In a recent post, the inimitable Steve Hays provides an interesting critique of a video game theodicy (link). My own video game theodicy is not subject to the same criticisms, I trust.
Imagine that a video game designer makes a video game like Pac-Man. Can anyone seriously imagine one of the little ghosts complaining that the video game designer is "evil" because the game is designed such that they can get eaten by the player's character? We would view that as absurd. The designer did not even have to include the ghosts in the first place. The player's character could be pitted against the clock, or against fewer ghosts.
The ghosts aren't even the point of the game. Their happiness is not the primary objective of the game designer. In fact, their mood itself is something that video designer decides. If they are unhappy - they are unhappy.
I can anticipate the objection: we're not sprites, we're human beings. Well, Scripture compares you not to sprites but to sheep. Even less than sheep or sprites, Scripture compares man to pots. Pots aren't even animated!
Once we realize that God does not have any moral obligation to care about our happiness, we can start to realize the amazing grace of God in sending his son to save the elect.
-TurretinFan
Thursday, March 15, 2012
4 comments:
Comment Guidelines:
1. Thanks for posting a comment. Without you, this blog would not be interactive.
2. Please be polite. That doesn't mean you have to use kid gloves, but please try not to flame others, even if they are heretics, infidels, or worse.
3. If you insult me, I'm more likely to delete your comment than if you butter me up. After all, I'm human. I prefer praise to insults. If you prefer insults, there's something wrong with you.
4. Please be concise. The comment box is not your blog. Your blog is your blog. If you have a really long comment, post it on your blog and post a short summary of it here.
5. Please don't just spam. It's one thing to be concise, it's another thing to simply use the comment box to advertise.
6. Please note, by commenting here, you are relinquishing your (C) in your comments to me.
7. Remember that you will give an account on judgment day for your words, including those typed in comment boxes. Try to write so you will not be ashamed if it is read back before the entire world.
8. Stay on topic. If your comment has nothing to do with the post, email it to me (my email can be obtained through my blogger profile), or simply don't post it.
9. Don't post as "Anonymous." If you are going to post anonymously, at least use some kind of recognizable "handle," so we can tell you apart from all the other anonymous folks. (This is moot at the moment, since recent abuse has forced me to turn off "anonymous" commenting.)
10. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you; and abstain from doing to others what you would not wish upon yourself.
And if not sheep or moist clay pots destined for the furnace, we are also little chicks Mother Hen wants to gather under wings; pinions; foul!
ReplyDeleteThe Pac-Man Game Designer is a MORAL MONSTER! Where's the libertarian free will in the actors of Pac-Man? No authentic love exists without LFW!
ReplyDeleteI just heard that Diablo 3 is due to hit the shelves May 15. Imagine the discussions we can have over that one!
ReplyDeleteI suspect those pac man dots on the screen do not have the free will to debate whether or not they have free will.
ReplyDelete