In a week or so, the new "Survivor" series will begin. Usually, they have at least one person on the show that claims to be a Christian. In fact, this is not something unique to survivor, many reality (game) shows seek a Christian contestant to throw in the mix. But this raises an interesting question for me: On a reality game show, like Survivor, is it okay for Christians to use lying and deceit as tools that might help them win the game? 1/27/08
Is It A Sin To Cheat?
In a week or so, the new "Survivor" series will begin. Usually, they have at least one person on the show that claims to be a Christian. In fact, this is not something unique to survivor, many reality (game) shows seek a Christian contestant to throw in the mix. But this raises an interesting question for me: On a reality game show, like Survivor, is it okay for Christians to use lying and deceit as tools that might help them win the game? 
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I haven't watched Survivor since the second season, but I had wondered the same thing then. The Christian contestant that season was a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend, so we followed it closely that season. I don't know if you remember, but he got smoke in his eyes, fell into the fire (if I remember correctly) and left the island for medical reasons.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is wrong to lie in a game provided that lying is an accepted part of the rules. I have played many Balderdash-type games where the whole point is to fool the other players.
Whatever the person chooses, I think she has an obligation to be upfront about it. If she says, "This is a game, and lying is part of the game, so I might lie to you about game-related things," then I think it is ethical. On the other hand, I don't think I could play that way. I tend to think I would have a better chance if I demostrated that I was not a schemer from the beginning.
rtj,
ReplyDeletedo you remember roger (kentucky joe) from that season? he was the shop teacher at my high school. anyways...
i think i agree a lot with you 2nd paragraph. i love balderdash and really, lying is the whole point of the game; it is embedded in the rules. now that i think about it, lying or deceit comes up in almost every game. in something like basketball you're trying to fake your opponent out; you make them think you're going one way (deceit) and you turn and go another. the same is true with soccer, hockey, football, etc. i guess there is always a little bit of trickery or deceit in gameplay, maybe that's just the nature of it. if everyone realizes that going on, i guess it's not a problem.
still, for shows like survivor, viewers, especially christian ones, tend to forget this. even non-christians come down on harshly on christians who "play" the game; other players even use it as a guilt-trip tool.
i probably side with you in that i don't think i'd lie too much on a game like survivor. with so many people watching around the world, i would be convicted that it would make christians look bad and perhaps hurt my ministry. in the end, perhaps trying to do it honestly and straight up is the best way to go.
Why should being a Christian make any difference? I don't watch those reality game shows but I know enough about them to understand that they bring out the ugliest side of human nature - lies, deception and unkindness. I don't have to be a Christian to know I'd never play.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, that's just my opinion.
Steph, interesting and strong thoughts. You're quite correct that in the majority of cases, these games bring out the ugliest in people. However, that is not ALWAYS the case. I think about the teacher from my high school, whom I mentioned above. He was a good Christian man. He made it to the top 5 without ever conniving or deceiving. In fact, when he could have done so to make it to the top three, he didn't. He gave up his position and the extra money to help a couple other players. This is just one instance where the best can be brought out. Moreover, this is the type of "best" that glorifies God when Christians do it.
ReplyDeleteI understand your reticence to play, Christian or not. Initially, I posed the question just because I had been pondering it. But when rtj engaged me, it got me thinking that in all games, trickery and deceit shows up; I guess that's just the nature of game play. We all want to be the opponent and sometimes we have to juke them, fake them out, trick them, etc. to win. I think I would do a show like Survivor or something like it if I had the chance. I think, though, that I'd try to play it straight, as I said, because there's too much riding on the line as far as my personal ministry goes.
It might be the nature of reality shows where they seem to get rid of other contestants (vote them off or whatever) - but pictionary? charades? scrabble?
ReplyDeleteSince the question specifically deals with reality game shows I will say it is most definately a sin to cheat. The only purpose for those games are to win money. Is it ok to lie and cheat at work to gain the upper hand and land a promotion? NO! There is no valid argument otherwise. Look at Ky. Joe and what the show and his upholding Christian ethics did for his witness; now just imagine if he had lied and cheated.
ReplyDeleteSteph, even in games like Scrabble, Pictionary, etc. one uses strategy, tries to trick their opponent, etc. That's just the nature of gameplay. I guess the whole reason I posed the question was because there seems to be a fine line between sports games, board games, etc. where one can use trickery but on reality shows, it is not acceptable when Christians do it. Jason's thoughts are similar to mine. I don't know if it's just because one is playing in front of millions of people but... I guess I could cite the example of Christian athletes. Every single one of them, football players, basketball players, etc. They all use trickery to beat their opponents. So, I don't know, the fine line is what throws me off. Why is it acceptable in some games and contexts but not others?
ReplyDeleteI don't agree - I suppose it depends on an individual's approach to the games I suggested. In scrabble, pictionary and charades, I've never felt the need to lie. And I still don't see the difference between being a Christian and not being one, as to whether it's wrong to lie even in a game. It's wrong (in my mind) for everyone. And I don't anticipate converting yet.
ReplyDeleteSteph, I can see you have some strong feelings on this; I'm not trying to convert you, however. You may be right that lying is wrong for everyone, Christian or not. The reason I was drawing a distinction is because people who watch Survivor do. My example was that the general public thinks it's okay for non-Christian contestants to lie on the show but when Christians do it, they are critiqued; that's where the distinction was. I was simply askign if it's fair for people to do this, given that the players are playing a game. I'm not sure that trickery, lying, etc. is wrong during a game, especially if it's not against the rules.
ReplyDeleteConvert me?! I didn't think you were. As far as reality game shows go, I've just got a bee in my bonnet. I think they're ugly, horrid things that bring out the worst in human nature and I won't play or watch it! As for the moral judgements of audiences, maybe its just that the distinction between Christian and non-Christian is more pronounced in the US. No discussion I've heard here about "Survivor" mentions the religious affiliation of particular contestants. It's just about who did what to whom and not whether or not they should.
ReplyDelete