USA- The Game of Thrones series -Game of Thrones, in the original- is the biggest success of the HBO channel in audience and one of the most popular in the world at the moment. Based on a series of books by George RR Martin, its fourth season arrives showing the struggle of the Westeros clans for power.
The series contains scenes of sex, with many deaths and violent images, the script is full of revolts, including political alliances, betrayals and murders. But therein lies the moral problem for some Christians. So much so that some pastors and theologians have already spoken out against the show.
Most critics remember similar works like JRR Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” where there is a clear battle where good triumphs over evil. But in GOT it seems that there is only evil triumphing.
John Piper fired off his criticism in an article «12 Questions to Ask Before You Watch ‘Game of Thrones’, -12 questions you should ask yourself before watching Game of Thrones– where he raises 12 questions that Christians should ask themselves before watching Game of Thrones.
In it, the theologian asks that every Christian question themselves about the sin of “seeing naked” and remembers that Jesu s’ death was to purify his people. Therefore, “if we choose to support, embrace, enjoy, or continue in impurity, it is equivalent to picking up a spear and piercing Jesus’ body anew each time we do so. He suffered to free us from impurity,” he asserted.
This material reignited the debate on the television habits of the followers of Christ. Some time ago, the US version of Christianity Today magazine devoted several pages to the analysis of this issue.
One of the issues most remembered by pastors is that black magic plays an important role in the plot, validating a supernatural aspect condemned by the Scriptures. The way religion is treated in Game of Thrones places cynical and unloving gods viewing mortals the way cats view rats: something to play until they die.
Daniel Muth of the Living Church Foundation says that Christians should not watch “Game of Thrones” because there is simply nothing positive there for men and women of faith.
Jesuit Father Jim McDermott, who likes to analyze the relationship of elements of pop culture with theology, recalls that, as in the Bible, the series reveals its heroes among the least likely in society. For him, there are aspects that resonate with biblical narratives such as the search for redemption and the fight for hope to win.
Christian social ethics professor Scott R. Paeth, who teaches at DePaul University in Chicago, says that only when the book (and television) series ends will we be able to do a full analysis “about the world and the morality it reflects.” ». Only then will it be possible to analyze “how Christian” the series is.
Fiction author Simon Morden, who is a committed Christian, claims that before passing judgment on the books (and the TV series), Christians should first know what it is about.
Then, issue critical opinions, comparing the values presented with the biblical values. Lastly, they should learn that, given their success, what society is consuming, how people are seeing the world as a “battlefield” where there are no set rules.
In many ways, this is the reality of today’s world, where issues like wars and terrorism are on television daily and Christians are exposed to them. For Morden, the Christian position should be one of observation, without forgetting that we have the answers to many of the questions raised in Game of Thrones.
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