Faith and Compromise: Halo in Religon

First the percussive sounds of sniper fire and the thrill of the kill. Then the gospel of peace.

Across the country, hundreds of ministers and pastors desperate to reach young congregants have drawn concern and criticism through their use of an unusual recruiting tool: the immersive and violent video game "Halo."

The latest iteration of the immensely popular space epic, "Halo 3," was released nearly two weeks ago by Microsoft and has already passed $300 million in sales.

Those buying it must be 17 years old, given it is rated M for mature audiences. But that has not prevented leaders at churches and youth centers across Protestant denominations, including evangelical churches that have cautioned against violent entertainment, from holding heavily attended "Halo" nights and stocking their centers with multiple game consoles so dozens of teenagers can flock around big-screen televisions and shoot it out.

Church leaders who support "Halo" --- despite its "thou shalt kill" credo --- say it has become crucial to evangelistic efforts to reach their most elusive audience, boys and young men, on their home turf.

Witness the basement on a recent Sunday at the Colorado Community Church in the Englewood area of Denver, where Tim Foster, 12, and Chris Graham, 14, sat in front of three TVs, locked in violent virtual combat as they navigated on-screen characters through lethal gun bursts. Tim explained the game's allure: "It's just fun blowing people up."

Once they come for the games, Gregg Barbour, the youth minister of the church said, they will stay for his Christian message.

Focus on the Family, a large evangelical organization, said it was trying to balance the game's violent nature with its popularity and the fact that churches are using it anyway.

"Internally, we're still trying to figure out what is our official view on it," said Lisa Anderson, a spokeswoman for the group.

The first "Halo" and "Halo 2" sold nearly 15 million copies combined. Microsoft says that "Halo 3" is "on track to become the No. 1 gaming title of all time."

Hundreds of churches use "Halo" games to connect with young people, said Lane Palmer, the youth ministry specialist at the Dare 2 Share Ministry, a nonprofit organization in Arvada, Colo., that helps churches on youth issues.

"It's very pervasive," Palmer said, more widespread on the coasts, less so in the South, where the Southern Baptist denomination takes a more cautious approach. The organization recently sent e-mail messages to 50,000 young people about how to share their faith using "Halo 3." Among the tips: Use the game's themes as the basis for a discussion about good and evil.

At Sweetwater Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, Austin Brown, 16, said, "We play 'Halo,'