US Churches Use Halo To Lure Impressionable Young Minds

US-based Christian Churches are using videogames to attract impressionable young people into their organisations, according to a report in The New York Times. The paper claims that churches are using Halo 3 to lure young people.

Is it possible that the name 'Halo' has confused the church?

“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…” reports the NY Times.

The report continues: “Those buying it must be 17 years old, given it is rated M for mature audiences. But that has not prevented leaders at churches and youth centers across Protestant denominations, including evangelical churches that have cautioned against violent entertainment, from holding heavily attended Halo nights and stocking their centers with multiple game consoles so dozens of teenagers can flock around big-screen televisions and shoot it out. “

“If you want to connect with young teenage boys and drag them into church, free alcohol and pornographic movies would do it,” said James Tonkowich, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, a nonprofit group that assesses denominational policies. “My own take is you can do better than that.”

Daniel R. Heimbach, a professor of Christian ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, added: “To justify whatever killing is involved by saying that it’s just pixels involved is an illusion.”

However, according to Kedrick Kenerly, founder of Christian Gamers Online, playing Halo is “no different than going on a camping trip…It’s a way to fellowship.”

SPOnG warning: If anybody claiming to represent God approaches you and offers you free videogames, ignore them or report them to your nearest police station.

^{source: New York Times}