The Hero's Journey

I've read John Eldredge's Waking the Dead about three or four times during the last few months. Its a powerful reminder that spiritual formation occurs only when one is prepared to engage in spiritual warfare. More than bedtime stories, more than interesting plots for films and books, the tales of mythical heroes, both old and contemporary, are stories of transformation in the heart of battle.

Playing off of a similar idea, Stephen W. Simpson has written this article for Relevant Magazine's web site in which he discusses the way that video games are often sophisticated enough to invite the player to assume a role in similar, mythical struggles.

I'm not suggesting that churches should start distributing copies of Halo 2 in lieu of The Purpose Driven Life, nor do I think that a late-night frag fest in the youth room at Highland is going to lead to deep spiritual insights. However, Simpson makes a good point. Sometimes, a gaming experience may reveal more to (and about) its players than meets the eyes and ears.