Handling religion in games

[CrazyCrab]

Hi everyone,

given that my game has a somewhat 'real' backgroud with some monsters thrown in for good measures Im looking for some advice on how to handle religious things. The time period is renaissance and figures like the inquisitors must be present if my story is to work. While I know that very few ppl will feel uncomfortable when fighting or becoming one, how about something like searching for relics such as the holy lance and the crown of thorns? What about a pope thats a corrupted powermonger and your mission is replacing him with a good man?

While Im not the kind of person that gets easily offended, Im just curious: where do you draw a line and how do you deal with touchy subjects likethis one?

 

[Clord]

Don't worry, South Park already went way more far with their own latest game and people didn't mind most part. Most can tell fiction from real.

 

[mlogan]

I think as long as you are not insulting to a particular group, there should not be a problem. For example, if there's a recurring theme that anyone who believes in a deity is a stupid moron, I would be bothered by that. However, if you are portraying the negative side of a religion, particularly things that actually happened, I would not have a problem with it.

 

[ThatMaestroGuy]

Indeed, mlogan makes a sound point. Hey, do some research. Pull up some facts and whatnot. Many (if not all) religious groups certainly got their hands dirty in the past, and they'll likely continue to do so in the future...but that's what's happened, and it's what mankind is accustomed to: making mistakes, seeking redemption, searching for goodness and justice. So long as you don't go out of your way to slam any of them, I believe most people will be able to appreciate the time and effort you've put into the research that you've done to make it as objective as possible.

Of course, there just isn't pleasing some people when it comes to these things, so always brace yourself for zealots and the like, and you should be fine. XD

 

[Mouser]

If the "pope" is a corrupted powermonger and you are replacing him with a "good man" of the same religion - then the religion isn't being slammed or even criticized. Honestly, if that's all you do than religion isn't much of theme, only a very minor plot point.

Personally, I love games that ask 'tough questions' about life topics. Unfortunately, American game makers tend to avoid these like the plague, so I'm left with looking for games from Japan and the occasional gem from Europe (and Russia now). TWEWY, Xenosaga, even some of Final Fantasy weren't afraid to go after topics like what it means to exist, to believe, to have your faith broken. I think they were all better games for it. Troika is the only American company I can think of off hand who went there ("The multitudes see death as tragic; if this were true, so then would be birth - Pisha, Vtm:Bloodlines).

This stuff is nothing new - Read some of the old Greek Tragedies, they're full of them. Of course those don't leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside: that's what the satyr plays between plays 2 and 3 were for. Those brought up some interesting subjects as well, though in a much more tongue in cheek way.

A lot depends on how far you're willing to go with character development. If it's a short game, there's only so much you can do unless you want to turn into a long dialog-fest. Figure out what you want your game to say (if anything), and then see if the game has time to say it. It's better to say less and say it better, than to touch on a thousand topics and never really resolve any of them. You can deliberately leave a question unresolved, but that's a different thing than just not finishing it.

 

[Diretooth]

In my opinion, if you're using real life religions, then it would be best to do research on that religion. Such research could be reading a holy book, or speaking to a practitioner of the faith. Don't be shy about it, and if anyone gives you a weird look, you can always say, 'I'm doing research for a story I'm writing'. This will generally give you access to a lot of information.

However, if your game features a cult such as Scientology or something similar to the People's Temple, straight answers might not always be given.

In essence, ask lots of questions and don't be shy.

 

[whitesphere]

If you are trying to accurately portray a particular period in history, and have religion as a major plot point, I don't see a problem.

In that time period, religion was a huge political force for good and ill.   So it is realistic that a period piece would have religion as a centerpiece of the plot.

Any honest follower of a religion knows full well that, since it's populated by imperfect humans, there are always some bad apples in the religion.

 

[C-C-C-Cashmere]

RPGs have criticized Christianity and other religions for years. The Church has been the enemy force so many times that it has become cliche. I don't think people would be offended if you created a Pope-like figure as a main antagonist at all. This is coming from a devoted Christian. What can I say? Most of us are kinda used to it, man.

Edit: I mean, the RPG Maker game Dhux's scar featured a hero who brutally tortured Christians in terrible ways. It's an indie game - you can do whatever you like. As long as, if it's violent or potentially offensive, you create a small disclaimer in case those who will get offended will get offended.

Edit #2: I think the bottom rule is, don't depict Muhammad. But even South Park went that far.

 

[Deep Thought]

Lifelong Lutheran here. I can't speak for everyone, but corrupt, violent churches are about as common as legitimate ones, and it's gotten to the point where it neither bothers nor impresses me anymore. Searching for the "secrets" behind religious relics is also something of a cliche (thanks a bunch, Dan Brown). It might hit close to home for a few players, but it's nothing new in the video game medium.

 

[Zoltor]

Don't worry, demonizing religion is a great theme for RPGs(super religious people wouldn't play RPGs anyway, just because of monsters/demons, and such being in game, even though you're fighting them), so you definitely wont scare people away.

If anything you'll get more people to play it, just because it depicts how religion enslaves people's minds(the RPG genre is so heavily geared towards free thinkers).

Going a historical route is pretty interesting as well, just because It's almost never done.  However if you're going historical, definitely make sure It's accurate, because anything that Isn't, will be torn assunder by people who are into history(which is probally a a big part of the RPG gamer community).

 

[Sharm]

Zoltor, you've strayed into discussing religion outside of game making and what you said could be considered flame baiting. Knock it off.

 

[Zoltor]

Zoltor, you've strayed into discussing religion outside of game making and what you said could be considered flame baiting. Knock it off.

I know, and sorry if it came out as such, but there's no possible way anyone can talk about religion in a way where it wont offend someone.

The problem is the topic its self, It's as bad as talking about politics, if not worse.

 

[Sharm]

There are ways to do it, mostly by not grouping someone who believes differently than you do into a negative category just because they don't agree with you. Discussing religion in a game setting is within the rules, just make sure you're not actually trying to discuss your views on religion and derail from talking about game making.

 

[C-C-C-Cashmere]

super religious people wouldn't play RPGs anyway

I consider myself a super religious person and I play many RPGs. Many others too.

how religion enslaves people's minds(the RPG genre is so heavily geared towards free thinkers).

Oh... is that why the majority of RPGs are so linear in nature? I see now. Not feeding you information at all.

Your statements are generalistic. They don't offend me, but they do come from a place of ignorance and I think you should correct that.

 

[Sharm]

thatbennyguy, lets drop it and get back to the original topic, please.

 

[CRogers]

Oh, another game where corporations are the bad guy.

Oh, another game where police are the bad guy.

Oh, another game where the government is the bad guy.

Oh, another game where the religion is the bad guy.

I could say pretty much any of the above, or multiple other variations, and there would be some people who would agree the above are too common. There is a lot of content out there and people tend to either focus on what they like or what angers them. Feeling like one's ideological views are persecuted by society is shockingly average.

What I mean by this is basically whatever theme you choose you'll turn some people off. It will either go against something they consider important or, due to random chance, have just played game(s) with a similar theme.

You can't make everyone happy.

Personally, I expect some people could be turned off, but if you are just speaking 'generally' (not insulting Catholicism directly) people won't have a problem with it. 

That said; if you wanted to insult religions directly I think it is your right, or, if you want to make a game about how one religion is awesome, I think that is your right as well. I don't really draw a line anywhere for appropriate content, just an understanding of what the target audience might be.

 

[Lars Ulrika]

As long as you're not trying to bash one particular group I guess it's ok. Also, regarding your project, I would strongly advice you to make historical researches from all points of view possible about this topic. For exemple, looking at discourses from actual inquisitors would help you out to give much more depth to your characters. 

If it keeps on the "inquisitors! Burning witches!" I would kinda go "yeah, I already know that" and yawn. It's a complex historical topic that totally deserves a deeper insight. 

 

[CrazyCrab]

Thanks for all the feedback.

Being the history nerd I can assure you that I am going to research all the stuff previously, I really want my world to feel morally grey and not just 'the inquisitors are good they kill monsters' or 'they are bad save the good innocent lady'.

On top of that Ive been considering adding a pile of demons and things like that. I think I'll use books like 'The lesser key of Salomon' as well as some other ones.

Would using those monsters be something that could possibly be offensive? I'm asking out of curiosity, it's not as if I'll remove all demons because someone feels offended.

 

[Lars Ulrika]

Sounds interesting! If you need some feedback when you're done for a demo let me know! 

 

[jonyfries]

You might think of the antagonist from Serenity for how to handle the moral issues facing the antagonists. The thing to remember no matter how horrible a thing someone does they can always justify it to themselves.