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[EricTheCleric]

So you want them to make stuff up?

Isn't that what Theism is about?

Spoiler

sorry

 

[DrunkDan]

I actually liked the Assassins Creed take on religion (and history in general). The 'truth' videos and how they imply that certain historical leaders had made use of pieces of Eden to shape history were pretty good.

I guess in general that religion can be a dangerous idea to tackle though, seeing as even a small mention can lead to mass hysteria and people taking offense at almost anything. Probably easier to shy away rather than take the risk.

 

[EricTheCleric]

Here is A game where religion is a part of the context. I have it but I have not played it yet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shivah
http://store.steampowered.com/app/252370/

 

[Boss Doggie]

Most use Christianity or Christianity-in-any-other-name, at least for the games I played.

Also a lot of JRPGs use Christian references, but I guess it is more of "see religion as a mythology than a religious movement".

 

[cm osi]

That's awesome, I need to play this. Also, judging by the fact that the other ones being crucified seem to be giant robots, does that mean that little animal guy is around 300ft tall?

yes, he doesn't have a mecha so he just get bigger

 

[Nemmy]

Should be treated with the same level of ridicule it deserves in the real world.

Opinions like these are why I seldom even admit my agnosticism. I don't want to be confused with people who think that not sharing someone else's beliefs gives them a free pass to be disrespectful.

 

[flatearthpandas]

I can't say I've noticed anything accurate or respectful in videogames, but at the same time I don't know it's necessary or even possible. It's not that difficult for a film or a book to have seriously religious characters and treat religion respectfully without drawing the ire of the full "book reading" community because the community is huge, more mature on average in every aspect of the industry, and historically inclusive of intellectuals of all creeds. None of that applies to videogames and I firmly believe that if a game tried to include any serious meditation on any major religion that didn't conclude with it being corrupt and inferior to the most ignorant form of atheism, we would be reading outrage on the nerve of so and so developer to push their religious agenda and there would be petitions and boycott requests. Which is fine. I love the more literal and fantastic takes on religion and games are a fun place to play with that. I don't think games have much to offer on the serious discussion front anyway, though I could think of some interesting ways they could frame it.

 

[MetalRain]

I think there are lots of subjects that aren't handled accurately or intelligently in games. Religion is very personal subject and it must be handled very delicately with subtle hints. This comes to point that there are a lot of stereotypical characters and ones having some religion, usually are too over the top as well.

 

[Boss Doggie]

Hell, religion itself is misinterpreted a lot by the people that follow them most of the time.

 

[disastermouse]

I can't say I've noticed anything accurate or respectful in videogames, but at the same time I don't know it's necessary or even possible. It's not that difficult for a film or a book to have seriously religious characters and treat religion respectfully without drawing the ire of the full "book reading" community because the community is huge, more mature on average in every aspect of the industry, and historically inclusive of intellectuals of all creeds. None of that applies to videogames and I firmly believe that if a game tried to include any serious meditation on any major religion that didn't conclude with it being corrupt and inferior to the most ignorant form of atheism, we would be reading outrage on the nerve of so and so developer to push their religious agenda and there would be petitions and boycott requests. Which is fine. I love the more literal and fantastic takes on religion and games are a fun place to play with that. I don't think games have much to offer on the serious discussion front anyway, though I could think of some interesting ways they could frame it.

I think there's room for religion if we look at the mystical versions of it - Sufi, Kabbalah, Christian mysticism, etc. I sometimes think about how Psychonauts explored (often to comic effect and often too simply) inner states and psychology.

The safest ground is sci-fi/fantasy with invented cultures/religions - I just wish that the analogies were more in-depth and amounted to more than systems of magic/space magic/the keys to bad-ass-ery.

 

[Astral Dog]

I think Bayonetta is a tasteful and accurate dramatization of important Biblical/historical events.

Its actually very cool, like the interpretation of angels and demons, the detailed descriptions found in the books, their language, etc.

Religion in games works better when its pure fiction instead of trying to be realistic, of course, there are some themes used frequently, like on JRPGs, but some of those can be cool,and play with the concept of religion a bit, others can become tired.

A game that bothered me for some reason was Dantes Inferno, im not sure why but i found the scenes and story shitty and annoying.

A series that uses religion is Halo, im not sure what the fanbase thinks of it, but i thought it was well recieved.