Is playing games a sin or not accepted?

joasia · Post by **joasia** » Sat 11 December 2004 4:03 pm

"all the time" is relative. If you are saying that it becomes an obsession or compulsion - then that is bad in anything, not just toys or games.

Well Tom, finally a constructive response. I guess there's hope for you yet.

Romiosini,

It's more an issue of the intension of the person involved in the game that makes the difference....if he is obsessed with it or wants to win, no matter what, etc. What's in the person's heart is the real value. There's no harm in playing a game of soccor. I, personally, like to play cribbage. But, of course, there are no games played in monasteries as their goal is to live in prayer and commune with God.

But, God does permit families, so there are things that families do together that monks wouldn't do in a monastery. It's a different lifestyle.

But, for grown men to make millions of dollars to play sports is pure corruption. The whole idea of it is wrong. And it's just plain silly.

Anastasios · Post by **Anastasios** » Sat 11 December 2004 4:26 pm

But, of course, there are no games played in monasteries as their goal is to live in prayer and commune with God.

That is not true. At Jordanville on holy days, some monks join the youth in playing soccer.

Anastasios

joasia · Post by **joasia** » Sat 11 December 2004 4:55 pm

That is not true. At Jordanville on holy days, some monks join the youth in playing soccer.

Well, I was thinking more about the monasteries of ancient past. I don't remember reading any writings of saints that talked about unwinding and playing soccer in the monastery courtyard.

I'd like to know if St. John Maximovich or Fr. Seraphim played any games. That would be a great insight as they lived during our lifetimes. If they played games as monks then I would accept the fact that monks are permitted to play games. But, until then, I will still believe that a true monk devouted his time to prayer and work and the games are more of a worldly and laity pass-time.

Anastasios · Post by **Anastasios** » Sat 11 December 2004 5:15 pm

Well, I was thinking more about the monasteries of ancient past. I don't remember reading any writings of saints that talked about unwinding and playing soccer in the monastery courtyard.

Right, but why would those writings talk about games? You have to look at a writing in its genre. A life of a saint is a retrospective work written after the person is deceased that shows how he followed God and overcame adversity to become a saint. The lives of the desert fathers focus on their stated purpose: providing examples of the saints doing wonderous works so that we will imitate them. Everyone relaxes sometimes, so it was unnecessary to include such mundane accounts. You notice that in the lives of the desert fathers, they talk about fasting a lot, but for the most part they don't mention what the monks did eat, because that was of no concern.

I think it's dangerous to imagine that early monks were somehow more pristine and pure than monks of our modern day. You could say that there was more fervor as monasticism was new at that time, but there were lazy monks back then too and I don't really see much difference in those early accounts than the highs and lows we notice nowadays at Jordanville and on Athos, etc.

Did Fr Seraphim or Archbishop John play games? I don't know, perhaps someone who knows them can provide the answer. But two things to recognize: 1) these two saints are extraordinary wonderworkers, and 2) again, people writing retrospective accounts of a saint's life (retrospective in the sense that when the saint dies, the hagiographer will focus on the events leading up to the saint's conversion experience and his successes afterwards, and not enumerating at length his faults, so as to present a picture of clear spiritual progress), will not include mundane details in the life of the saint that are not going to be profitable to the readership.

I recognize that you clearly said that you are not talking about laity per se and that you enjoy playing games, but all I am saying is that in my opinion it does not matter if monks or even saints had relaxing fun at times in their lives.

Anastasios

romiosini · Post by **romiosini** » Sat 11 December 2004 5:27 pm

Indeed, even in Monasteries. Many Gerontikons (Books of Monastic Elders or Eldresses) have parts say that an Abbot and his monks where found laughing as laymen do. (Meaning, with the more open feeling.) And the laymen pilgrim asked the Abbot why is he and his monk like that. And the abbot answered that if he and his monks didn't take a break from the extremity of ascetism they would be able to handle stronger battles of ascetism. (As I read, one has to exercise his spiritual muscles to be able to handle the battle against the Devil. Just as the physical muscles.)

George · Post by **George** » Sun 12 December 2004 3:39 pm

Romiosini,
I don't think there is anything wrong with playing games etc, though probably during fasts it would be appropriate to cut back on that sort of thing. There are many games that can bring families together, and I think it would be more appropriate and a better use of time, for a family to be playing a game together than to be sitting glassy eyed and drooling in front of a television screen.

In all things there must be balance, as Scripture says there is a time for everything. Of course you must use discretion with games, and I think probably most video games are inappropriate for Christians, but there are all kinds of good things out there. (Of course don't let games and playing get in the way of prayer time though!)

EHN · Post by **EHN** » Mon 13 December 2004 9:55 pm

romiosini,

I also had the same question as you as computer and video games are one of my favorite pastimes. The best thing to do is to ask your spiritual father. I would offer to tell you of what my spiritual father instructed me was ok and what was not but issues like these vary from person to person and only your spiritual father (and your parents) have the right to instruct you in such things. The only thing that doesn't vary is that the best course of action is to not play them at all.

In Christ,
Elijah