Gaming and MMO's - A Whole New World?

The article called “Where Everybody Knows Your (Screen) Name by Constance Steinkuehler and Dmitri Williams claims that “massively multiplayer online games” (or MMO’s) are a “third place” when speaking of social interaction. They compare it to things like pubs, coffee shops, and other common hang out places. They also suggest that participation with these MMO’s helps in the “formation of bridging social capital.” They say that these social relationships function as a way for individuals to be exposed to the diversity of worldviews, despite the fact that they don’t provide deep emotional support. Another reason they give for it being positive is that there are no “prerequisites, requirements, roles, duties, or proofs of membership”, and they can be seen as a home away from home due to traits like “rootedness, feelings of possession, spiritual regeneration, feelings of being at ease, and warmth.”

However, they also mentioned the fact that the effects are negative for both individuals and communities by adding a point from Oldenburg saying, "The essential group experience is being replaced by the exaggerated self-consciousness of individuals. American lifestyles, for all the material acquisition and the seeking after comforts and pleasures, are plagued by boredom, loneliness, alienation."

The article states that bridging social capital occurs when individuals from different backgrounds make connections between social networks. It also says that what these types of tentative relationships “lack in depth, they make up for in breadth.” Therefore, bridging social capital doesn’t provide a lot of emotional support, but it is good in that it can broaden social horizons and worldviews and provide the participants with “access to information and new resources.” They say it can also be a good thing in regards to the bonding type of social capital if it acts as a sort of “super-glue” to strengthen already existing relationships with family and nearby friends.

They come to the conclusions that MMO’s can have both strong and weak ties and that they function more as a bridging device than a bonding ones. They admit that the relationships built through gaming may not be as beneficial as “real-world” relationships due to “geographic dispersion and the nature of third places themselves.” They say there is importance in having a balance of both social bridging and bonding; strong and weak ties because on one extreme, a person is very connected but unsupported and uncared for, and at the other end, the person is loved and sheltered, but isolated from newness (Galston, 1999).

I agree that gaming can both be a positive and negative thing. I haven’t experienced much with it, but I know that if I were exposed to it, I would enjoy being a part of the gaming community and gain from it in some ways, while losing out on “real-world” social ties in other ways. I think that as long as you don’t become obsessed or overly dependent on it, it can be helpful to connect to others around the world so long as you still remember your real life and the people in it.

A New Found Old Way of Conveying Goodness!

In chapter 14, Thomas J. Carmody discusses how comic books are a great way to reach the masses and draw them into thinking theologically without feeling threatened by it. A book of cool graphics and a way to be entertained doesn’t sound nearly as daunting and serious as say a bible tract. Comic books and graphics have, in a way, been present for the last thousand years to convey biblical messages and stories in a way that is easy to understand and more attractive to potential viewers.

One reason that comics are a good way to evangelize, according to Carmody, is that they have a universal appeal across ages, culture, and even religions. Not only do they have an appeal, but they are also low cost, long lasting, and easy to spread around (especially if the comic books are digitally online).

Comics are also familiar to most people around the world, which is why they don’t feel threatened by this form of media. It is also easier to blur the lines between Christian and secular comics since many of the mainstream comics even have religious underlying messages or themes (for example, the classic good wins over evil theme). The more familiar and “friendly” it looks, the less intimidating or threatening it would be.

Comic books are also usually light hearted. They have serious messages, but they are portrayed in a light and fun way. Since language is such a barrier, I think it’s great that Christians have discovered the idea to make graphic books for them in their own indigenous languages. Pictures can be seen by anyone. No one has to be taught how to look at an image, therefore being a great way to spread the message of the gospel.

I especially liked a part of the chapter where Doug TenNapel is quoted as saying, “Christians are going to have to learn that art isn’t automatically good if it’s made by Christians. And Hollywood will have to learn that art isn’t automatically bad if it’s made by Christians.”

Carmody also says that evangelical fans are convinced that comics can contribute to the church and be relevant to the human condition by presenting evangelistic messages at home and overseas, teaching biblical precepts through storylines taken from the Bible or adapted from the lives of Christian missionaries, saints and leaders, reaching an audience that is predisposed to respond to vivid visual images, helping members of a specific tribe to become more humble by poking fun at themselves, and by aiding illiterate people to learn to read. I would have to agree with him on these points. I think it’s important to reach people in the most effective ways, and I for one would much rather look at visuals to entertain and educate me casually than read something that is boring or hard to follow.

With the POWer of comics, we can FIGHT the powers of EVIIIL. Jesus, is the real hero! Spread the word!

Retreats gone extreme?

I don’t know much about Christian Zionists, but if this is what all of them were like, I would definitely be wary. It seems quite extreme that these things actually take place. I can understand having a retreat that offers peace and healing, but casting out demons in this manner, speaking in tongues on command, and saying that your “wounds” are only a matter of generational curses just doesn’t rub me the right way.

I haven’t experienced the casting out of demons first hand, so my opinion is fuzzy on that matter and I’m not sure anyone can judge it until they’ve experienced it for themselves.

Speaking in tongues is supposed to be a gift that is given in order to speak to people who cannot understand your language. The bible says that if you speak in tongues but do not have an interpreter, it is useless. I don’t think just anyone can do it and if they’re saying they can speak in tongues on command, I don’t think that this is the truth, and even if it is, I feel that they are greatly abusing it.

A small part of me wants to believe in generational curses and blessings simply because my mother told me a few times how her great grandfather prayed hard for his family and all the generations to come. In a way, it’s a neat thought. Thanks great grandpa! But wait... what if it’s not true? Who can truly know? Every family has things that they were blessed with in addition to things they struggle with. I agree that a lot of times children end up becoming like their parents even if that’s the last thing they ever wanted to be. Maybe a slight portion of it does lie in the genes. Either way, I believe that we have to take responsibility for our own actions instead of just blaming them on people from the past and their mistakes.

With all that said, I can see how this Matt guy thought these people were crazy and out to conform the whole nation to their own teachings. They do seem kind of far fetched. If it’s true that they believe that they can hurry up the coming of Christ, they have another thing coming. Nothing can change the timing of God Himself. No one knows when the time will be. It is quite alarming to think that people who are perhaps not telling the whole truth and trying to get people to be almost hypnotized by their words are being followed by 4.5 million viewers alone. It’s true that many Christians do fit into a mould of habit and going through the motions and willing to hear a lot of what a preacher has to say because they trust them. However, it is up to every individual Christian to test what they are being told, to look it up in their own bibles and discuss with each other what the real truth is and if they agree. The bible also says that there will be false prophets and teachers and that we are to be very cautious in following anyone. A few points that Matt made in this article might have some truth to it, but I really hope people remember that he’s strictly talking about Christian Zionists rather than all Christians as a whole.

What is Privacy? And is there any left?

In the article titled, “Sound scans of the urban body: Cell phones, eavesdropping and ambient music”, John Shiga mentions a part of an article from a British tabloid called The Mirror that said, “Private phone calls are being illegally bugged in the name of art - and taxpayers are footing the bill”. Places like the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London get annual grants of around 1 million pounds by the Government even though they pay people like former DJ Robin Rimbaud to create art from illegal scanning and eavesdropping of phone conversations. Somehow this doesn’t make sense to me. Why would a government support something that is in fact going against their own laws?

Rimbaud suggests that what he is trying to do is make people aware of the collapse of privacy. He thinks that by exposing current society and new technologies by showing his ability to use a scanner and eavesdrop, people will realize that their conversations indeed are not private which might make them think deeper about the issue. If this is the case, then it would be creating an awareness of the lack of privacy which the government has the power to control. So therefore, it would still be contradictory for the government to be giving grants to places that support this invasion of privacy.

According to Rimbaud, the advancements and use of surveillance equipment in contemporary society means that privacy is illusion. This seems to make sense because the more surveillance is available for not only the government, but also most average people, the less privacy there will be and the harder it will be to monitor who is eavesdropping.

This irks me. I’m not normally a phone person, and now I am even less of one. Knowing that just about anyone could be listening in on my personal conversations doesn’t exactly make me want to spend hours talking on the phone. I realize that a lot of people don’t realize to what extent people are able to eavesdrop on them, but there must be better ways to send that message than the ways of Rimbaud. He could give examples, or even use clips of what other people have done, but to join in the very thing he’s almost against just doesn’t seem quite right to me. Yes, he is being creative, yes he’s probably sending out messages about our society that might be good to learn and understand, yes it’s a way to understand the urban body, but are these reasons good enough to justify invading privacy and stealing from phone conversations without permission?
I’m not surprised that this type of surveillance technology is out there. Any sense of privacy probably already is just an illusion and these technologies will probably only continue to become even more intrusive. Maybe soon we will all be watched and listened to in everything we do. Or maybe we already are? Chew on that.

Who wants to go to a Hell House and get saved tonight?!

Chapter 12 talks about faith-based Theme Parks and Museums. In the article Should Churches Host Hell Houses, Annalee Ward explains that some churches apparently have something called “Hell Houses”. There are kits that you can get and just about anyone can host one of these events. It takes you through extreme visuals, portraying things like abortions (including bloody meat), school shootings, and devil worship.

Some may say that desperate times call for desperate measures, but this seems a little too desperate to me. I’m not sure what kind of people would voluntarily go to something like this. The only people that would go, I would think, would take some sort of twisted pleasure in seeing these things. Otherwise, why would you want to go to a place where things are thrown in your face to try to make you feel guilty and scared enough that you will turn from your ways. There are a few ways people can come to Christ. Although scare tactics are one of them, I would still say that there are many better ways of persuading people of the truth. People should be drawn to the faith and convinced of the Truth that it holds; they should long to get closer to God and to learn more about Him. If you’re scared into believing, I highly doubt you would have a very strong faith or want to grow any closer to a big scary God who is there to judge and condemn you. People should see the loving side of Him and believe the fact that He loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us. I was always taught that not going to hell was not a good reason on its own to become a Christian. I agree with this because God doesn’t want us to just obey Him out of fear, but also to have a loving and deep relationship with Him.

While much in this world seems to be leaning more and more towards shock value and grabbing the attention of their audiences, I still feel that there are better ways of showing people in our world that there is a loving God and an ancient Truth that are waiting for them.

With great power comes great responsibility

Dear, dear music. What would I do without you? I have learned so much through you. I have been lifted up by your sweet presence and been reminded of what’s really important. I have found comfort in knowing I am not alone, thanks to you.

In chapter four of the text book, Stephanie Bennett comments on how “music has long helped people to learn about their culture and, hence, to learn about themselves. ... This music promotes social unity and collective memory.” It’s amazing the power that music has. She also mentions that some people say that “CCM artist-musicians put to song their own questions, doubts and joys, thereby providing a way for listeners to do the same. Additionally, the music helps broaden the public discussion of issues that Christians face as part of the wider culture.” If artists aren’t putting these types of real life experiences and emotions into their music, what point does it have? It should come from the heart and inspire others to find encouragement, hope, and guidance through their words.


Some say that CCM waters down their religious content. However I would argue that what they are doing instead is trying to expand on the way that faith can be related to every area of life – including common issues like dating, depression, confusion, feeling lost, and popularity. This helps both believers and non-believers to get positive guidance and encouragement in knowing that artists have gone through the same type of struggles that they go through. In being able to relate, a powerful bond is formed.


According to Bennett, “The mystery and the majesty of God may be seen and heard in the faithful expression of musical gifts, in ways that reach deeper into the human soul than many other modes of communication. The creation, performance and message can soothe the soul, convince the sinner, praise God and condemn injustice.” That’s powerful stuff. I think it’s true that God gave us the gift of communication through music so that we can connect with others and with Him. It is a great blessing but also a responsibility. It is up to us to use the gifts we have in a way that is glorifying to God. A part of this means trying to reach all sorts of people around the world and doing our best to relate to them and be witnesses to them as well as keeping the glory for God and not for ourselves.


I will leave you with the lingering and powerful words of deceased legend Keith Green. “Music is a gift of God that is meant to be received with gladness and used wisely. As stewards of the mysteries of God, our calling is to handle what he gives us responsibly, taking care to nurture, enjoy and uphold the manifest beauty and myriad gifts of a Creator who has lavished his love on us with generosity and great variety, wrapped in a blessedness that is far beyond compare.”

Story time around the world!!

Who doesn’t like story time? My assumption is that most do, in fact, enjoy a good story. Not only do people enjoy them, but they also are more likely to learn from and listen to stories than purely being told to do or don’t do something. Want proof? Just look in the Bible. Jesus taught most of His lessons through smaller made up stories called parables. This helped the people to understand what it was that He was trying to say.


So what’s the best way to tell a story? Is there a way to get your story heard by the whole world? Well, yes there is. Film making. In chapter four of Understanding Evangelical Media, Schultze says that “the most-watched film ever produced by any company in the world has been Campus Crusade’s Jesus film, translated into over one thousand languages and viewed by six billion people in rented metropolitan theatres and in outdoor screenings in remote villages.” As a result of this move, they say that 200 million people have decided to accept Christ as their Savior. That’s quite the impact if you ask me. I’m not sure any missionary or medium could be quite as effective. Why was it able to do this? Because “...evangelicals share with mainstream audiences a desire to be delighted by engaging stories, not by heavy-handed preaching.” They would rather be drawn in instead of having a finger pointed at them.

In the article called “The Art of Movie Misinterpretation” by Tom Carmody, he talks about Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix and how there are two evangelical critics with opposite opinions on whether this movie is good to watch or not. One of them, Marc Newman (often using writings from C.S Lewis) argues that it is good because “... it illustrates the importance of fighting evil and the necessity of making the right choices.”


My mother sure wouldn’t agree with this statement, but I do. Her opinion would be similar to the ministers who “attacked Hollywood companies as sewage factories, spewing forth toxic evils that would contaminate any who came in contact with them.” Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and yes, even The Little Mermaid were out of the question growing up. If she caught me watching any of these (or ones like it) she would make me turn it off immediately. However, now I’m old enough to make my own decisions. My opinion now is that these types of movies are very influential in that they help people to see what evil really looks like, how terrible it is, and how to fight it. I think that in the past evil would just be ignored. At least we now know it’s out there. The devil can do far more damage when he goes un-noticed.


I would agree with Peter Kerr when he says, “What a family decides to watch would then be a matter for conversation, discernment and informed conscience.” I would also agree with this statement about Paul: “He refuses to become a slave to things that are merely permissible and not really beneficial. He captures the middle ground between outright rejection and mindless acceptance.” I think I’m in the same boat as Paul. Don’t just blindly accept what you see, but don’t flat our reject everything either. Make sure what you’re getting from a film (for example) is beneficial.


I hope Christians in Hollywood will continue this amazing art of storytelling and drawing people in through engaging visuals while teaching them without them feeling like they are being taught. Carry on story tellers! Tell the world what they need to hear!

Is Cyber Space a blessing or a curse for the Evangelical Church?

Evangelicals have become “Pilgrims of Cyberspace” according to Schultze. Some would argue that this is a good thing and that much work can be accomplished through cyber space for the work of evangelism. However some may also argue that the internet is a place where anything goes and where people are free to say, think, and be anything (including things that we shouldn’t surround ourselves with).

Rather than being on one side of the spectrum or the other, I would say my point of view is somewhere in the middle. The internet does have a lot of stuff on it that is not trust worthy, there is a lot of filth, and as Schultze states, “it can introduce Christians to pagan ideas, tempting misbehaviours and destructive communities.” There are many competing religions, ideals, and ways of living that are presented on the internet as well. On the other hand, the internet is also a means by which many people can be reached. It gives the opportunity to be heard and to speak your mind, discovering for yourself (out of all the opinions presented) what it is that you believe. A leader from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association said, “People don’t have to make themselves very vulnerable to get online and start searching for answers”. This just shows that the internet is one way that people are free to explore and think without as much hesitation as they would have in “the real world”. I would agree with the statement made by editor-in-chief of beliefnet that says that the internet “has a weird combination of anonymity and intimacy” allowing for these types of phenomena.

Although some say that the internet is a negative thing for evangelicals and other believers, it cannot be denied that it is in fact one efficient way to “communicate within congregations, among parachurch networks of believers, and between churches and distant missionaries”. I think relying only on the internet for building your faith is not healthy, but if you completely stay away from it, it can also take away from the amount of effective outreach work and connecting that can occur through this medium. From my point of view, the best option is neither to shun the internet and those who use it nor to become solely dependent on the internet for community and religious growth. Balance is key. We should stick to some traditions while also allowing ourselves to be a witness to the world and to each other through new technologies arise. The way to reach the new generation is through a way they can understand and the way to stay grounded in a solid faith still includes having the real–life church community supporting and strengthening you.

The Bible... more attractive than ever!

Who are you? What do you like? What would draw you in and motivate you to read a certain book or other piece of writing? These are the types of questions that people like authors and advertisers ask in order to cater to their potential audiences. If they want their material to be read and/or sold, they need to make it appealing and attractive for the reader. How do they do this? By niche marketing.

There is so much content out there now... especially given the constant new technologies like the online buying, e-books, podcasts and so on. Instead of having to go to a bookstore, you can save yourself the time and energy by simply looking and ordering online. How convenient to find anything they would have in a bookstore and more AND be able to have it shipped right to your door without you even having to leave your home.

It is hard for authors to make their works stand out above the crowd considering how much competing content there is. Some authors may want to talk to large, broad audiences. However in order to stand out, they usually have to have something special that catches people’s attention. Since everyone has different personalities, hobbies, and interests, one way to catch that attention is by making content that is more specific to certain types of people. For this reason, you can find just about anything you might be looking for. You can get how-to books that will help you master almost any skill. You can learn about the history of the world. You can even be taken to a new world of magical adventures. This makes the readers happy because they can choose more specifically something that interests them.

So when Schultze mentioned in chapter 6 of “Understanding Evangelical Media” that bibles sell best (even outselling popular works of fiction such as the Harry Potter series), I was a little surprised. Perhaps the fact that it did surprise me is a bad thing. It seemed to make sense though, that once you have a bible, you would be set. But I will admit that when I started seeing all the new versions of bibles, I too wanted a new one (if not two or three). Now there are bibles specifically made for young girls, devotional ones for women, and study and application bibles for students. There are even ones made for the archaeological buff, and ones in more languages than ever before. People are seeking truth, and if they can find that truth in a way that is attractive and more applicable to their lives than ever before, they are much likelier to want to seek it out and discover it for themselves. Not only that, but with all the specific bibles out there, it is now also easier to understand and apply scripture to our lives.

I think the producers of these types of Christian material are catching onto popular trends that are also found in secular marketing. Make new versions, better applications, more attractive packaging and sizes and people will want to have what is new. I don’t doubt that God also has His hand in how His word gets to those who need to learn about it and understand it better. No wonder even one of the oldest books out there is still on top.

It's a battle ... Christian vs. Secular magazines

Christian publications seem to be seen as either boring or copying other “better” secular ones. Magazines in particular actually do have some things in common with “worldly” ones. They both try to aim at the same types of people by having women’s, men’s, sports, and children/youth specific magazines. Some of their goals are also similar in that they try to teach, delight, and persuade readers.

Secular publishing tends to explore whatever it can in order to draw people in. Unfortunately, the way in which they do that is usually not honourable. If they have any standards at all, they are very low. They usually dig up dirt and stir up gossip about celebrities. They exaggerate stories to make them sound like “must-reads” and turn their content into obsessive information that no one actually needs to know. Brittney Spears got caught drinking and driving. Angelina Jolie adopted yet another child. Christie Alley lost 100 pounds. What does this have to do with our lives? How is this valuable information? Yes, there are some secular magazines that do have great tips, photos, and information. It’s the more common, typical, cashier side magazines that irk me. They surround you with information that might look appealing but is not very useful to know.

Christian publishing also does what it can to draw audiences in. However their approach is one that I respect and appreciate far more. They try to cater to their older readers’ interests by sticking to more traditional Christian content that focuses on evangelism, articles on the church and faith. They also try to be relevant and modern for the younger audiences by putting their magazines online, adding links to other things they might be interested in, and including discussions on and reviews of popular movies, books, music, and other popular culture. Their aim is more to create something relevant that can improve the lives of those who read their material. Instead of seeking dirty details and meaningless information about rich famous people, or making it seem like things like profanity and sex are both acceptable and even “normal” in our culture, Christian publishers try to keep it clean and untainted. They try to include content that is beneficial for their readers and that can help answer more meaningful questions they might have about life and through giving guidance and entertaining, they provide the reader with more of a positive use for what they are taking in.

I personally would choose a Christian magazine (like Relevant for example) over a trashy, typically secular magazine any day. They are more meaningful, they try to include a variety of interesting articles on things that I find most interest in (such as life questions, testimonies, and my favourite musicians), and they include advertisements that I might actually take interest in instead of ones that say “You need this to be happy!” They also try to include popular culture, but they express it in a more critical and healthy way. It makes sense that I would want to support and take in things that I actually stand for and that I know will have a positive impact on my life.

The choice is yours.

Discerning critics eh?

The text book called "Understanding Evangelical Media" by Quentin J. Schultze and Robert H. Woods Jr. states five essential principles of "faithful media stewardship”. In other words, they describe what they believe to be the ways in which believers should handle media production and consumption. One of these Principles is “being discerning critics”. This principle explains that non-Christian media often see their audiences only as consumers who are mere receivers of their message(s) without thinking critically about what they are taking in. As Christians we need to oppose this view by realizing that the audiences that will be receiving our content are active people who we need to have so called "conversations" with.

According to this text book, God wants believers to be discerning critics who intentionally become engaged in culture and think about the kinds of lives they are living as well as which messages are being sent and received. I agree with this idea. God wants us to actually use the hearts and minds He gave us in order to discern what is around us and how we act in this world. We are to be in the world, but not of the world. There are many debates of what this statement means, but in my opinion, we as believers, are to engage in the culture around us by making the faith exciting and attractive (to reach out to the unbelieving) while NOT compromising our beliefs and not letting the outside world set the bar.

The lost are the ones who need saving. When Christ came to earth, He spent most of His time with the sinners of the world. Therefore it would make sense that if we are trying to be like Jesus, we would also try to find creative ways of inviting the lost to discover the truth. However, it is far too easy to become engulfed in the ways of the world. If believers concentrate on being of the world, a result can be compromising their beliefs and ways of living. This can include things such as Consumerism, a “me-first” attitude, and simply filling time with purposeless entertainment.

However, if we can be critical of what’s around us by questioning and researching what the world teaches compared to what we believe AND show our faith as both the truth and appealing, we are able to be faithful believers who represent Christ in an acceptable and inspirational way. By doing so, we become more than just mindless consumers who gobble up anything that is put before them. By putting effort and care into thinking about and acting on the ways we can be a part of media while learning, growing, and displaying God to the world, we are then living up to our responsibilities as believers.

A New Beginning

This is the beginning. A new blog. A new course. A new adventure. This is the place where my voice will be heard. More to come...