Anime is Wrong?

Paladin21 · May 12, 2005

Not sure on this guys was wondering if you could clear some stuff up. Not trying to Holier then thou but I have my worries sometimes.

When you have direct references to demons ect. (Inu and shows like Inu) it almost makes things a little worried I guess. I mean I look at FMA (Full Metal) and look at the signs and drawings ect they make and im just kinda like hmmmm?

Lucent · May 12, 2005

I wouldn't worry too much. Yeah some stuff, from a Christian stadpoint, you probably should stay away from (Ninja Ressurection comes to mind). Most of it isn't that bad.

Inu Yasha for instance. What we see as demons is not usually the same thing a Japanese person thinks of when they think of demons. The same thing as when they say 'god'. It could mean nearly anything.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that some things are lost in translation, but alot of times stuff gets picked up that changes the original intent.

Your best judgement is the best thing here. Don't get hung up on the words.

Kekkaku Ryuu · May 12, 2005

Don't worry about it. Anime isn't wrong. Keep on enjoying it, unless you change your religion because of it. You can still enjoy anime.

WintarNaht · May 12, 2005

Lucent said:
Your best judgement is the best thing here.

Aya-kun · May 12, 2005

Paladin21 said:
Not sure on this guys was wondering if you could clear some stuff up. Not trying to Holier then thou but I have my worries sometimes.

When you have direct references to demons ect. (Inu and shows like Inu) it almost makes things a little worried I guess. I mean I look at FMA (Full Metal) and look at the signs and drawings ect they make and im just kinda like hmmmm?

Okay, let me get some things straight about anime. In shows like Inu Yasha and Saiyuki, they have "demons". However, that's only a poor English translation. What Sesshoumaru and etc. actually are are YOUKAI. Youkai is a Japanese mythical creature, one that cannot be easily translated into English. Because of this difficulty, they are translated as "demons", even though they are really not.
And half-demons are actually "hanyou". han meaning "half" and you for "youkai". Nothing to do with demons at all ^^

Anime has some components in it which may be bad, but you can't say the whole thing is bad just because of a few shows ^^. There's a lot of good ones, too. Just as long as they stay away from religion, anyway.

white knight · May 13, 2005

i belive that is is all in how you take it. b/c you can take anything to be wrong

Abbadon · May 13, 2005

There's really nothing wrong with Anime. Most of those references to demons are either mistranslated (as has been said earlier). Those that weren't, sometimes head towards the original meaning for demon. The Greek word daemon just means "spirit" and has been used (even in the writtings of Paul) to mean what we translate as angel. Angel means "messenger", so demon would actually be a better description of heavenly beings that we call angels who don't deliever (say, guardian angels). As for symbols, it's probably Shinto or Buddhist (neither of which is demonic, except Shinto if you go with the original sense of the word demon). Aside from that, I initially was worried about things like pentagrams, but then I made it a point to find out a symbol's meanings before I pass judgement on it. For example, the pentagram was used by medieval Christians to represent the five wounds of Christ. Wiccan's use it to represent the four elements and spirit (which would be applicable for any religion that believes in a Creator). The relation with the pentagram and Satanism was actually made up about one hundred years ago by some people that didn't know what they were talking about. Try finding out what symbols mean (don't go with just the anime, either).

Fly · May 14, 2005

Abbadon said:
For example, the pentagram was used by medieval Christians to represent the five wounds of Christ. Wiccan's use it to represent the four elements and spirit (which would be applicable for any religion that believes in a Creator). The relation with the pentagram and Satanism was actually made up about one hundred years ago by some people that didn't know what they were talking about. Try finding out what symbols mean (don't go with just the anime, either).

Excactly was, now its not we'er in now not medieval times.

Abbadon · May 16, 2005

Fly said:
Excactly was, now its not we'er in now not medieval times.

Fine. The Cross was used by medieval Christians, does that disqualify it as a religious symbol? The Bible was used by Christians in the first and second centuries, does that disqualify it as a religious text? The idea that the pentagram is actually fairly recent.

JoyfulSongs · May 16, 2005

Paladin,

The answer to your "is anime wrong" question is no. Anime is not wrong. But I would also say that TV is not wrong, books are not wrong, and the Internet is not wrong.

But I would definitely agree that some of the specific shows are wrong. You mentioned FMA. I've only seen the commercials for it, but I would say that it crosses the line.

Anime is like anything else--you have to pick the best and leave the rest. Part of it depends on your personality. Some things affect certain people differently than others. If you see something and are thinking, "This is edgy, should I be watching this?", then you probably shouldn't. Be sensitive to the Lord's protection. Some of the shows could harden your heart or mar your testimony.

Here's a challenge: As Christians, we are called to be extremely picky! Just look at the high standard of Phil 4:8. There is another verse, I can't remember the reference or exact quote, that basically says "don't even speak of what the wicked do in secret." Grrr... I wish I could find it.

Anyway... *gets off soapbox*

Fly · May 16, 2005

Abbadon said:
Fine. The Cross was used by medieval Christians, does that disqualify it as a religious symbol? The Bible was used by Christians in the first and second centuries, does that disqualify it as a religious text? The idea that the pentagram is actually fairly recent.

Was and still is so no...

Set_Apart19 · May 16, 2005

I have seen a few Animes in my day and do not see anything wrong with them. Trust your heart and let God lead you.

rebel_conservative · May 16, 2005

I would have thought that the primary indictment of anime is the sexualisation and misrepresentation of women

JoyfulSongs · May 16, 2005

rebel_conservative said:
I would have thought that the primary indictment of anime is the sexualisation and misrepresentation of women

I would definitely agree with that. Drawing style is one thing, but fan service and overdrawing is another.

Abbadon · May 17, 2005

Fly said:
Was and still is so no...

But why the change? Just for cultural reasons. So if a thousand years from now the cross is considered satanic, what then? According to what you're saying, that's just fine.

Kamtre · May 18, 2005

well, i love anime, but i do admit it does have flaws.. it is contraversial among christians, but most who disagree with it have just taken up the stereotypical opinions, and have never watched a full season.. much of anime has violence and hentai, but that's not why non-perverted people watch them.. I watch animes because of the provocative endings and awesome storylines bursting with different emotions.. I love animes in general as much as a really good novel.

Xaddiline · May 21, 2005

Anime is fine, just as long as you know It's a cartoon and isn't real.

Alive again · May 21, 2005

You know,as a 45 year old mother with a son who is into anime/computer animation. I really think it's an issue of sorting out what God is asking of you, and your responses to the flaws. Be honest with yourselves and be in prayer. God will lead you. It drew my son into hentai. Not a good response or choice. Be realisitic and informed about the theology presented, so you will not be confused. Ask God for wisdom and make wise choices and enjoy yourselves. Can you look at hentai. Nope clearly not God's will. can you enjoy anime? Be open to God's guiding and honest about your responses to the violence. sexual imagery/themes and theology. See where God takes you. Ultimately you will find human opinion on both sides of the fence. God's opinion is what matters. Can you enjoy everything in the world and justify it. Nope! But you need to seek a multitude of wise counselors (Psalms and Proverbs) which is part of what you are doing here and be open to God's direction in your life. We as man are pretty capable of justifying a lot of things so also be aware and honest about that. Then seek God!!!

heaven_eyes · May 24, 2005

well, i think it depends on how you feel about them. the fact that you feel that theyre wrong probably means that you should stay away from them. but, for some, all they are is images, and there are demons in the world. i guess if you can handle enjoying teh comics without reading too much into the dark side of it-stuff like battle royale, for instance-then theres no reason for you to stop reading. it depends on what Goid is telling you as an individual to do.

bobbichan · May 24, 2005

rebel_conservative said:
I would have thought that the primary indictment of anime is the sexualisation and misrepresentation of women

I have to disagree there. It seems like this is a generalized statement. As for me, I have watched countless anime series. However I mainly stick to Shoujo (girl's anime), and I watch primarily fansubs before they are licensed because the translators tend to get the cultural references a lot better than the dumbed down american ones. At any rate, there are many roles that women (and girls) take in anime. Many times, women and girls are drawn more realisticly (besides the stereotypical style of larger eyes, and longer legs, which also applies to some male characters too). And they also take on roles which are not sexual at all. For example, Ranma 1/2, Kimigure Orange Road, Card Captor Sakura, Tiny Snow Fairy Sugar, I could go on and on. There are teenage girls or adult women who are represented in a traditional japanese manner (in the case of the earlier series I mentioned) and also girls and women who take on heroine roles, with no sexuality presented.

Furthermore, it's very important to look at the cultural differences between western america and eastern Japan. While there is a large Christian population in that country, Christian ideas and concepts are not widely understood, as much as say, buddisim which is the primary religion there. For example, the big thing for Japanese to do on Christmas is to eat at Kentucky Fried Chicken because Christmas is considered an "American" holiday by the Japanese. In the United States, we press many Christian values upon everyone, while in Japan people are taught to be extremely polite and honorable (Taken from the Buddist religion mainly). Also, an important sidenote, the age of consent in Japan is 14 unlike 18 here. So you do see younger characters involved in more adult situtaions. That is just part of their culture. So many anime series are not openly denouncing Christianity, it's just that Christian themes are not widely understood there.

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