Mafia is a game that many people enjoy playing. Basically involving an assassin, townspeople and mafia (there are variations on this). It’s a game where the townspeople and assassin are on the same side, and are trying to get rid of the mafia, while the mafia are trying to either get rid of the assassin or all of the townspeople. This is done through a process of voting or just plain killing.
One of the key concepts of mafia is deception, and this is the issue that I have with the game. Although lying is not compulsory in mafia, it is often necessary and encouraged. Many people say that it is ok, because it is within the game, and people understand that it is going to happen.
However, the lying in mafia does cause real emotions. People who are lied to, do feel deceived, and this can lead to broken relationships (in part or whole), an effect of real world lying. So in love, can we justify playing this game?
Also, if we are saying that it is acceptable to lie in mafia, is it then ok to introduce sinful ideas to other games. Can we play drinking games to get drunk, and say that they are ok because the drunkenness is within the game? I would say a definite no to that question, and that is why for a number of years I have not played mafia, or any other games that tempt me to lie.
Is mafia a game of sin?
