Religious Inclusivity in Ts4
I want to address the issue of religious representation in The Sims 4, because the current approach is inconsistent and exclusionary in a way that goes against EA’s own stated values of diversity and inclusion.
To be clear from the start:
**I am not asking for ANY existing cultural or religiously-coded content to be removed.**
Representation of Muslim, Sikh, Jewish, and South Asian cultures ARE IMPORTANT and should stay.
The issue is that The Sims 4 includes culturally and religiously coded items for several minority religions, but provides **zero** way to express Christian cultures, practices, or symbols — even in the most subtle, unobtrusive ways.
Examples that already exist in the game include:
* hijabs
* turbans
* modest-wear collections
* candle-lighting traditions
* food and décor strongly associated with specific religious festivals
EA labels these as “cultural,” and that’s fine — but they **are** cultural expressions *intertwined with religion*.
There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s AMAZING.
The problem is that Christian cultures are denied this same courtesy.
Christian cultural identity cannot be expressed through clothing alone. It is expressed through:
* churches
* Mass or services
* clergy attire
* funerary traditions
* crosses or rosaries
* holiday practices
* Christian architectural styles
Yes I'm aware funerals, weddings and even Christmas is included in game, but theres no option at all for Christian cultural norms for these ceremonies, yet there are options for other religious cultures (again, I'm not trying to undermine these cultures I love that they're included i just think there should be more diversity and options for all religious cultures)
None of this appears in the game. Not even symbolic equivalents. Not even a simple rosary necklace.
So while other groups get meaningful representation, Christian cultures receive **no representation at all**, it's nearly impossible to even create an Irish family in game because Christian tradition and culture is such a big part of Ireland (catholic v protestant cultures like st Patricks day, Sunday mass, chapels or churches and the kids that help during services)
This is not equality — it is selective inclusion based on what is “safe” for marketing.
If EA can include items associated with Islam, Sikhism, Judaism, and Hindu culture — and rightfully call that diversity — then refusing even the smallest Christian cultural item is not neutrality.
It is an inconsistency, and it ends up excluding one of the world’s largest and most culturally varied groups.
**I am not asking for proselytizing, sermons, or heavy-handed religious mechanics.**
I am simply asking for the same level of cultural recognition that other groups already receive.
True diversity does not mean picking and choosing which cultures are acceptable to represent.
True inclusion does not mean excluding one group because the company fears backlash.
I want to see a Sims 4 where Christian players — of all denominations — can express their cultural identity in the same respectful, optional, and purely cosmetic ways that other groups already can.
That is equality.
That is representation.
And that is what real diversity looks like.
I know there are mods for these things however console players cannot access these, we cannot truly be representing all cultural differences coming together if cultural differences are intentionally being left out for fear of backlash. It's unethical and again, not what true diversity looks like.
