Here's one for the (nonexistent) Digital Ethics and Electronic Publications center: The Church of England is suing Sony for using the Manchester Cathedral as a backdrop for a shootout between humans and aliens. Isn't that just splendid?

As a theologian, I can somewhat understand their concerns. After all, the concept of the existence of aliens doesn't really mesh with most serious Christians' views of theology, though personally, I don't think I'd have a serious crisis of faith if life on other planets were discovered. If aliens exist, they're also part of God's creation.

In this case, the theology is far outweighed by every other part of me. For one thing, the Church will undoubtedly lose respect with the gaming generation. People who take offense at this sort of thing, especially so publically, are loathsome to me. If Christians went up in arms any time anything offended them, then we'd never even be able to speak to nonbelievers. The first time somebody said "Geez," for example, we'd be washing that poor person's mouth out with soap. I mean, look at what happened to Chuck Swindoll. I know God will work good out of this, but right now, I can only see the situation as harmful to the gospel.

Then there's the question of whether Sony actually did anything unethical in the first place. I'd argue not, and I certainly hope their lawyers both (a) agree with me and (b) win. The cathedral is a historic building. It would be like the U.S. Government suing Hollywood for blowing up the White House in the movie Independence Day, or the Department of Homeland Security retroactively arresting anyone who ever intentionally crashed a plane into the World Trade Center in a flight simulation game for an act of terrorism. The game is not telling people to go on a killing spree in yon local church. It is not even stating--at least, directly--that God does not exist. It is a game, a work of fiction. Although I would not deny that there is a subtle rhetoric to any story, Sony was well within its rights to use the building. It's not like it's a trademark violation.