Video Games Like Mass Effect Link Religion to Violence Says Study

So, we can now add to the series of debates such as "Are Video games art?", "Do video games cause obesity" and "Will video games turn my daughter into a needy princess who can't make her damned mind up?" a new debate courtesy of Greg Perreault, a doctoral student in the University of Missouri School of Journalism. This one concerns... RELIGION!

Apparently video game makers equate religion with violence? Who knew?

According to ScienceDaily, "Perreault examined five recent video games that incorporate religion heavily into the storyline. The video games he studied were Mass Effect 2 Final Fantasy 13 Assassin's Creed Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and Elder Scrolls: Oblivion," he apparently, "found that all of these video games problematize religion by closely tying it in with violence."

For his part, Perreault say that, "In most of these games there was a heavy emphasis on a 'Knights Templar' and crusader motifs.

"Not only was the violent side of religion emphasized, but in each of these games religion created a of problem that the main character must overcome, whether it is a direct confrontation with religious zealots or being haunted by religious guilt."

So, is this a deliberate ploy by game makers to offend religious folks? "It doesn't appear that game developers are trying to purposefully bash organized religion in these games," he says.

"I believe they are only using religion to create stimulating plot points in their story lines. If you look at video games across the board, most of them involve violence in some fashion because violence is conflict and conflict is exciting. Religion appears to get tied in with violence because that makes for a compelling narrative."

We thought that according to popular media myth, video game makers equated everything with violence.