Video Gaming Faith: Playing Out Theologies of Religions
Modern religious plurality invites religious and non-religious people to navigate four interreligious dialogical problems: (1) the inability to fully articulate faith, (2) the lack of persuasive religious language, (3) the reality of violence among the religions, and (4) the liquescent “truth” of mo...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-10-01
|
| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/944 |
| _version_ | 1797470077804609536 |
|---|---|
| author | Gregory D. Jones |
| author_facet | Gregory D. Jones |
| author_sort | Gregory D. Jones |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Modern religious plurality invites religious and non-religious people to navigate four interreligious dialogical problems: (1) the inability to fully articulate faith, (2) the lack of persuasive religious language, (3) the reality of violence among the religions, and (4) the liquescent “truth” of modern times. How can plurality be framed for people whose sense of relationality is shaped by their participation in virtual worlds? One answer emerges in this autoethnographic consideration of how video gaming “plays out” fresh understandings of the interreligious encounter and relationality. Adopting a Christian perspective, the first section summarizes the major theologies of religions. These theologies correspond with video-game experiences of interreligious cooperation and contest found in playing out the enrichment and diminishment of (1) Christian spirit in <i>Spiritual Warfare</i> (NES), (2) human connection in <i>Final Fantasy VI</i> (Super NES), (3) sense of salvation in <i>Final Fantasy X</i> (PS2), and (4) symbiotic sacredness in <i>Journey</i> (iOS). These play experiences clarify a concept of expansive relationality among religions that is termed <i>shared contest</i>. The conclusion advances a <i>contestant theology</i> <i>of religions</i>; God removes every obstacle to including all in the company of God’s people, and God provides a <i>playground</i> of cooperation and contest for each religious tradition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:32:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5cbbe1eb611e446eae299fda59f787d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:32:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-5cbbe1eb611e446eae299fda59f787d52023-11-24T02:16:59ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-10-01131094410.3390/rel13100944Video Gaming Faith: Playing Out Theologies of ReligionsGregory D. Jones0Theology Department, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USAModern religious plurality invites religious and non-religious people to navigate four interreligious dialogical problems: (1) the inability to fully articulate faith, (2) the lack of persuasive religious language, (3) the reality of violence among the religions, and (4) the liquescent “truth” of modern times. How can plurality be framed for people whose sense of relationality is shaped by their participation in virtual worlds? One answer emerges in this autoethnographic consideration of how video gaming “plays out” fresh understandings of the interreligious encounter and relationality. Adopting a Christian perspective, the first section summarizes the major theologies of religions. These theologies correspond with video-game experiences of interreligious cooperation and contest found in playing out the enrichment and diminishment of (1) Christian spirit in <i>Spiritual Warfare</i> (NES), (2) human connection in <i>Final Fantasy VI</i> (Super NES), (3) sense of salvation in <i>Final Fantasy X</i> (PS2), and (4) symbiotic sacredness in <i>Journey</i> (iOS). These play experiences clarify a concept of expansive relationality among religions that is termed <i>shared contest</i>. The conclusion advances a <i>contestant theology</i> <i>of religions</i>; God removes every obstacle to including all in the company of God’s people, and God provides a <i>playground</i> of cooperation and contest for each religious tradition.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/944video gamesinterreligious<i>Spiritual Warfare</i><i>Final Fantasy</i><i>Journey</i>Nintendo |
| spellingShingle | Gregory D. Jones Video Gaming Faith: Playing Out Theologies of Religions Religions video games interreligious <i>Spiritual Warfare</i> <i>Final Fantasy</i> <i>Journey</i> Nintendo |
| title | Video Gaming Faith: Playing Out Theologies of Religions |
| title_full | Video Gaming Faith: Playing Out Theologies of Religions |
| title_fullStr | Video Gaming Faith: Playing Out Theologies of Religions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Video Gaming Faith: Playing Out Theologies of Religions |
| title_short | Video Gaming Faith: Playing Out Theologies of Religions |
| title_sort | video gaming faith playing out theologies of religions |
| topic | video games interreligious <i>Spiritual Warfare</i> <i>Final Fantasy</i> <i>Journey</i> Nintendo |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/944 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gregorydjones videogamingfaithplayingouttheologiesofreligions |