Video games and Christianity don’t usually mix.
If they do it’s with games like Mario Kart being used at church socials. Or the religious versions of popular games, like Noah’s Ark the animal collecting version of Doom or Follow JC Go where you collect biblical characters rather than Pokemon. Or, maybe, the questionable siting of gun battles in ancient sanctuaries.
However, there are many video games that fit well into spiritual or church settings.
This sounds strange, I know. Particularly when we think about games as primarily about entertainment. But the contribution that interactive media offers the faith setting is similar to poetry or beautiful music.
Only, unlike the text of a poem or the stanza of music a video game creates space that we can enter and see the world in completely new ways.
It’s something I’m going to be putting to the test next month in a worship service in Exeter Cathedral.
After writing about games and meaning in my Taming Gaming book I’ve been invited to work with the clergy there to incorporate a game as an integral part of the Church of England service.
“the game has the potential for engagement and mindfulness,” said Chris Palmer, Canon Chancellor at Exeter Cathedral.
“It draws the worshipper from being an observer to participant and opens up a broader realm to our imagination.”
You might think this sounds like we are just trying to make the Cathedral more relevant or appealing to a younger audience. In fact, the all-age congregation are not likely to be attracted by the technology.
Quite the reverse, so the challenge is ensuring that the experience feels appropriate and suitable.
It will be less formal and more interactive than other services,” said Palmer, “and will allow the congregation both to have a fresh experience of worship and the chance for theological reflection on what is happening.”
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The game we plan to use is Abzu, an underwater adventure that will be projected on a large screen in the central Nave area of the cathedral.
Our readings, singing and responses will carry with them this theme of exploring the depths.
I’ll introduce the game at the beginning as many will never have held a PlayStation controller, never mind played a game. Then, as the service continues we’ll pass the controls around between us.
By the end we’ll have sung, prayed, read the bible and worshipped in the underwater setting the game creates for us. We’ll also have gone on a journey together that will be unique and experimental.
Those that want to can continue the journey at home, perhaps with the gamers in their lives.
The service is in Exeter Cathedral on Sunday 13th October 2019 starting at 19:00.
As the service details state, it’s “open to all, with no gaming experience necessary, simply touch the screen and partake in a different kind of banquet for the soul.”