Christian dominionism: The game

Have you ever wanted to kill a Catholic? How about bomb a Buddhist? Massacre a Muslim? Very soon you will get your chance. Left Behind, the book series based on a conservative Christian interpretation of the Book of Revelations with over 65 million copies sold, is extending its brand by becoming a video game: Left Behind: Eternal Forces (LB:EF). LB:EF's setting is post-9/11 New York where eerie reminders of that horrible day can be seen in the form of smoke that constantly billows from downtown. In case you forgot to stockpile duct-tape or how terrified you should be when the alert gets to orange, clever reminders–think propaganda Post-It notes–are placed atop all of the ambulances in the form of bolded numerals reading 911. Perhaps this is just the game makers' way of reminding kids who they should call in case of an emergency, but for some reason I doubt it. And speaking of the kids, they will have the opportunity to act out the Lord's will right from the comfort of their own homes. Because we all know what a drag it can be to have to go outside and love your neighbor. They're all the way across the street for Christ's sake! In LB:EF players choose to serve as members of Tribulation Force (TF), those left behind after Jesus raptures to heaven the true believers–Republicans and gay-bashers. Assuming there's a difference. Or players may choose to command members of the Antichrist's army, the Global Peacekeeping Force (GPF), an allusion to that all encompassing tower of depravity–the United Nations. As a member of the TF, game players must search out what's left of the rotten Big Apple and find one of two enemies, the first being minions of the antichrist who appear as bloodthirsty, cloven-hoof demons feasting upon the souls of the second enemy: the undecided. Because God hates a flip-flopper. Yes, He's talking to you Mr. Kerry. When members of the TF spot an unrepentant individual scrambling to find their loved ones, shelter or maybe just a piece of shade to cool off their third-degree burns they will be greeted by TF spirit seekers. Players use a spirit seeker by standing them next to the unrepentant for about two-to-five seconds in order for the spirit seeker to pray over the soon-to-be damned. Should the spirit seeker be successful, then the once meditative Hindu, Yoga-loving lesbian, Phish-jamming hippie or closet-gay GOP congressional aide suddenly becomes a paramilitary commando for Christ. But if the spirit seeker is unsuccessful in claiming the person's soul for God–or more than likely should the morally repugnant liberal start spouting off some trash about facts or science–the spirit seeker can call for backup, backup being a fellow member of God's death squad who will promptly execute the unredeemed to save them from turning into soldiers for the Antichrist. Or voting for the Green Party. Mass slaughter takes its toll however, and players will need to "pray" regularly during the game in order to keep their spirit points high and prevent them from becoming a part of hell's army. The game is not without its detractors, as outspoken critics of video game violence have rushed to condemn LB:EF prior to its release. "We're going to push this game at Christian kids to let them know there's a cool shooter game out there," said attorney Jack Thompson, an author and outspoken critic of video game violence. "Because of the Christian context, somehow it's OK? It's not OK. The context is irrelevant. It's a mass-killing game." Focus on the Family and author Tim Lahaye, both of whom in the past have advised against playing violent video games have all but endorsed LB:EF. With Lahaye telling the LA Times he "hopes teenagers like the game." Although LB:EF is an offshoot of the book series, it also comes with an unofficial endorsement from Purpose-Driven Ministries. That's the same Christian Right outfit led by minister Rick Warren, whom Time listed as one of the top 25 evangelicals in the United States. Warren has embarked on what he himself has called global "stealth evangelism." His plan? To unite the power centers of government, religion and capitalism in order to establish God's kingdom on Earth to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ. In other words... a theocracy. Warren's first reported client is Paul Kagame the president of Rwanda, who after centuries of Christian oppression–most recently in the form of a genocide perpetrated by both Catholic and Protestant factions within the country–apparently believes Warren's Purpose Driven snake-oil has what it takes to hit the nail on the cross, er... head. Now wait a minute you say, "How can a company [unofficially] promoting a game based on a book that glorifies the destruction of earth prior to Jesus' return also glorify worldwide totalitarian implementation of Biblical law in order to quicken Jesus' return?" Well, because they're religious fanatics, but also because this isn't about one video game or book series. This is about Christian dominionism. A pervasive ideology within the US evangelical community that seeks to establish a worldwide Christian theocracy. Warren has also received recent attention for his split with Dobson and other evangelicals on the issue of global warming. The split being that Warren is pretty convinced something is "definitely going on" and Dobson still contends the Earth is flat and only 6,000 years old. Thank goodness for agreeing to disagree. What it and Warren seek is domination. Warren even speaks in the language of a would-be conqueror addressing the need for Christian "foot soldiers" and talks with a frightening certainty that should concern all people of reason. "These [world] problems are so big no government can solve them," he said. "The only thing big enough is the network of millions and millions... of churches around the world. We are God's plan to bring relief." If you–as Warren does–believe you have been called by the creator of the universe to establish His eternal law on earth then what is stop you from eliminating those who refuse to obey? In the US, the rumblings of dominionism can be seen in such frivolous and authoritarian legislative proposals as the recent flag burning and gay marriage amendments. The plan, as with any other totalitarian effort is to divide and conquer starting with the least represented among us: those who would speak out against the government by showing contempt for the symbol that government perverts to establish its own selfish means, and those whose love is deemed unworthy of society's recognition. And if Warren and the dominionists have their way, the type of public executions of Biblical law violators– the very same punishments our own government decried in its war against the Taliban–will be made legal and acceptable in our society. Just as Islam has been distorted to exalt the violent power of a few in the Arab world so too is Christianity being twisted to enshrine a theocratic oligarchy for generations to come. Imagine the Dark Ages with cars and casual Fridays. But should you be a hopeful recruit for God's S.S. and just can't wait for all the righteous destruction to commence, you can get some practice shots starting this October when LB:EF is released. Because Jesus loves you kids. Just not as much as He's going to love shooting you in the head.