When games are criticized in America, the attack usually comes from some right-wing fundamentalist Christian nutcase. That's not to say that other religions can't get in on the fun, though. Writer Ebrahim Saifuddin believes that videogames are forbidden under Islam, and has the Holy words to back it up.
Saifuddin quotes the Qur'an to get his point across, such as the worryingly all-inclusive and nonspecific: "There is a man among the people who buys discourses of distracting amusements, so that he may mislead (people) from the Way of Allah, and make a mockery of it. For such people there is a disgraceful punishment." That certainly covers videogames ... and, to be frank, nearly everything that is fun.
According to this writer, Muslims can't enjoy animate objects (living creatures) as represented in games either: "There are hardly any videogames available that do not have any animate objects in them. This again renders them (games) to be impermissible." He adds that, “Many a times the female characters in video games are highly inappropriately dressed." A religion that likes to cover its women from head to toe obviously isn't going to condone Dead or Alive Paradise.
"Distraction from obedience to Allah" is also a problem for Saifuddin, as he believes some Muslims will forgo prayer in order to keep playing a game. This, of course, is often the main reason why religious folk attack games, books or movies -- it's not that they're really worried about Harry Potter promoting witchcraft, it's that they're jealous of kids reading those books instead of the ones God scribbled in.
In any case, Saifuddin has some interesting ideas, and if he feels games don't line up with his beliefs, that's cool. All this article does, however, is remind me to be grateful that I don't subscribe to any magical thinking myself. Getting to enter some vague paradise cooked up by desert-dwelling cultists several thousand years ago simply isn't worth missing out on Kirby's Epic Yarn. If I couldn't play that, I'd already be in Hell.
Are Videogames Permissible in Islam? [Via GamePolitics]
Contest:
2:40 PM on 07.26.2010 | 
Also, what is with the perverted looking baby?
Don't forget leftist censorship nutjobs like Hillary Clinton.
Might be thinking of someone else...
God's not real. Deal with it.
Let's not do that.
This whole thing has gone way too far.
Remember people, God, if he does exist, didn't write a single word!
I'm offended.
I guess not.
Now excuse my whilst I go play some Metal Gear Solid 4, seeming as he liked to bag on that game for it's "extreme violence" and "hinted child rape".
But hey, most of us live in free countries were idiots say stupid things against our freedom, the irony...
It hates everything that is good: Women, Alcohol, Free Speech, Democracy and Puppies.
Doesn't surprise me that they hate Videogames too.
Please go away religion. We humans will be better off without you.
Are you perfectly okay with a God that will send your family and friends to an eternity of torment simply for playing videogames, or having premarital sex, or believing in science, despite your "God" never having made his existence or the consequences crystal clear? I wouldn't. Does that make me better than you? Yes, yes it does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaLF8UGr0hQ
"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion." - Steven Weinberg
Also, it is important to note that what one person says in a group is not necessarily what the group supports, especially when you get more and more generic. Not every fundamentalist would agree with this dude, let alone every Muslim let alone the religious.
@Bill Bennett: I don't follow your logic. EVERY text of laws of any organization has someone who follows said law and also exploits said law, secular or religious - does none of that have any value in any context? It's like not shopping at any retail store because somewhere there is a jerk working at each of them.
That said, I don't care what this guy says. If you believe him then believe him. If you don't, then don't.
Someone make this picture now!
Those who you are talking about are actually neocons, not true right-wing conservatives.
Anyways, become a libertarian and everyone will see a little bit clearer.