Video games for gift giving

A special message from MARP, MMA and Mennonite Church USA

"For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

How can we welcome the Prince of Peace with gifts that promote war and sexual violence?

Nov 2007. As we enter the harried holiday season, we are reminded that this is also Advent—a period of prayerful waiting and reflecting in preparation for the birth of Christ, the One who seeks “peace on earth.” How then might our gift giving—modeled after the Magi’s gifts to the young Christ child—reflect God’s vision for peace, healing and hope? Answering this question is increasingly important in our extremely sexual and violent media-saturated culture In its annual Holiday Letter, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility—a national coalition of 275 faith-based institutions, including MMA—reminds parents and grandparents of the increasing sexual and violent content of many video games.

Letter from MARP, MMA and Mennonite Church USA (82k PDF)

News release from MARP, MMA and Mennonite Church USA

Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility’s annual Holiday Letter encouraging shoppers to be cautious when purchasing video games for children.

Included in this year’s Holiday Letter is information and a chart on video game retailer policies regarding sales to minors of "Mature" (M) rated video games. The retailer chart gives parents and consumers information to make a choice on which retailer they feel best serves their needs and expectations.
Read Holiday Letter

Studies in behavioral science have continually shown that playing violent video games increases the likelihood of aggressive behavior in children and adolescents.
Read More from Psychology Matters

What would Jesus play?
Keith Lyndaker Schlabach writes a regular blog on our youth website. In this entry, he lists video games he recommends for Christmas gifts.