Pokeyman

[Saved Worm]

Greetings everyone!
I'm a new user to this web site so please be patient with my ineptness in using it.

This morning one of my grandsons mentioned that he was spending a fair amount of time playing pokeyman. He spoke of charms and characters that can't be killed etc. I was a little surprised at this because, generally my daughter and son-in-law are quite careful about the spiritual flavor of the things in which they encourage their children to engage.

I don't know very much about Pokeyman, but somewhere in the back of my mind I remember seeing some credible discussion on the idea that it would tend to lead folks away from the Lord Jesus Christ as savior rather than towards him. I tried searching Christian Forums regarding Pokeyman but was unable to find much (perhaps because I am not doing a very efficient search) except for one very short, snide comment against those who were opposed to Pokeyman. The one posting this comment didn't really give any substantive justification as to why he/she felt this way. I would be interested to consider supported arguments as to why Pokeyman is or is not a good thing.

 

[Dagna]

I don't consider Pokemon to be "evil" or "against God". It can become an obsession, just as anything can, but this is generally with people who have some issues to begin with. It is simply a card game, where kids collect the different cards, play against each other, etc etc. I don't see anything wrong with it, unless it becomes the "only" thing that people are doing. If a kid wants to play Pokemon one afternoon with friends, I don't see how that could be wrong.

 

[Lifesaver]

Pokemon ("pokeymon") started as a videogame, where the player had to walk around and catch little monsters and then set up fights with the monsters other players had catched.
These monsters are referred to as pokemons.

This game was a huge success, and soon there were many sequels, trading cards (cards used in a game, not any kind of mystical ritual) and all sorts of merchandizing.

Now, are they bad or evil per se? No. I think even kids can tell reality from the fictional monsters that they play with. The game itself doesn't, as far as I know, promote any anti-christian message. The fights are lawful competitions, all the depicted violence is cartoonish (not realistic), and no human being is ever under the threat of real harm.

However, some kids have fallen to what I can only describe as an addiction to pokemon. Their parents have allowed them to acquire unreasonable amounts of merchandising, spent incredible amounts of money to buy "rare cards" and the child has little or no interest to anything they can't relate to pokemon. This consumerist craze is indeed very harmful, and if such is the case with your grandsons, you might consider restricting their access to games and encourage other activities.

Anyway, it all depends on your judgement of how far is too far. But as a general rule, I guarantee you that pokemon does not constitute a real harm to your grandchidlren's mind nor to their faith.

 

[Uriah]

This "Pokemon" doesn't sound evil or is evil
It is just to expand the kid's mind or imagination to a different world where they can dream of it and live it.
If it becomes there "life" then it might be condsider evil
Because god is our life

 

[Saved Worm]

I don't consider Pokemon to be "evil" or "against God". It can become an obsession, just as anything can, but this is generally with people who have some issues to begin with. It is simply a card game, where kids collect the different cards, play against each other, etc etc. I don't see anything wrong with it, unless it becomes the "only" thing that people are doing. If a kid wants to play Pokemon one afternoon with friends, I don't see how that could be wrong.

Dear Dagna,

Thankyou for responding to my question regarding the Pokemon games. Thanks, also, for correcting my spelling! Now I understand why I turned up so little when I searched for "pokeyman"! :- )

One thing about your answer caught my attention. If I understand the headings associated with your user name, it looks like you are categorizing yourself as "heathen." I would assume that this means that you do not believe the doctrines of Christianity as embraced by those who run this web-site which, I understand, is acceptable as far as participation being allowed under the rules established for the web-site. I would also assume that you may not believe in the God of the Bible as understood by those who operate this web site. If this is the case, then I was curious what you meant in your comments that you didn't see that there was anything "wrong" with pokeymon. Do you believe in "right" vs. "wrong" in the absolute sense? If so, upon what standard is it based and who sets that standard? As a Christian I believe that the question of "right" vs. "wrong" is based upon the decrees of the one true absolute God who is the creator of Heaven and Earth and everything that exists. In this context, what is displeasing to Him is "wrong" and what is "pleasing to Him is "right." That which would lead us toward a recognition of our own sinfulness and an understanding of our total dependence upon the power of God for salvation would be "right" That which would tend to blur our understanding of this issue would be "wrong" Is this the sense in which you understand "rightness" or "wrongness?" Perhaps another question would make sense. Would you think that the pokemon game would encourage or discourage folks from looking to the Lord Jesus Christ for His power to save them from sin?

Again thanks for your reply. I look forward to additional comments from you. I also would be interested in comments (for or against) pokemon from anyone out there whose main aim in life is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ with all of their being.

Thanks again.

 

[gaijin178]

Saved worm....interesting name by the way. Pokemon comes from Japan and has been around for almost ten years. I used to live in Japan and it was pretty popular there. I was surprised that after the fad died out in Japan, it became popular here. The name is Japanglish for Pocket Monsters, pronounced like pokei mon...like in "yeah mon." if you were from Jamaica. Ok, that sounds stupid but if it helps...there ya go.

First of all, you posted this thread in a non-christian forum so there are a lot of "non-christians" here that post and discuss. Describing someone as heathen who has marked other-religion for their icon I don't think is a good idea. I don't think that I am alone on this.

Well, there have been topics on this on other threads on this forum so you might be able to run a search and find out more there. I have never played the game even though it has been around since 1995 but know that the kids like it. It is true as some have said that anything that becomes addictive isn't a good thing in ones life. I found some online Christian radio program talking about pokemon in a two part series that said that it was from Satan. Well, I don't know if I agree with this at all. You may question where I am coming from but I did spend more than 20 years as a Christian so I am trying to give you a response based on what I know from that time in my life. I do feel that the game is innocent and not anti-christian. I collected baseball cards and some kids today collect cards with cute little characters on them. I guess that you have to look at them and decide for yourself. If the kids are playing the cards while sitting in the pews at church and it is a distraction, then you might decide to limit their play. If you have any questions, I will do my best to give you answers.

In peace.

 

[Saved Worm]

Dear Gaijin178,

The title of "heathen" is not a title that I ascribed to Dagna but, rather, one that she ascribed to herself -- at least that's what I thought. The name "heathen" appeared under the symbols at the right hand top portion of her reply just as the word "seeker" appears on your reply. My understanding is that this is a description that the person chooses for themselves and so all I was trying to do was ask questions about the implications of what she had called herself.

Thanks for your comments.

 

[gaijin178]

Dear Gaijin178,

The title of "heathen" is not a title that I ascribed to Dagna but, rather, one that she ascribed to herself -- at least that's what I thought. The name "heathen" appeared under the symbols at the right hand top portion of her reply just as the word "seeker" appears on your reply. My understanding is that this is a description that the person chooses for themselves and so all I was trying to do was ask questions about the implications of what she had called herself.

Thanks for your comments.

Fair enough, I don't speak for what she meant by heathen, but I think that it was satyrical in nature. Anyhow, I hope that you take my comments seriously even though I am a "non-christian"

in peace.

 

[ObbiQuiet]

Pokeyman destroyed my family. It's worse than alcohol.

 

[Saved Worm]

Proverbs 14:9

 

[igloo]

Sorry to hear that ObbiQuit or whatever the hell your name is. Pokemon are the best lets buy them all. GOTTA CATCH THEM ALL. POKEMON!!

Well the pathetic thing is that pokemon arent even bought anymore.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

Pokemon was very popular four or five years ago with the kids. I played it, I remember, in 8th grade. I don't play it any more just because the fad died down and I tired of the game. It was pretty fun. It doesn't necessarily lead to anything patently "non-christian," although I have a friend who became a little more than obsessed with it. I don't blame him, it was a good game. I trust that your children are level-headed and can tell fact from fiction. There's nothing huge to be worried about.

 

[Arikay]

The only thing bad about Pokemon is that it has a nice hidden marketing strategy, the "gotta catch them all" idea.

Besides that, there isn't much bad about it compared to any other game. Your Pokemon (the characters you collect to battle with) never die, when they lose a battle they are just knocked unconcious. The pokemon "evolve" basically grow into a more powerful form, through experience or through special stones. You walk around catching wild ones and battling other trainers to get into a competition. At least thats what I remember from the game.
Nothing all too bad, as long as they dont get addicted to it.

 

[Invader Pichu]

Anyone who thinks Pokemon is evil and influences kids to do the acts of the devil needs to be kicked in the head. [/2 cents]

 

[ObbiQuiet]

Anyone who thinks Pokemon is evil and influences kids to do the acts of the devil needs to be kicked in the head. [/2 cents]

You have such a poetic way of putting it.

 

[Dagna]

Dear Dagna,

Thankyou for responding to my question regarding the Pokemon games. Thanks, also, for correcting my spelling! Now I understand why I turned up so little when I searched for "pokeyman"! :- )

One thing about your answer caught my attention. If I understand the headings associated with your user name, it looks like you are categorizing yourself as "heathen." I would assume that this means that you do not believe the doctrines of Christianity as embraced by those who run this web-site which, I understand, is acceptable as far as participation being allowed under the rules established for the web-site. I would also assume that you may not believe in the God of the Bible as understood by those who operate this web site. If this is the case, then I was curious what you meant in your comments that you didn't see that there was anything "wrong" with pokeymon. Do you believe in "right" vs. "wrong" in the absolute sense? If so, upon what standard is it based and who sets that standard? As a Christian I believe that the question of "right" vs. "wrong" is based upon the decrees of the one true absolute God who is the creator of Heaven and Earth and everything that exists. In this context, what is displeasing to Him is "wrong" and what is "pleasing to Him is "right." That which would lead us toward a recognition of our own sinfulness and an understanding of our total dependence upon the power of God for salvation would be "right" That which would tend to blur our understanding of this issue would be "wrong" Is this the sense in which you understand "rightness" or "wrongness?" Perhaps another question would make sense. Would you think that the pokemon game would encourage or discourage folks from looking to the Lord Jesus Christ for His power to save them from sin?

Again thanks for your reply. I look forward to additional comments from you. I also would be interested in comments (for or against) pokemon from anyone out there whose main aim in life is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ with all of their being.

Thanks again.

Yes, i do categorize myself as a Heathen. Meaning that I am actually an Asatruar and follow the beliefs of my ancestors from Northern Europe. Put simply, I believe in Odin, Loki, Thor etc. Most people look at me strangley when they find out, so I very rarely bring it up. Asatru has very similar values to Christianity surprisingly enough. We believe strongly in honor, faith, we do not rely on our Gods to do things for us, but we do honor them and occasionally ask for assitance or guidance, and we hold family in a very high regard. (Please note, this is most of us, some people hold different beliefs, but this is the basic explanation) That being said, I consider things "right" and "wrong" on the basis of 1. do my actions harm anyone, including myself, physically, emotionally or mentally 2. do my actions cause me to withdraw from this life and reality

I consider anything that would cause us to shirk our responsibilities in this life, to our family, friends and ourselves to be wrong. So, hope that gives a little better insight into my reasoning. Sorry if I totally butchered my explanation and it makes no sense.


Edited to answer this question:
Would you think that the pokemon game would encourage or discourage folks from looking to the Lord Jesus Christ for His power to save them from sin?

From my perspective, I can't see how Pokemon would either encourage or discourage either way. However, if one becomes too involved in the game, I could see how it could detract from their worship/honoring of God and Jesus.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

Obbi - don't bite the newbies!

 

[Heathen Dawn]

A female Asatruar? I thought those didn’t exist! Wow!

 

[Dagna]

LOL...they do exist, but not terribly common it seems like. I belong to a few Asatru groups and organizations and it seems to be very male dominated. Maybe has something to do with the history of rape and pillaging hehe

 

[Miss Shelby]

Greetings everyone!
I don't know very much about Pokeyman, but somewhere in the back of my mind I remember seeing some credible discussion on the idea that it would tend to lead folks away from the Lord Jesus Christ as savior rather than towards him. .

Greetings Worm,

When I originally viewed your OP, I was going to refrain from posting because it was evident that you are addressing a nonChristian viewpoint. Why I am not sure, but...here nor there. However, I have since changed my mind since I enjoy expressing my opinion, and well...it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind.

No. Pokemon does not lead folks away from the Lord Jesus Christ. I will tell you in my (not so) humble opinion what does. Hypocrisy in Christian behavior. What Christian children need in their home, first and foremost, is a strong consistent Christian example put forth from the parents. Some Christians think that because the television program Pokemon includes forces of the supernatural that do not claim to come from Jesus that the show is wicked. I disagree. The basic premise of it is good triumphing over evil, and you can't get more Christian than that.

When Christians (and I am not saying you personally, I am generalizing) focus on television shows as having some inherent potential in harming their children without first focusing on displaying a Christian attitude, to me it seems as though they are straining a gnat to swallow a camel. Just my opinion, though.

Michelle