New Book Explores Theological Implications of our Avatars
"Every parent, every gamer, every pastor needs to get this book ASAP. Your ability to connect to a digital culture depends on it." --Leonard Sweet is Professor of Evangelism at Drew University and Visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University.
"This needed theological inquiry moves beyond the tired debate of whether video games are good or evil, probing a deeper, more interesting question: Where is God in the world of games?" --David Thomas is the author of "Video Game Reviews," distributed by King Features Syndicate. He teaches critical video game theory and the history of digital media at the University of Colorado, Denver.
Louisville, Kentucky--As we prepare for James Cameron's long-anticipated 3D film Avatar to hit theatres this Friday, a new collection of essays explores the theological implications of the second lives and virtual worlds we inhabit in popular video games. Edited by Craig Detweiler, Halos and Avatars: Playing Video Games with God, scheduled for release next month by Westminster John Knox Press, features top contributors like ESPN's Matt Kitchen, who explores sports and the nature of play in Madden NFL; and Rand Miller, noted game designer and cocreator of Myst and Riven. Other contributors address timely topics such as video games as the new storytelling medium; the theological implications of violent or apocalyptic video games like Halo 3, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Resident Evil; the impact of social networks on our spiritual lives; and medical ethics and theology in controversial games such as BioShock.
Detweiler writes:
"With the arrival of James Cameron's all-digital Avatar, more people have begun wondering how to navigate virtual worlds and video games. . . .Those searching for a cautionary tale will be disappointed by this book. Halos and Avatars aims to demystify the gaming universe and dignify the passions of the most active gamers. We believe in the theological possibilities contained within even the most debased pop culture." -- from the introduction
Click here to read the complete introduction to Halos and Avatars: Playing Video Games with God.
Dr. Craig Detweiler, Ph.D ., MFA, is Director of the Center for Entertainment, Media and Culture at Pepperdine University in Malibu. His comedic documentary, Purple State of Mind, won Best Spiritual Film at the 2008 Breckenridge Festival of Film and the Audience Award at the 2009 Tallahassee Film Festival. His cultural commentary has appeared on ABC's Nightline, CNN, Fox News, NPR, and in The New York Times. He blogs at www.purplestateofmind.com.
Craig Detweiler is available to comment on James Cameron's film, Avatar, or on his new book, Halos and Avatars: Playing Video Games with God. To schedule an interview and/or for access to an advance digital review copy, please contact Emily Kiefer at (502) 569-5811 or ekiefer@wjkbooks.com.
Halos and Avatars: Playing Video Games with God
Craig Detweiler, editor
Westminster John Knox Press
978-0-664-23277-1 * paper * $19.95
01/25/2010
Westminster John Knox Press is the trade and academic publishing imprint of the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. With a publishing heritage of more than 160 years, the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation publishes over 80 new works each year, while maintaining a backlist of more than 1,700 active titles sold around the world.
Contact Emily Kiefer, (502) 569-5811, ekiefer@wjkbooks.com
Published on: 2009-12-14
Limited copyright is granted for you to use and/or republish any story on this site for
any legitimate media purpose as long as you reference 7thSpace and any source mentioned in the story above. Please
make sure to read our disclaimer prior to contacting 7thSpace Interactive. To contact our editors, visit our online helpdesk. If you wish submit your own press release, click here.
Social Bookmarking
RETWEET This! | Digg this! | Post to del.icio.us | Post to Furl | Add to Netscape | Add to Yahoo! | Rojo
|
|
