Only a dishonest person could deny humanity’s universal obsession with the supernatural is one of our most prominent and universal characteristics.
It’s that time of year again, and millions are about to enter fantastical worlds for the first time. Bookworms, Movie buffs, and Gamers of all kinds will soon find new worlds to immerse themselves in as presents under their tree or in their inbox, allowing them to explore worlds both familiar and fantastical.
Who doesn’t love a world in which heroes and villains are clearcut, and magical beings beyond description walk among mortals?
Humanity has always been fascinated by the supernatural, and we have been creating stories about it for thousands of years. The Epic of Gilgamesh (2100 BC) and Iliad (800 BC) are some of the most well-known early works of fantasy.
And yet the question remains, Why are we as a species so fascinated by the supernatural?
A desire to understand and explore the supernatural is an obsession that has stayed with humanity since our creation for one very good reason: mankind was created to have fellowship with its creator, and this desire has caused mankind to constantly seek to know more about the unknowable in an effort to understand it better.
Dragons, demons, angels, gods, demigods, and eternal life make for amazing stories, and yet, beyond fiction, the truth is even more captivating.
Christmas is when we should focus on its true meaning, which goes beyond the amazing food we eat, the family we love, and the gifts we give and receive; rather, we should consider the reason for the season.
God, in his perfection, saw humanity at our lowest, and instead of turning his head away, he gave of himself the greatest gift possible; he gave his Son, not just to walk among us, but to die for us; that is one heck of a story, and one that any true lover of stories should appreciate.
And yet, this is more than a story, a good tale to read by the fire or an epic game to play; this is the defining moment of mankind’s existence.
God became a man to save us from ourselves, an epic and profound truth that even the greatest writers in history could not have come close to capturing in all its majesty and meaning.
I understand some of you may be saying that this is arrogant, and I fully get that; however, the truth is never arrogant as it is the truth; it is akin to saying statements such as “people need oxygen to survive” or “slavery is wrong” are “arrogant” because they are definitive statements that leave no room for other ideas and options.
Some things in fiction and fact are absolute and singular; the One Ring must be destroyed in the Fire of Mount Doom, anger leads to the Darkside, and most importantly, Jesus Christ is the only way to God.
This Christmas, while you enjoy the rich narratives available, whether in books, movies, or games, take a moment to consider why humanity has a core fixation with the supernatural.
If you open your heart and mind to where the journey leads, you will discover that it leads to God through his Son, Jesus Christ.
I wish everyone a happy Christmas, and I look forward to continuing to offer honest reviews and commentary on all genres of games in 2025 as we head toward our 8th anniversary!