Religion in Dustborn

[Xacova]

I have played this game and found the religious aspects to be incorrect, in a few cases like Sai, dress codes, beliefs, and the constant seeming mockery of Theo and his Christian beliefs, i know there is also Mormons in game, but how do people think they translate into real life portrayal.

And is the game religious concepts supposed to be different to that of Muslim, Christian ,Mormon, Pagan , if you have any in-game footage that displays something like it feel free to post examples , or talk about aspects you came across in-game to any of the followings or questions for that matter.

[Unknown Samurai]

There is something I noticed during my playthrough, I may not be the most observant person. But Sai's portrayal of Muslim beliefs is incredibly flawed.
Everything from not wearing a hijab around theo, to still saying the word 'god' instead of 'allah'.

This could be hand waved away by saying: "Well samurai, you see, she isn't a very devout muslim, and chooses not to take things too seriously."
I would argue in response, then why bother at all? Why bother with even praying? She clearly doesn't like waking up early in the morning to pray (As seen at the end of Chapter 2, if the player talks with Sai.) Why bother with not eating pork? She clearly loves the idea of eating pork, so why not let her? Don't even get me started on ramadan. Just with a glance, something about Sai tells me she doesn't partake in fasting every year.
Oh almost forgot. Why even bother asking if something is halal (end of Chapter 1), if she's just going to go to a fast food diner and order without even considering that a cheeseburger isn't halal (start of chapter 4)

As for the whole ordering bacon aspect. I think this video speaks for itself.
https://youtu.be/CC83sKFiiNI?si=C8I5JKgR2VHHN4jW

Once again, (That's right, I know about last time.)
Bacon by proxy is NOT fine. At all! Saying that you want eat it through others is also NOT ok.
This is a horrible thing to do, especially for your friends, this is not a joke. Which again begs the question, why does Sai even take her faith even remotely seriously?

and again, if you don't believe me, a simple google search can give you all the answers you need, but here's some quick references I found.

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/245688/it-is-not-permissible-to-buy-pork-and-feed-it-to-non-muslims
https://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-the-scholar/food-slaughter/revert-muslims-can-we-prepare-pork-for-non-muslim-family/
https://www.reddit.com/r/islam/comments/nhvn3j/would_muslims_buy_pork_for_someone_else/#:~:text=From%20an%20Islamic%20standpoint%2C%20no,buy%20it%20for%20them%20either.

For anyone concerned as to why "Some rando" is obsessed with this topic, its because I actually have a background with this, I grew up with muslim parents. I love to see it represented in video games. I really don't like when it's misrepresented in media. Which is this case here.

While I can't exactly speak for the other religions portrayed in the game, I'm sure someone else can fill in the blanks

[Xacova]

i would like mention that we are also forced into bullying Theo, who is a Catholic Mexican, while he is having the minor crisis of belief scene , strangely you are not allowed to mess with or bully Sai while she engages in Muslim prayer.

And then there is the pastey white skin comments that Jesus was too white, or something just courting controversy for no reason, and i don't think it just there as padding or distraction.

[seir_]

It's insane how something so toxic can be tax funded.

[Black_Fox]

Originally posted by seir_:

It's insane how something so toxic can be tax funded.

Nah, muslims are a protected group here in Europe, and I base that on the current political situation (Examples available if requested)
Wouldn't be surprised if that representation got them the money in the first place

[myzeplin]

1. You can't decide what is proper in someone's belief. Religion is personal after all.

2. Mormons are Christians. Not every Christian denomination agrees with that. However Mormons get to call themselves Christians and there is nothing Catholics can do about it.

3. Sai gets practice Islam in anyway she wants. And there is nothing you can do about it.

[Houseman]

If this game was just "artists making the art they wanted to make" they probably would have made more accurate representations of Muslims.

But since it's just a bunch of people paying lip service to the idea of diversity, they put in the minimum amount of effort.

People who claim to be progressive should be offended by this. They should want REAL diversity and REAL representation. The best way to get that is to let artists make the art that they want to make.

Do we have a deal, progressives?

[myzeplin]

Originally posted by Houseman:

If this game was just "artists making the art they wanted to make" they probably would have made more accurate representations of Muslims.

But since it's just a bunch of people paying lip service to the idea of diversity, they put in the minimum amount of effort.

People who claim to be progressive should be offended by this. They should want REAL diversity and REAL representation. The best way to get that is to let artists make the art that they want to make.

Do we have a deal, progressives?

The only people offended by this seem to be conservatives. Progressives don't really don't care about religion. Religion is a conservative ideal after all.

[Houseman]

Originally posted by myzeplin:

The only people offended by this seem to be conservatives. Progressives don't really don't care about religion. Religion is a conservative ideal after all.

I guess conservatives care more about diversity than progressives do

[Red Thread Games]

The Dustborn development team included people from across the world who were Christian, Muslim, along with individuals with Jewish (and Israeli) family members. We are always mindful and respectful of other people's beliefs and traditions, and we had discussions about all potentially "controversial" dialogue lines and scenes in the game.

The reference above to the "white" Jesus comes from an exchange between some of the crew members after they encounter a giant statue of a very blond and very pale Jesus Christ inside a shopping mall:

ELI: "He's a GOOD LOOKING man."
ZIGGY: "I don't think the REAL Jesus was this PARTICULAR shade of pasty white."
ELI: "Probably not. But do you think he was this BIG?"

We don't believe this banter between two NPCs is disrespectful of any person or religious belief.

[myzeplin]

Originally posted by Houseman:

Originally posted by myzeplin:

The only people offended by this seem to be conservatives. Progressives don't really don't care about religion. Religion is a conservative ideal after all.

I guess conservatives care more about diversity than progressives do

Yes, conservatives do care about diversity more because it offends them. It offends you Sai isn't meeting your expectation of a Muslim. Why? That is your problem.

Progressives just don't care that you are offended.

[ChubbiChibbai]

Some people just want to act like they are offended by anything that challenges their point of view.

Others just enjoy experiencing stories that explore themes and topics that expand or challenge our points of view.

And then Americans constantly try and make literally everything political and divisive. Which is funny considering the entire backdrop of this game.

[Black_Fox]

Originally posted by ChubbiChibbai:

Some people just want to act like they are offended by anything that challenges their point of view.

Others just enjoy experiencing stories that explore themes and topics that expand or challenge our points of view.

And then Americans constantly try and make literally everything political and divisive. Which is funny considering the entire backdrop of this game.

Others are just tired of hearing the same lesson over and over again despite reallity painting the opposite picture
(Europe south of Norway)

[Unknown Samurai]

Originally posted by Red Thread Games:

The Dustborn development team included people from across the world who were Christian, Muslim, along with individuals with Jewish (and Israeli) family members. We are always mindful and respectful of other people's beliefs and traditions, and we had discussions about all potentially "controversial" dialogue lines and scenes in the game.

The reference above to the "white" Jesus comes from an exchange between some of the crew members after they encounter a giant statue of a very blond and very pale Jesus Christ inside a shopping mall:

ELI: "He's a GOOD LOOKING man."
ZIGGY: "I don't think the REAL Jesus was this PARTICULAR shade of pasty white."
ELI: "Probably not. But do you think he was this BIG?"

We don't believe this banter between two NPCs is disrespectful of any person or religious belief.

I really appreciate your openness and willingness to discuss this topic, I respect that.

The reference for 'White Jesus' isn't when the crew first meet him. It's Ziggy's comment after during the dinner that most people would have an issue with. Claiming that 'White Jesus' was a colonizer.

https://youtu.be/wYqGWXxltY4

Now, I know Ziggy already has made her beliefs known by this point. So I don't really have an issue with this. But I can see why people who do have a Christian background would find this comment... insulting.

[Unknown Samurai]

Originally posted by myzeplin:

1. You can't decide what is proper in someone's belief. Religion is personal after all.

2. Mormons are Christians. Not every Christian denomination agrees with that. However Mormons get to call themselves Christians and there is nothing Catholics can do about it.

3. Sai gets practice Islam in anyway she wants. And there is nothing you can do about it.

I would like you to please check that clip.
The main overarching thing that breaks this logic, is Sai's willingness to want to eat pork through other and even orders bacon for Theo.
Disregarding everything else. This is extremely bad for anyone who even remotely believes in Islam. Regardless of everything else. This is the one thing you DO not do.

Again, if she likes bacon so much, just eat it then. At this point there's nothing stopping her.

[Houseman]

Originally posted by Red Thread Games:

The Dustborn development team included people from across the world who were Christian, Muslim, along with individuals with Jewish (and Israeli) family members. We are always mindful and respectful of other people's beliefs and traditions, and we had discussions about all potentially "controversial" dialogue lines and scenes in the game.

The reference above to the "white" Jesus comes from an exchange between some of the crew members after they encounter a giant statue of a very blond and very pale Jesus Christ inside a shopping mall:

ELI: "He's a GOOD LOOKING man."
ZIGGY: "I don't think the REAL Jesus was this PARTICULAR shade of pasty white."
ELI: "Probably not. But do you think he was this BIG?"

We don't believe this banter between two NPCs is disrespectful of any person or religious belief.

You ignored the fake Muslim Sai breaking the rules of the religion she's pretending to follow. And by that I mean your team misrepresenting the religion.

Originally posted by myzeplin:

It offends you Sai isn't meeting your expectation of a Muslim. Why? That is your problem.

Sai isn't a real person. It's the devs not knowing what they're doing.