Is ‘escapism’ a fictional charge against video games? It certainly is a charge raised against video games. That they are an escape into unreality, an active attempt to run away from the real and lived experience of the world. Perhaps you’ve heard it said or said yourself, “nothing but fantasy worlds”. So is the explorationContinue reading “Video games and Escapism.”
Category Archives: Culture
Video games – Asking the Right Questions.
If I could, would I simply stop playing games altogether? This direct line of interrogation stirs up my innards. It feels like it gets right to the heart of the matter because it evinces a visceral response. But actually it doesn’t illuminate much. It’s too simplistic a question. You see,the question you ask determines (inContinue reading “Video games – Asking the Right Questions.”
Media consumption: Practical tips for moderation.
Last week we considered our attitude to media. You cannot take the right actions without first having the right attitude. Laws and rules don’t help without a renewed heart and mind. So implement change in your mind before you implement change with your hands. One follows the other but what you do follows very closelyContinue reading “Media consumption: Practical tips for moderation.”
Media consumption: Thoughts about our attitude to media.
Tell me if this is a familiar situation for you. You were watching a movie or a TV show which apparently everyone else has watched, thus necessitating your viewing of it for fear of contracting the dreaded FOMO disease. However, at the end of one or another episode or in a scene in said movieContinue reading “Media consumption: Thoughts about our attitude to media.”
A Summary – Competing Spectacles by T. Reinke – Part 2: The Spectacle
In the last post we ended with the question, “What are we going to give our attention to?” There is an endless array of spectacles to gaze at. This, of course, is a big part of the problem in contemporary society. Social media, video games, media, ads, all mining for the precious resource of yourContinue reading “A Summary – Competing Spectacles by T. Reinke – Part 2: The Spectacle”
A Summary – Competing Spectacles by T. Reinke – Part 1: The Age of The Spectacle
We live in the age of the image, the age of entertainment. Or as Tony Reinke would put it in his book, the age of the spectacle. A spectacle “…is something that captures human attention, an instant where our eyes and brains focus and fixate on something projected at.” (p14) Now if the spectacle isContinue reading “A Summary – Competing Spectacles by T. Reinke – Part 1: The Age of The Spectacle”
On Attraction
Recently I’ve been reading a very helpful book called, ‘Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion’ by Rebecca McLaughlin. It was published relatively recently – in 2019 – and it features a wonderful combination of McLaughlin’s sharp wit and a plethora of footnoted stats and research. Definitely worth a read if youContinue reading “On Attraction”
The Servant, Culture.
It seems to me that our time is steeped in a certain kind of self-awareness of culture. At least that is how I feel as I listen to the podcasts, peruse the articles and read the books. That’s beside the fact that there is this “culture war” thing happening at the moment as well. ButContinue reading “The Servant, Culture.”
Does a baby’s spirit return?
Over the past few months I’ve had a couple of people express the idea to me that the spirit of a deceased baby returns with the birth of a subsequent child. While I realise that this idea may comfort some people, as a Christian I find it to be problematic with what I understand ofContinue reading “Does a baby’s spirit return?”
Community S2:Ep11. On Christmas.
It just so happened that today (Christmas 2020!) I watched Community S2:Ep11 “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas”. I knew I was in for some cringing but Community makes you want to watch through their episodes to get to the next because they are mostly so well made! But it is not without its cringe biscuits. And hereContinue reading “Community S2:Ep11. On Christmas.”
Bigvai and Shiphrah 