Are video games destroying spirituality?

So, here is my situation. I am quite fond of PC gaming, and there are times when I find myself lost in it for hours on end—honestly, I don't know where I would be if my parents didn't set some boundaries on my screen time 😢....
I have spent a significant amount of time delving into various conspiracy theories, and I frequently immerse myself in books regarding spirituality. I also make a conscious effort to practice meditation 😢, as I am truly striving toward a deeper level of spiritual growth.
My question is this: does my passion for computer games somehow undermine my spiritual journey? Should I consider giving it up entirely? If I were to stop, I suspect it would be an incredibly difficult transition for me to navigate.
👎 😠

They don't know the first thing about spirituality, and honestly, they’re just wasting your precious time when you could be doing something much more meaningful. Aside from constant violence, there isn't really anything else on the menu.
If you think they're "recreating" you... please. What they're actually recreating is a lifestyle fueled by drugs, booze, and nothing but sex.😁

PS I haven't touched video games in ages, and even back when I used to play, I never went for the shooters...

Arthur White37 said:So, here is my situation. I am quite fond of PC gaming, and there are times when I find myself lost in it for hours on end—honestly, I don't know where I would be if my parents didn't set some boundaries on my screen time 😢....
I have spent a significant amount of time delving into various conspiracy theories, and I frequently immerse myself in books regarding spirituality. I also make a conscious effort to practice meditation 😢, as I am truly striving toward a deeper level of spiritual growth.
My question is this: does my passion for computer games somehow undermine my spiritual journey? Should I consider giving it up entirely? If I were to stop, I suspect it would be an incredibly difficult transition for me to navigate.
👎 😠

Just install a classic like Crowdsourced and you'll reach the peak of spiritual enlightenment. Exercising mercy when you actually hold power is a virtue most people rarely get the chance to refine. You won't necessarily experience that within the game itself, but it's worth noting. 😉

I honestly think modern TV is just straight-up ruining everything.
Today I actually slipped on the road and wiped out—nothing serious, didn't break anything—but this little girl (maybe 13?) sitting in a car nearby just started cracking up at me.
Where does a kid even get the idea that laughing at someone else's misfortune is okay??!
It totally reminded me of some of the cartoons they show nowadays—they aren't even cartoons anymore, it’s just pure chaos and violence being served to kids as "entertainment." It's sketchy that this stuff is allowed to air... Honestly, the head of NBC should probably be facing legal trouble or at least some serious psychological retraining...
I'm genuinely worried about the future with all this... recklessness? Or is it just intentional brainwashing for the younger generation?

Arthur White37 said:So, here is my situation. I am quite fond of PC gaming, and there are times when I find myself lost in it for hours on end—honestly, I don't know where I would be if my parents didn't set some boundaries on my screen time 😢....
I have spent a significant amount of time delving into various conspiracy theories, and I frequently immerse myself in books regarding spirituality. I also make a conscious effort to practice meditation 😢, as I am truly striving toward a deeper level of spiritual growth.
My question is this: does my passion for computer games somehow undermine my spiritual journey? Should I consider giving it up entirely? If I were to stop, I suspect it would be an incredibly difficult transition for me to navigate.
👎 😠

I feel like you might be getting a little too caught up in the whole spirituality thing. Honestly, I don't really see how being spiritual has anything to do with gaming. I mean, if you aren't feeling like going to church, then you just aren't feeling it—that doesn't have to impact your hobbies at all. If you’d much rather spend your time having fun with some video games instead of sitting through a sermon or praying, that is totally fine by me. You don't have to be a spiritual or religious person to enjoy yourself. So, if you love gaming, just go out there and play! It’s just as valid a hobby as anything else out there. On the flip side, if you do want to lead a spiritual life, you can absolutely still do that, even if you happen to play games a whole lot.

wearyowl29 said:They don't know the first thing about spirituality, and honestly, they’re just wasting your precious time when you could be doing something much more meaningful. Aside from constant violence, there isn't really anything else on the menu.
If you think they're "recreating" you... please. What they're actually recreating is a lifestyle fueled by drugs, booze, and nothing but sex.😁

PS I haven't touched video games in ages, and even back when I used to play, I never went for the shooters...

I was just sitting here thinking about why people always seem to label playing video games as such a waste of time. I mean, I guess it’s easy to judge from the outside, but it makes me wonder—is reading a book considered "productive"? What about watching movies, or getting out there and playing sports? Everyone seems to have their own way of unwinding, so I don't really get why some people feel the need to characterize someone else's hobby as just throwing time away. It feels a bit unnecessary, doesn't it? Maybe we should all just let people enjoy what they love.

Carol Campbell3 said:I honestly think modern TV is just straight-up ruining everything.
Today I actually slipped on the road and wiped out—nothing serious, didn't break anything—but this little girl (maybe 13?) sitting in a car nearby just started cracking up at me.
Where does a kid even get the idea that laughing at someone else's misfortune is okay??!
It totally reminded me of some of the cartoons they show nowadays—they aren't even cartoons anymore, it’s just pure chaos and violence being served to kids as "entertainment." It's sketchy that this stuff is allowed to air... Honestly, the head of NBC should probably be facing legal trouble or at least some serious psychological retraining...
I'm genuinely worried about the future with all this... recklessness? Or is it just intentional brainwashing for the younger generation?

I mean, He-man, who was such a huge hit about twenty years ago, wasn't even violent at all—not even close. And don't even get me started on the "classics" like Tom & Jerry. I can't count how many times that cat got beat up. I guess the reality is that people just find other people's stupidity or accidents funny; that's pretty much why modern sitcoms are considered the peak of comedy. To be honest, I can't really recall a single funny movie that featured perfectly normal characters (you know, people who aren't clumsy, awkward, or confused). People just love that stuff. I mean, who hasn't laughed at Charlie Chaplin (well, except maybe me).

I really think you guys are doing a disservice by romanticizing the past like this.

You honestly have no clue what you're talking about—comparing Charlie Chaplin to Oggy or some random pests just doesn't work. 🤦 Seriously, now you're just being dense, which isn't even funny anymore... it's actually kind of sad.

Arthur White37 said:So, here is my situation. I am quite fond of PC gaming, and there are times when I find myself lost in it for hours on end—honestly, I don't know where I would be if my parents didn't set some boundaries on my screen time 😢....
I have spent a significant amount of time delving into various conspiracy theories, and I frequently immerse myself in books regarding spirituality. I also make a conscious effort to practice meditation 😢, as I am truly striving toward a deeper level of spiritual growth.
My question is this: does my passion for computer games somehow undermine my spiritual journey? Should I consider giving it up entirely? If I were to stop, I suspect it would be an incredibly difficult transition for me to navigate.
👎 😠

If you want to grow spiritually, go out and volunteer! Help senior citizens, spend time with kids facing health challenges, or support people in need.

You aren't going to find true spiritual fulfillment just sitting inside your own four walls. 🤦

Since when did you become the judge and jury? Honestly, you don't even have a clue what I'm actually up to...
So, where do you spend your time volunteering?

Carol Campbell3 said:You honestly have no clue what you're talking about—comparing Charlie Chaplin to Oggy or some random pests just doesn't work. 🤦 Seriously, now you're just being dense, which isn't even funny anymore... it's actually kind of sad.

I guess I'm wondering why, though? What's the actual reasoning behind saying they shouldn't be compared? People used to find it hilarious watching a tramp walk in a goofy way, or getting slapped, or making those wild facial expressions. Besides, we're mostly talking about slapstick violence and silliness in animation here, rather than deep artistic impact. I mean, why is it perfectly fine for a classic tramp character to act silly or for Tom & Jerry to chase each other around causing chaos, but it's suddenly an issue when Oggy and the cockroaches do it? Maybe it's just because you've grown up and aren't a kid anymore, so those kinds of things don't hit the same way.

Carol Campbell3 said:Since when did you become the judge and jury? Honestly, you don't even have a clue what I'm actually up to...
So, where do you spend your time volunteering?

Well, if you look back at a few posts from earlier, you actually decided for yourself that modern cartoons are total garbage, without really offering any solid arguments to back it up.

So, here's the deal. I love gaming on my PC, and honestly, sometimes I get sucked in for way too long... I don't know where I'd end up if my parents weren't keeping me in check sometimes....
I've also been diving deep into conspiracy theories, reading a ton of spiritual stuff, trying to meditate (well, at least attempting to), and just working on my inner growth.
Does all this computer gaming mess with my spiritual path? Should I quit? Because man, that would be really hard to actually do.

Based on what you're telling me, I'd say no, but looking at a lot of other people out there, it’s definitely possible for it to become an issue. But since you're even asking the question and looking into this, it's pretty clear you aren't one of those kids who just sits in front of a screen all day with zero clue about what's happening in the world or what they should be striving for.... so just keep playing. It'll probably be fine, unless you maybe just try to balance things out a bit and spend some time on other stuff besides games, rather than cutting them out entirely🙂.

Just whatever you do, don't get hooked on WOW or any other rabbit hole games where you end up flushing half your life down the drain, and you'll be just fine.

And since it looks like you're aiming to level up your spirituality to such an extreme degree, I really hope you don't go down that path either!

I guess it really depends on who you ask... video games can be this amazing way to escape reality, basically just one massive brain melt if you let them

It’s all about moderation on your part. Honestly, anything that's too much of a good thing eventually turns sour
Too much medicine will kill you, right?
It's the same deal with gaming: you go from just chilling out to totally burning out and losing your edge, or just letting your brain turn to mush

Even top-tier tennis pros like Rafael Nadal use gaming as part of their mental prep before those huge matches

My son actually plays FIFA before he heads out to a soccer match. If he doesn't hit his goal in the game, he won't leave the house... or at least, he won't head out until he finally hits that score he set for himself😂 😂 😍

Games or anything else are essentially the same when it comes to spirituality. It’s about the player—how they act and how they reflect on those actions—rather than the medium itself. At least, until the world starts feeling like one giant simulation. Then we can all just wait for the game over screen.
Detailed analyses of specific games could easily fill up entire threads, I suppose. But my first question is always why almost every kid—and honestly, plenty of adults too—is so drawn to games where you get to run around armed and ready to take down opponents.

feralbadger2 said:Just whatever you do, don't get hooked on WOW or any other rabbit hole games where you end up flushing half your life down the drain, and you'll be just fine.

And since it looks like you're aiming to level up your spirituality to such an extreme degree, I really hope you don't go down that path either!

Oops. It seems I actually started a few days ago... 🙄
The reason I ask is because I could easily lose myself in something like that for hours—not that it’s particularly violent.
As for my interest in shooters... I'm nothing like my friends who have become completely obsessed lately. To me, it carries no weight; when I "take someone out" in a game, I don't even process it as anything significant.

What video games will absolutely kill for sure is your sense of real-world priorities.

The moment when chasing that next level prevents you from actually taking care of yourself—like, say, grabbing a meal—or when you start picking virtual hangouts over seeing people in person... that's your cue to step back and ask if this is actually worth it.

Spending massive amounts of time gaming basically just drains your clock, your energy, and your drive for anything else. It makes it a total struggle to focus on everything else once you finally put the controller down.

Kevin Gonzalez42 said:I feel like you might be getting a little too caught up in the whole spirituality thing. Honestly, I don't really see how being spiritual has anything to do with gaming. I mean, if you aren't feeling like going to church, then you just aren't feeling it—that doesn't have to impact your hobbies at all. If you’d much rather spend your time having fun with some video games instead of sitting through a sermon or praying, that is totally fine by me. You don't have to be a spiritual or religious person to enjoy yourself. So, if you love gaming, just go out there and play! It’s just as valid a hobby as anything else out there. On the flip side, if you do want to lead a spiritual life, you can absolutely still do that, even if you happen to play games a whole lot.

I was just sitting here thinking about why people always seem to label playing video games as such a waste of time. I mean, I guess it’s easy to judge from the outside, but it makes me wonder—is reading a book considered "productive"? What about watching movies, or getting out there and playing sports? Everyone seems to have their own way of unwinding, so I don't really get why some people feel the need to characterize someone else's hobby as just throwing time away. It feels a bit unnecessary, doesn't it? Maybe we should all just let people enjoy what they love.

I mean, He-man, who was such a huge hit about twenty years ago, wasn't even violent at all—not even close. And don't even get me started on the "classics" like Tom & Jerry. I can't count how many times that cat got beat up. I guess the reality is that people just find other people's stupidity or accidents funny; that's pretty much why modern sitcoms are considered the peak of comedy. To be honest, I can't really recall a single funny movie that featured perfectly normal characters (you know, people who aren't clumsy, awkward, or confused). People just love that stuff. I mean, who hasn't laughed at Charlie Chaplin (well, except maybe me).

I really think you guys are doing a disservice by romanticizing the past like this.

Quality is totally subjective.

wearyowl29 said:They don't know the first thing about spirituality, and honestly, they’re just wasting your precious time when you could be doing something much more meaningful. Aside from constant violence, there isn't really anything else on the menu.
If you think they're "recreating" you... please. What they're actually recreating is a lifestyle fueled by drugs, booze, and nothing but sex.😁

PS I haven't touched video games in ages, and even back when I used to play, I never went for the shooters...

You have no idea what you're missing. 😬

Larry Wilson5 said:Games or anything else are essentially the same when it comes to spirituality. It’s about the player—how they act and how they reflect on those actions—rather than the medium itself. At least, until the world starts feeling like one giant simulation. Then we can all just wait for the game over screen.
Detailed analyses of specific games could easily fill up entire threads, I suppose. But my first question is always why almost every kid—and honestly, plenty of adults too—is so drawn to games where you get to run around armed and ready to take down opponents.

Because it's fun.

I honestly don't get how you can destroy something you don't even own. It’s like they say—the dose makes the poison, whether it's medicine or venom.

Getting way too sucked into gaming is basically the perfect escape for people who feel like they have zero control over their actual lives. In a virtual world, they can totally make up for it and chase that massive ego boost of feeling superior. To be real, I don't know a single person addicted to games who isn't just playing to feel like a winner.

It’s been a minute since I’ve had to wade through this much pure nonsense... so, uh, let's take it one step at a time.

Arthur White37 said:So, here is my situation. I am quite fond of PC gaming, and there are times when I find myself lost in it for hours on end—honestly, I don't know where I would be if my parents didn't set some boundaries on my screen time 😢....
I have spent a significant amount of time delving into various conspiracy theories, and I frequently immerse myself in books regarding spirituality. I also make a conscious effort to practice meditation 😢, as I am truly striving toward a deeper level of spiritual growth.
My question is this: does my passion for computer games somehow undermine my spiritual journey? Should I consider giving it up entirely? If I were to stop, I suspect it would be an incredibly difficult transition for me to navigate.
👎 😠

There’s really nothing wrong with gaming—it shouldn't have any negative impact on your spiritual life at all. Honestly, the only thing it might mess with is your social life. That’s why you’ve got to set some boundaries for yourself—deciding exactly how much you play and when you call it a night. I don't see any reason why you should stop... if anything, gaming can actually be a good thing. Now, I’m not talking about World of Warcraft or stuff like that—mostly just MMORPGs—because those games don't really try to push some deep message on you, though they can definitely suck you into the virtual world so hard that your actual life ends up feeling totally AFK. Pathetic. 😢
Honestly, you get games these days where the storytelling actually holds its own against some of the best novels out there—we're talking deep, layered characters that you genuinely find yourself relating to. It’s pretty wild when you think about it.

jademarlin26 said:Just install a classic like Crowdsourced and you'll reach the peak of spiritual enlightenment. Exercising mercy when you actually hold power is a virtue most people rarely get the chance to refine. You won't necessarily experience that within the game itself, but it's worth noting. 😉

🙏
Then there’s Black & White—a game where you basically step into the shoes of a god. You can pretty much do whatever you want.

Carol Campbell3 said:I honestly think modern TV is just straight-up ruining everything.
Today I actually slipped on the road and wiped out—nothing serious, didn't break anything—but this little girl (maybe 13?) sitting in a car nearby just started cracking up at me.
Where does a kid even get the idea that laughing at someone else's misfortune is okay??!
It totally reminded me of some of the cartoons they show nowadays—they aren't even cartoons anymore, it’s just pure chaos and violence being served to kids as "entertainment." It's sketchy that this stuff is allowed to air... Honestly, the head of NBC should probably be facing legal trouble or at least some serious psychological retraining...
I'm genuinely worried about the future with all this... recklessness? Or is it just intentional brainwashing for the younger generation?

Your post is... simply... 🤣
First off, she's a kid... obviously kids find that stuff funny. Second, when I trip and fall, I laugh at myself too, and it's totally normal for people to laugh at you. Good grief, it's not like I'm going to burst into tears just because I stumbled. On the other hand, if it’s actually serious, any normal person is going to help you up.
I agree that today's TV programming is way more messed up, but cartoons!? 😂
Yeah, sure, kids are definitely going to see a cartoon character flying, jumping, and smashing things and want to try doing the same when they grow up. Get real... ☕
What really ruins minds—and not just kids'—are reality shows like Big Brother and everything else spinning on MTV. What is there to learn from that? That you can sit in a house for a year doing absolutely nothing but acting like an idiot and get paid? Great. Then there's all that nonsense you see on American TV... where you see groups of young people looking for love based on how someone's bedroom looks, or dating someone's parents first, etc. It's a disaster. And then there are those various shows about local celebrities, where they show us uneducated, rude snobs who somehow stumbled into wealth, and then they actually glorify them (like some billionaire mogul in a penthouse). You could go on forever...
In any case, violence is picked up from your surroundings (family, school, the streets), not from cartoons or video games. Me and plenty of people I know grew up watching "violent" cartoons and playing "violent" games, and none of us ever thought about taking it out on anyone... Kids are much more likely to pick up something negative from the commercialized, aggressive rap songs they idolize.

wearyhawk83 said:I honestly don't get how you can destroy something you don't even own. It’s like they say—the dose makes the poison, whether it's medicine or venom.

Getting way too sucked into gaming is basically the perfect escape for people who feel like they have zero control over their actual lives. In a virtual world, they can totally make up for it and chase that massive ego boost of feeling superior. To be real, I don't know a single person addicted to games who isn't just playing to feel like a winner.

That's like saying a professional athlete has no control over their life, so they try to compensate through sports by trying to be dominant and playing only to win. Total nonsense...
If we're talking about competitive games with actual tournaments, then yeah, the goal is to win and grab the prize money. And, of course, to have fun.
If we aren't talking about competitive games, then please explain to me what you mean by that phrase—"playing just to win."