There are some things that are just fundamentally not cool, and this just so happens to be one of them.
According to a New York Times article, churches are using some very perverse tactics to lure innocent and unsuspecting youth into their doors, where they can be easily victimized by the ecclesiastical sculpting of their impressionable little minds.
"Across the country, hundreds of ministers and pastors desperate to reach young congregants have drawn concern and criticism through their use of an unusual recruiting tool: the immersive and violent video game Halo."
This is a very big deal. It is rouhly equivalent to a stranger’s use of candy to lure children into his car at the playground, but while that stranger likely intends to do some sort of physical harm to the child, the church plans to manipulate a mind and control one more generation (or two) of thought. This has the potential to warp an entire life, and given the popularity of the game in question, it could happen on a grand scale.
Luckily, the general fear of violent media works in the children’s favor, as many folks have already taken issue with the recruiting tool.
"What price to appear relevant? Some parents, religious ethicists and pastors say that Halo may succeed at attracting youths, but that it could have a corroding influence. In providing Halo, churches are permitting access to adult-themed material that young people cannot buy on their own."
Yes! Corroding influence, I say! Keep Halo out of the house of god! Keep our children safe!
It’s a shame that this is the only concern, rather than the fact that the entire scheme is, at its core, unsavory. In any event, I don’t care what the reasoning, as long as this baiting abates.
Save our children is right…from the church, that is.
