Texas preacher tries -- and fails -- to scrub rant about video games giving men 'retarded spirit'

The pastor for an Arlington, Texas church tried to hide video of a sermon in which he blamed video games for dating problems within his congregation, the Friendly Atheist reported.

The Faith Christian Center had originally posted Pastor Gene Lingerfelt's remarks on its Vimeo account. But the video was taken down after the sermon began to attract attention online, as seen below.

There are young gals in this church. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful young gals, and you know why they can’t get a date? ‘Cause that retarded spirit got onto young men.

However, the Friendly Atheist posted a copy of the footage on YouTube, which shows Lingerfelt describe anyone over 18 playing video games as a "loser," and making the "L" gesture with his fingers.

"There are young gals in this church -- beautiful, beautiful, beautiful young gals," he says at one point. "You know why they can't get a date? 'Cause that retarded spirit got onto young men."

Despite the pastor's criticism, the Entertainment Software Review Board found that the average age of a gamer is 34, while the average video game buyer is 39 years old.

Watch Lingerfelt's remarks, as posted online, below.