Games Anonymous group like Alcoholic Anonymous?
I don't know but I see it more like it might be the same kind of addiction as listening to rock music, or hip hop, or whatever it is they listen to these days.
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This sounds like an addiction to me.
There's a big difference between getting really, really into something and being addicted. Some people (especially introverts) are able to fully immerse themselves into a topic and not be addicted. You can be temporarily obsessed with something but not be addicted. God created this personality type, so it's not wrong. But it must be moderated.
On the opposite end of the spectrum (extroverts) are those people who hate studying and struggle very much with things that are intellectual. Are we to label all of these people lazy and stupid? No, they just think/react more to tangible things, instead of the abstract. They are the types that react to stimuli of the senses (i.e. people, conversations) instead of ideas and thinking.
People nowadays throw around the word addiction way too often.
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Addiction is a [color=var(--color-visited)]neuropsychological[/color] (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuropsychological) disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to use a [color=var(--color-visited)]drug[/color] (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug) or engage in a behaviour that produces natural reward, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use often alters [color=var(--color-visited)]brain function[/color] (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain#Function) in ways that perpetuate [color=var(--color-visited)]craving[/color] (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craving_(withdrawal)), and weakens (but does not completely negate) [color=var(--color-visited)]self-control[/color] (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-control).
Nothing to do with introvert or extrovert.
From the very first line of the topic the OP tells us he is ”under heavy temptation” and shows in his replies that though he is attempting to defeat them he keeps going back to them.
That illustrates that it. Is more than “really really being into something”, but rather an addiction. In other words the games control him, not vice versa.
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Addiction is a [color=var(--color-visited)]neuropsychological[/color] (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuropsychological) disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to use a [color=var(--color-visited)]drug[/color] (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug) or engage in a behaviour that produces natural reward, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences.
What is the "substantial harm" or "negative consequences" of video games (in the context of the spiritual life)? Are they causing him to sin? No, because the priest already told him he didn't have to stop, but just be moderate.
From the very first line of the topic the OP tells us he is ”under heavy temptation” and shows in his replies that though he is attempting to defeat them he keeps going back to them.
We aren't talking about a temptation to get drunk or sin impurely. He's being "tempted" to do an action which is spiritually neutral. Video games aren't inherently evil, so they are spiritually neutral, even if one is "tempted" to play them.
Similarly, chocolate candies are spiritually neutral, even though we can be "tempted" to eat too much chocolate. This use of the word "tempt" is in a human way, not a spiritual way. Everyone knows that too much chocolate is bad, but a moderate amount is ok. Same for video games.