The Moral Substitute: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Faith Redem CCG 2883.jpg|frame|Hey, kids! Let's play ''Faith Redemption,'' the Christian-blessed alternative to ''[[Magic: The Gathering|Magic!]]'']] |
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== Film == |
== Film == |
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* ''[[Bob Roberts]]'' parodies this idea by having the title character as the fanatically conservative child of hippies who uses the musical style of protest songs to express his ideology. |
* ''[[Bob Roberts]]'' parodies this idea by having the title character as the fanatically conservative child of hippies who uses the musical style of protest songs to express his ideology. |
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* ''[[Gamera]]'' was originally intended as a comparatively mild example of |
* ''[[Gamera]]'' was originally intended as a comparatively mild example of this—a [[Lighter and Softer|more kid-friendly alternative]] to ''Godzilla'', featuring a relatively non-threatening, [[Friend to All Children]] giant monster in a series that was lighter on the carnage and senseless death. The '90s reboot tried to [[Darker and Edgier|move away from this origin]], but ''Gamera the Brave'' whole-heartedly embraced it. |
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* Some people have called ''[[Shooter]]'' a left-wing response to right-wing [[The Eighties|Eighties]] action movies. Ironically, the author of the book ''Shooter'' was ([[In Name Only|loosely]]) [[The Film of the Book|based on]] is a conservative. |
* Some people have called ''[[Shooter]]'' a left-wing response to right-wing [[The Eighties|Eighties]] action movies. Ironically, the author of the book ''Shooter'' was ([[In Name Only|loosely]]) [[The Film of the Book|based on]] is a conservative. |
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* ''[[High School Musical]]'' is a pretty tame movie series, but there is still a religious alternative: ''Sunday School Musical'', released by [[The Asylum]] under their Faith Films imprint - although in this case, the reduced production values aren't due to this trope so much as due to the M.O. of [[The Asylum]] being reduced production values. |
* ''[[High School Musical]]'' is a pretty tame movie series, but there is still a religious alternative: ''Sunday School Musical'', released by [[The Asylum]] under their Faith Films imprint - although in this case, the reduced production values aren't due to this trope so much as due to the M.O. of [[The Asylum]] being reduced production values. |
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== Literature == |
== Literature == |
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* There is a "Christian" ''[[Goosebumps]]''-alike. Similar cover font and art design, but all the spooky stuff turns out to be faked (because Satan has no real power), and prayer works coincidental miracles. |
* There is a "Christian" ''[[Goosebumps]]''-alike. Similar cover font and art design, but all the spooky stuff turns out to be faked (because Satan has no real power), and prayer works coincidental miracles. |
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* There is a Christian ''[[Choose Your Own Adventure]]''-type series. One was on the dangers of Satanists, New Agers, |
* There is a Christian ''[[Choose Your Own Adventure]]''-type series. One was on the dangers of Satanists, New Agers, and—for some reason—environmentalists.<ref>Perhaps a misinterpretation of the [[wikipedia:Gaia hypothesis|Gaia Hypothesis]] as a call to pagan Earth-worship.</ref> One of the endings for the latter plot involved starting a Christian environmental club. |
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* The rise of cheesy [[Airport Fantasy]] and techno-thrillers from authors such as [[Tom Clancy]] and [[Dan Brown]] has led to the creation of the ''[[Left Behind]]'' series, where fundamentalist Christians try to stop the Antichrist with high-tech weaponry. Many books like this start out like normal "apocalypse" books (with the usual waking up one day to find something wrong, everybody in a frenzy), but slowly everything starts becoming Jesus-related. |
* The rise of cheesy [[Airport Fantasy]] and techno-thrillers from authors such as [[Tom Clancy]] and [[Dan Brown]] has led to the creation of the ''[[Left Behind]]'' series, where fundamentalist Christians try to stop the Antichrist with high-tech weaponry. Many books like this start out like normal "apocalypse" books (with the usual waking up one day to find something wrong, everybody in a frenzy), but slowly everything starts becoming Jesus-related. |
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* The ''[[Narnia]]'' series wasn't written as this, although [[C. S. Lewis|CS Lewis]] was very conscious of and open about his inclusion of Christian themes in the books. However, these days (especially after [[The Film of the Book]]), it seems to be treated as such against secular kid-lit fantasy lines like ''[[Harry Potter]]''. Still, the Narnia fanbase isn't entirely composed of Christians. |
* The ''[[Narnia]]'' series wasn't written as this, although [[C. S. Lewis|CS Lewis]] was very conscious of and open about his inclusion of Christian themes in the books. However, these days (especially after [[The Film of the Book]]), it seems to be treated as such against secular kid-lit fantasy lines like ''[[Harry Potter]]''. Still, the Narnia fanbase isn't entirely composed of Christians. |
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** And, of course, ''[[His Dark Materials]]'' was written as a substitute for the ''Narnia'' |
** And, of course, ''[[His Dark Materials]]'' was written as a substitute for the ''Narnia'' books—from an ''antitheist'' viewpoint.<ref>Strictly speaking, any fiction that doesn't mention a deity can be considered atheistic or at least secular, but that's not the case with the HDM series.</ref> |
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* The [[wikipedia:Romance novel#Inspirational romance|inspirational romance]] genre serves as the moral substitute for steamy, bodice-ripping romances. While the above link to the Other Wiki doesn't note it, leading publisher Harlequin has a successful imprint (Steeple Hill) that only turns out books of this kind using the parent company's [[Strictly Formula]] approach. |
* The [[wikipedia:Romance novel#Inspirational romance|inspirational romance]] genre serves as the moral substitute for steamy, bodice-ripping romances. While the above link to the Other Wiki doesn't note it, leading publisher Harlequin has a successful imprint (Steeple Hill) that only turns out books of this kind using the parent company's [[Strictly Formula]] approach. |
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** Taking this methodology a step farther, there exists Christian spanking porn. Of course, the makers deny that it's porn at all and prefer the term "Christian domestic discipline romance fiction". They claim it was created for Christian couples to explore what God intended for marriage (i.e. According to the makers, He wants husbands to spank their wives) without having to look at anything icky. |
** Taking this methodology a step farther, there exists Christian spanking porn. Of course, the makers deny that it's porn at all and prefer the term "Christian domestic discipline romance fiction". They claim it was created for Christian couples to explore what God intended for marriage (i.e. According to the makers, He wants husbands to spank their wives) without having to look at anything icky. |
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* ''The Twelve Candles Club'' was a |
* ''The Twelve Candles Club'' was a Christian—specifically, conservative evangelical—alternative to what the author saw as filth and immorality found in secular preteen novel series like ''[[The Baby Sitters Club]]''. The approach was... odd. Basically, each book would start with a fairly standard BSC-style plotline; the characters would make it to the second-to-last chapter without mentioning religion in any way, but then, when all hope seemed lost, one of them would suggest that the group pray about their problem. They would do so, and [[Deus Ex Machina|the problem would suddenly be solved by some miraculous coincidence]]. |
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* Some reviewers consider ''[[Twilight (novel)|Twilight]]'' to be the moral substitute for other vampire and romance novels, which are generally less pro-abstinence. More than that, [http://stoney321.livejournal.com/317176.html this] series of Livejournal posts makes a pretty solid argument that it's the ''Mormon'' Alternative. |
* Some reviewers consider ''[[Twilight (novel)|Twilight]]'' to be the moral substitute for other vampire and romance novels, which are generally less pro-abstinence. More than that, [http://stoney321.livejournal.com/317176.html this] series of Livejournal posts makes a pretty solid argument that it's the ''Mormon'' Alternative. |
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* [[Frank Peretti]] wrote a number of novels, many of which could be considered Moral Substitutes for the paranormal/occult detective and action and adventure genres. |
* [[Frank Peretti]] wrote a number of novels, many of which could be considered Moral Substitutes for the paranormal/occult detective and action and adventure genres. |
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** ''[[Red Eye With Greg Gutfeld]]'' worked out better thanks to it having better time slots, and being more of an imitation of ''Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn'' (which wasn't a left leaning show anyway) than the Daily Show. |
** ''[[Red Eye With Greg Gutfeld]]'' worked out better thanks to it having better time slots, and being more of an imitation of ''Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn'' (which wasn't a left leaning show anyway) than the Daily Show. |
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** Fox News in general explicitly styles itself as the moral substitute to allegedly left-leaning news sources. |
** Fox News in general explicitly styles itself as the moral substitute to allegedly left-leaning news sources. |
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* Arguably, all TV channels owned by the Venezuelan government. All of them try, with various grades of success, to promote an "alternative" view to the "imperialist" (read: American) channels, who means that most shows are devoted to how wonderful the government is and how evil the oppressors are. One of the channels was deliberately built as an "socialist" alternative to commercial channels, and even is trying to do "social" [[Soap Opera |
* Arguably, all TV channels owned by the Venezuelan government. All of them try, with various grades of success, to promote an "alternative" view to the "imperialist" (read: American) channels, who means that most shows are devoted to how wonderful the government is and how evil the oppressors are. One of the channels was deliberately built as an "socialist" alternative to commercial channels, and even is trying to do "social" [[Soap Opera]]s. It seems that the effort is not working, though; the combined ratings of all government channels are inferior to the least popular of the commercial channels, and even the directors of some of those channels admit that they are not attracting enough viewers. |
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* Arguably, the requirements various countries have of a mandated amount of locally produced TV and film. |
* Arguably, the requirements various countries have of a mandated amount of locally produced TV and film. |
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** This was how the ultra-Canadian stereotypes of [[wikipedia:Bob |
** This was how the ultra-Canadian stereotypes of [[wikipedia:Bob & Doug MacKenzie|Bob & Doug Mackenzie]] originated. ''[[SCTV]]'' had to fill Canadian TV's extra two minutes per half-hour with "Required Canadian Content", miffed at the fact that a Canadian production, with all-Canadian writers, actors and producers was not enough in and of itself to meet requirements. |
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* The PAX television network was intended to be a family-friendly alternative to the major broadcast networks, but ended up being mostly infomercials and reruns, along with [[Glurge|Billy Ray Cyrus as]] ''[[Glurge|Doc]]''. It's since changed its name to [[ION]] and its programming now consists ''entirely'' of infomercials and reruns, with the occasional movie during prime time hours (including, oddly enough, ''[[Discworld/Hogfather|Hogfather]]'' during the Christmas season). It later consisted of reruns from CBS primetime shows, including ''[[Ghost Whisperer]]'', ''[[NCIS]]'', and ''[[Criminal Minds]]'', indicators of some definite [[Network Decay]]. |
* The PAX television network was intended to be a family-friendly alternative to the major broadcast networks, but ended up being mostly infomercials and reruns, along with [[Glurge|Billy Ray Cyrus as]] ''[[Glurge|Doc]]''. It's since changed its name to [[ION]] and its programming now consists ''entirely'' of infomercials and reruns, with the occasional movie during prime time hours (including, oddly enough, ''[[Discworld/Hogfather|Hogfather]]'' during the Christmas season). It later consisted of reruns from CBS primetime shows, including ''[[Ghost Whisperer]]'', ''[[NCIS]]'', and ''[[Criminal Minds]]'', indicators of some definite [[Network Decay]]. |
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* Like the ''Narnia'' example above, many of the children's shows aired by the American network [[PBS]] (''[[Sesame Street]]'', ''[[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood]]'', ''[[Bill Nye the Science Guy]]'', ''[[Arthur (animation)|Arthur]]'') weren't intended as Moral Substitutes. However, once [[Saturday Morning Cartoon|Saturday mornings]] (and, later, cable networks like [[Nickelodeon]], [[Cartoon Network]] and the [[Disney Channel]]) became increasingly filled with [[Merchandise-Driven|half-hour toy commercials]] and shows that certain parents and [[Media Watchdogs]] considered to [[Family-Unfriendly Aesop|glamorize consumerism and materialism]], PBS Kids started to be treated as this by a number of parents who wanted their children watching [[Edutainment Show|more educational fare]]. |
* Like the ''Narnia'' example above, many of the children's shows aired by the American network [[PBS]] (''[[Sesame Street]]'', ''[[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood]]'', ''[[Bill Nye the Science Guy]]'', ''[[Arthur (animation)|Arthur]]'') weren't intended as Moral Substitutes. However, once [[Saturday Morning Cartoon|Saturday mornings]] (and, later, cable networks like [[Nickelodeon]], [[Cartoon Network]] and the [[Disney Channel]]) became increasingly filled with [[Merchandise-Driven|half-hour toy commercials]] and shows that certain parents and [[Media Watchdogs]] considered to [[Family-Unfriendly Aesop|glamorize consumerism and materialism]], PBS Kids started to be treated as this by a number of parents who wanted their children watching [[Edutainment Show|more educational fare]]. |
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== Music == |
== Music == |
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* The entire genre of White Power and neo-Nazi music, which includes rock, metal, ska and, amusingly enough, rap. Whether it can be called a ''moral'' substitute... |
* The entire genre of White Power and neo-Nazi music, which includes rock, metal, ska and, amusingly enough, rap. Whether it can be called a ''moral'' substitute... |
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** The entire [[Skinheads|skinhead]] movement can trace its roots back to ska. Also, keep in mind that calling skinheads racist is a great way to [[Berserk Button|find out what the bottom of a pair of Doc Martens looks like]] |
** The entire [[Skinheads|skinhead]] movement can trace its roots back to ska. Also, keep in mind that calling skinheads racist is a great way to [[Berserk Button|find out what the bottom of a pair of Doc Martens looks like]]—most skinheads are explicitly anti-racist, primarily because of the minority of neo-Nazis that has tarnished the scene. |
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** There's also Saga, the Neo-Nazis' answer to Madonna. (Silly, but necessary, given Madonna's conversion to Jewish mysticism.) |
** There's also Saga, the Neo-Nazis' answer to Madonna. (Silly, but necessary, given Madonna's conversion to Jewish mysticism.) |
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** National Alliance leader (and secret author of ''The Turner Diaries'') William Pierce was well aware of the irony. He despised rock music and preferred that young people listen to classical music or opera, but was pragmatic enough to decide that if white youths were immature enough to be into the rock scene, that was what his label Resistance Records was going to give them (provided it could impart a "white power" message, of course). |
** National Alliance leader (and secret author of ''The Turner Diaries'') William Pierce was well aware of the irony. He despised rock music and preferred that young people listen to classical music or opera, but was pragmatic enough to decide that if white youths were immature enough to be into the rock scene, that was what his label Resistance Records was going to give them (provided it could impart a "white power" message, of course). |
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* "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/808361.stm Christian Power Cards]", a Moral Substitute for ''[[Pokémon]]'' cards, featuring characters from [[The Bible]]. |
* "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/808361.stm Christian Power Cards]", a Moral Substitute for ''[[Pokémon]]'' cards, featuring characters from [[The Bible]]. |
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** Also, [[wikipedia:Redemption (card game)|Redemption.]] |
** Also, [[wikipedia:Redemption (card game)|Redemption.]] |
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* After a number of Christian fundamentalist extremists got it into their heads that [[ |
* After a number of Christian fundamentalist extremists got it into their heads that [[tabletop RPG]]s (particularly ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'') were Satanic, someone came up with ''[[Dragon Raid]]''. Ironically, the game was criticized by the same extremists despite its Christian viewpoint; they figured ''any'' fantastic roleplaying was evil. |
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** Meanwhile, RPGnet actually gave it a [http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_3828.html favorable review], with some interesting commentary on the overall "watered-down substitute" phenomenon. |
** Meanwhile, RPGnet actually gave it a [http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_3828.html favorable review], with some interesting commentary on the overall "watered-down substitute" phenomenon. |
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** There were several attempts at Christian (TM) Games during that period, including a ''Chutes-and-Ladders'' knockoff called "Revelations", marketed to "mothers worried that your children are into games with Dungeons and Demons and The Occult". |
** There were several attempts at Christian (TM) Games during that period, including a ''Chutes-and-Ladders'' knockoff called "Revelations", marketed to "mothers worried that your children are into games with Dungeons and Demons and The Occult". |
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== Video Games == |
== Video Games == |
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* The game developer Color Dreams changed its name to Wisdom Tree, and rereleased their old games with new titles and Christian themes slapped on. Some notable games that they made included ''Bible Adventures'', ''Sunday Funday'' (a rebadged version of the old Color Dreams game ''Menace Beach''), and ''Spiritual Warfare'' (a thinly disguised ''[[The Legend of Zelda|Zelda]]'' |
* The game developer Color Dreams changed its name to Wisdom Tree, and rereleased their old games with new titles and Christian themes slapped on. Some notable games that they made included ''Bible Adventures'', ''Sunday Funday'' (a rebadged version of the old Color Dreams game ''Menace Beach''), and ''Spiritual Warfare'' (a thinly disguised ''[[The Legend of Zelda|Zelda]]'' clone—not half bad, but mostly by virtue of picking a good game to rip off). These games did not carry the Official Nintendo Seal of Quality, and came with special cartridges that were designed to get around the lockout chips in Nintendo's consoles. |
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⚫ | ** One Wisdom Tree game, ''Super 3D Noah's Ark'' for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]], is particularly famous among hardcore gamers for being the only unlicensed SNES cartridge released in the US. The game was essentially ''[[Wolfenstein 3D]]'' [[Serial Numbers Filed Off|with the guns replaced with food and the Nazis replaced with goats]]. (Apparently, gathering ''different'' animals was too much trouble for Noah.) An urban legend claims that id Software actually gave Wisdom Tree the ''Wolfenstein 3D'' code and SNES lockout codes just to spite [[Nintendo]] after the SNES port of ''Wolfenstein 3D'' was [[Bowdlerise |
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It is widely believed that the reason Color Dreams turned into Wisdom Tree was not out of piety, but so that they could get around Nintendo's licensing. Nintendo's primary pressure tactic was refusing to sell their games to retailers that sold unlicensed games. Christian bookstores were immune to this, as they didn't stock video games in the first place. Seeing an opportunity, the newly-renamed Wisdom Tree convinced the bookstores that their games would bring kids to God, and started selling their games to them. Another theory is that Color Dreams changed their modus operandi after Nintendo sued them for selling unlicensed games—after all, what sort of evil company (and [[Japan Takes Over the World|a Japanese one]], [[Evil Foreigner|at that]]) would [[Even Evil Has Standards|hate on a Christian game developer anyway]]? |
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⚫ | ** One Wisdom Tree game, ''Super 3D Noah's Ark'' for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]], is particularly famous among hardcore gamers for being the only unlicensed SNES cartridge released in the US. The game was essentially ''[[Wolfenstein 3D]]'' [[Serial Numbers Filed Off|with the guns replaced with food and the Nazis replaced with goats]]. (Apparently, gathering ''different'' animals was too much trouble for Noah.) An urban legend claims that id Software actually gave Wisdom Tree the ''Wolfenstein 3D'' code and SNES lockout codes just to spite [[Nintendo]] after the SNES port of ''Wolfenstein 3D'' was [[Bowdlerise]]d. id Software [[Jossed|denies this]], claiming that Wisdom Tree was just another Id Tech 0 engine licensee. |
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* [[Seanbaby]] reviewed a Christian version of ''[[Dance Dance Revolution]]'' (entitled ''Dance Praise'') in one issue of ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'', concluding with an offensive but somewhat pertinent quote: "[What I learned was that] Christian anything sucks more than regular anything." |
* [[Seanbaby]] reviewed a Christian version of ''[[Dance Dance Revolution]]'' (entitled ''Dance Praise'') in one issue of ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'', concluding with an offensive but somewhat pertinent quote: "[What I learned was that] Christian anything sucks more than regular anything." |
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** He also reviewed ''Bible Adventures'' and ''Sunday Funday''. After comparing ''Sunday Funday's'' gimmick of quoting scripture versus ''Menace Beach's'' gimmick of having your girlfriend's clothes disappear between levels, he concluded that "If you suck at making things but want people to buy them anyway, crap with [[Jesus]] sells better than crap with tits." |
** He also reviewed ''Bible Adventures'' and ''Sunday Funday''. After comparing ''Sunday Funday's'' gimmick of quoting scripture versus ''Menace Beach's'' gimmick of having your girlfriend's clothes disappear between levels, he concluded that "If you suck at making things but want people to buy them anyway, crap with [[Jesus]] sells better than crap with tits." |
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* A Christian ''[[Guitar Hero]]'' clone, entitled ''Guitar Praise'', which includes a lot of groups listed on [[Christian Rock]] (and one song from a [[Not Christian Rock]] group, [[Flyleaf]]). |
* A Christian ''[[Guitar Hero]]'' clone, entitled ''Guitar Praise'', which includes a lot of groups listed on [[Christian Rock]] (and one song from a [[Not Christian Rock]] group, [[Flyleaf]]). |
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* There's a Catholic-themed clone of ''DopeWars'' called, yes, ''[http://www.phatmass.com/more/games/pope_wars/ Pope Wars]''. It's somewhat tongue-in-cheek. |
* There's a Catholic-themed clone of ''DopeWars'' called, yes, ''[http://www.phatmass.com/more/games/pope_wars/ Pope Wars]''. It's somewhat tongue-in-cheek. |
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* There was a PC game spawned by the ''[[Bibleman]]'' video series by a company called Covenant Studios. It played sort of like ''[[Diablo]]'' with jerky controls, sprites that moved at a snail's pace and weapons of a purely defensive |
* There was a PC game spawned by the ''[[Bibleman]]'' video series by a company called Covenant Studios. It played sort of like ''[[Diablo]]'' with jerky controls, sprites that moved at a snail's pace and weapons of a purely defensive nature—even the character who had a laser gun at the time. Instead, there's a clunky system to destroy enemies with random Bible passages. To top it all off, Bibleman, the character the series is named after, has to be unlocked before players can take control of him. Oddly, despite this winning combination, the purported [[PlayStation 2]] and [[Game Boy Advance]] versions never materialized. At last check, the developers' site had disappeared off the face of the internet. |
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* Parodied mercilessly in a viral campaign for ''[[Dante's Inferno (video game)|Dante's Inferno]]'', which offered a game at the complete opposite end called ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRMiRFJzIKA Mass: We Pray]''. And naturally, [[Take That|it was presented as]] a game using [[Wii]]-like technology. The punchline was that, whenever you clicked any link on the fake website for the game (which is now dead), you got a message more in the style of the ''real'' game informing you that performing mass without a real Catholic priest [[You Bastard|falls under the sin of Heresy]]. |
* Parodied mercilessly in a viral campaign for ''[[Dante's Inferno (video game)|Dante's Inferno]]'', which offered a game at the complete opposite end called ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRMiRFJzIKA Mass: We Pray]''. And naturally, [[Take That|it was presented as]] a game using [[Wii]]-like technology. The punchline was that, whenever you clicked any link on the fake website for the game (which is now dead), you got a message more in the style of the ''real'' game informing you that performing mass without a real Catholic priest [[You Bastard|falls under the sin of Heresy]]. |
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* People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has made a number of animal rights-themed [[Web Games|Flash parodies]] of popular games. |
* People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has made a number of animal rights-themed [[Web Games|Flash parodies]] of popular games. |
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== Other == |
== Other == |
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* Branson, Missouri, in the words of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', is "Vegas if it were run by Ned Flanders." <ref>Unless, of course, you take the wrong bus and end up in ''[[Charles Bronson|Bronson]]'', Missouri...</ref> To explain: the city offers elaborate hotels, shopping, and tons of live shows, but there's no gambling or "party scene". The shows focus on G-rated entertainment, especially musical |
* Branson, Missouri, in the words of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', is "Vegas if it were run by Ned Flanders." <ref>Unless, of course, you take the wrong bus and end up in ''[[Charles Bronson|Bronson]]'', Missouri...</ref> To explain: the city offers elaborate hotels, shopping, and tons of live shows, but there's no gambling or "party scene". The shows focus on G-rated entertainment, especially musical revues—oldies, [[Country Music|country]], and Broadway are the most frequently appearing genres. Other shows include grand-scale musical adaptations of Bible stories, and such headliners as Andy Williams (Nelson Muntz's favorite!), Yakov Smirnoff, the Oak Ridge Boys, Tony Orlando, and [[Riding With Death|Jim Stafford.]] |
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* There have been "alternatives" to [[Scout Out|the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts]] from every direction. [[Glorious Mother Russia|The Soviet Union]], for instance, had the Pioneers, and [[Nazi Germany]] had the infamous Hitler Youth. A number of churches have also created their own "scouting" organizations, such as the Pathfinders (Seventh Day Adventists), the Royal Rangers for boys and Missionettes for girls (Assemblies of God), and Awana (Southern Baptists). More recently, due to the increasingly conservative bent of the Boy Scouts of America (not surprising, since Lord Baden-Powell came up with the idea during one of Britain's imperial wars of conquest, and "scouts" throughout history have traditionally been connected to the military), there are also a few scouting organizations that have sprung up with the aim of being more accepting of gays, lesbians, and non-Christians. |
* There have been "alternatives" to [[Scout Out|the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts]] from every direction. [[Glorious Mother Russia|The Soviet Union]], for instance, had the Pioneers, and [[Nazi Germany]] had the infamous Hitler Youth. A number of churches have also created their own "scouting" organizations, such as the Pathfinders (Seventh Day Adventists), the Royal Rangers for boys and Missionettes for girls (Assemblies of God), and Awana (Southern Baptists). More recently, due to the increasingly conservative bent of the Boy Scouts of America (not surprising, since Lord Baden-Powell came up with the idea during one of Britain's imperial wars of conquest, and "scouts" throughout history have traditionally been connected to the military), there are also a few scouting organizations that have sprung up with the aim of being more accepting of gays, lesbians, and non-Christians. |
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** The Boy Scouts themselves were partly inspired by an organization called the Boys' Brigade, which was (and is) an explicitly Christian youth organization. Therefore, the Boy Scouts were the "less moral" substitute (which is [[Hilarious in Hindsight|pretty funny]] when you consider the controversy over their views on religion and homosexuality). Also, as the name suggests, the Boys' Brigade has even ''stronger'' military overtones than the Boy Scouts: humorist Clive James, who was a member of both groups in his youth, commented that the Scouts emphasize "woodsy lore" and the Brigade prefers "parade ground drill." For example, the adult organizers of the Brigade are called Officers (with the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain), and younger members can become Non-Commissioned Officers, with ranks running from Private through Staff Sergeant. |
** The Boy Scouts themselves were partly inspired by an organization called the Boys' Brigade, which was (and is) an explicitly Christian youth organization. Therefore, the Boy Scouts were the "less moral" substitute (which is [[Hilarious in Hindsight|pretty funny]] when you consider the controversy over their views on religion and homosexuality). Also, as the name suggests, the Boys' Brigade has even ''stronger'' military overtones than the Boy Scouts: humorist Clive James, who was a member of both groups in his youth, commented that the Scouts emphasize "woodsy lore" and the Brigade prefers "parade ground drill." For example, the adult organizers of the Brigade are called Officers (with the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain), and younger members can become Non-Commissioned Officers, with ranks running from Private through Staff Sergeant. |