Readers seeking a distraction may wish to indulge themselves with a brief foray into video gaming. Faith Fighter can be played online or downloaded to your PC or Mac. Keep your eyes peeled for the noodly one, and if you get your chosen prophet or God to the final stage a special opponent awaits.
Of course, others have found offense.
‘This game is going out of its way to upset people and I think it should be taken off the internet,’ said Douglas Miller, pastor of the Link Church in Birmingham.
‘Playing violent video games will ultimately affect your behaviour and this game is deeply offensive and provocative.’
A spokesman for the Federation of Muslim Organisations said: ‘In the current climate, this game can only create fear about religion. ‘Having images depicting Muhammad in this way is also very offensive to our faith.’
Brian Appleyard, former chairman of the Buddhist Society, called the game an ‘offensive futile project’.
The makers of the game, where a loincloth-clad Jesus battles against a fireball-shooting Muhammad, have shrugged off criticism.
A spokesman for Italian-based molleindustria said the purpose of the game was ‘to push gamers to reflect on how sacred representations are often used to fuel or justify conflicts between people’.
Via Mick Hartley.
