straightforward said:
To the parents on this thread (because the teens might not want to hear it):
Just for information's sake, neither I, nor Karl - Liberal Backslider, alien002, Kelly, or icklepac are "teens."
I don't know about your experiences as teenagers but mine was one of doing what I wanted whether or not adults thought it was wrong. The more someone tried to tell me that what I was doing was (or might be) wrong the more I could come up with my own reasons why it was ok...mainly because I enjoyed it but also because I thought that I was close enough to adult to make my own decisions. I think it is a freedom issue.
I was allowed to have a "Magic 8-Ball" growing up. I also currently enjoy playing role-playing and other fantasy and magic themed games, and I
still have not converted to the black/dark arts. Then again, you may say that that is just me. But you cannot ignore all the other Christians here that play fantasy and magic themed games, some who started at an early age. We are good Christian people, and I hope that you are not intending to make us appear to be less than that, just because we play games that you do not like. That would be unfair.
I've heard some one say, "some people are so open minded that their brains fall out" I think teen-agers fit into this catagory more than they would like to admit. When I was a teenager there was no higher authority in my life than me...or so I thought. I think what the parents on this thread that are concerned about this card game/cartoon need right now is some balance in this decision and I don't think that will come from hearing why you might be "over-whatever" because you think there might be a problem with Yu-Gi-Oh. I think all of us parents know that the only way we can find balance on this issue is to take it to the Higher Authority we do know exists.
alien002 is a parent too. It could be interpreted that what you are saying is that if a person with children does not submit to your understanding of the morality of Yu-Gi-Oh!, that she is not the best parent, which of course, is not necessarily true.
If you are feeling your heart being called to a higher judgement call here...I would think there is probably good reason to check this game out and make a decision based on what the Lord says and not based on pressure from the culture, other kids, or your own kids. We put Him higher...even than any of these three or a card game.
I think that it is a good idea to investigate all things in which your children are involved, and not just the things about which you get a gut "feeling." And just because you get a bad "feeling" about something, does not necessarily mean that it is evil.
In the past I was involved in the occult...much of it starting with things that alot of people would say were harmless. I do see things in this game that are connected in someway or another to real occult practices. This is enough for me to say that I am not going to tell my kids that it is ok to pretend with.
Would you allow your children to pretend with "cowboys 'n' indians"?
When it comes to our Christian walk we know that if we are not moving forward we are sliding back. Why, then would we hand our kids something that is not going to take them higher and does have the potental for (even if slight) telling them that God's word (we are to avoid the occult) is ok to ignore if you are just playing a game.
Earlier you said that parents should follow any gut "feeling" that they may have about Yu-Gi-Oh!. But now, you bypass the research phase for them and directly declare that it is evil, as if to say that it's OK to research Yu-Gi-Oh!, as long as they come to your conclusion.
And I don't even want to hear the old "playing the card game war could be concidered the same" it is not...we are at war with alot of things in this spiritual life and that doesn't mean we are killing anybody and we are not using the occult to win but God. Monopoly could just as easily compared to wise money management...and that is not greed. All of these comparisons can be thrown out of the window when you consider that none of them have anything in them that go against Gods word...but Yu-Gi-Oh does.
"War" includes term associations such as intrigue, hegemony, occupation, violence, rape, plunder, murder/assassination, etc. According to your rubric, shouldn't a game with such associations not be allowed in your household? What if the game was called "Magic"? And the word "monopoly" is a term that defines what happens when a single corporation dominates an area of commerce by driving away or buying out other smaller business competitors, often using domineering, merciless, exploitative, and/or deceptive business practices. Would these term associations be better than the flavor text used in a game such as Yu-Gi-Oh! ?
I know alot of people won't agree with this post but considering most of the world doesn't agree with God on alot of things I really don't care.
It could be interpreted that what you are saying is that if someone does not agree with your post, she is against God. This may not be the motivation of your statement, but it is a touchy way to phrase your argument, especially with the nonchalant "I really don't care," just IMHO.
I think as parents we need to make decisions like this because we love our kids...not because we want to make them happy or help them to fit into this worlds culture.
This could be interpreted to say that if a person lets their children participate in Yu-Gi-Oh!, they love their children less than they should. This is probably not your intention, but this seems to me to be, again, a dangerous way in which to express your position.
If we are giving in to those things we are not teaching them about being a Christian. Christians don't have to fit in here. We are in this world but not part of it. We are a boat floating on the water...the water is the world...we float on it but if we take on to much water we are going to start to sink. So, as parents, aren't we going to try our hardest to make sure our kids are "water-proof"? Yes, we are taking a chance that our kids might rebel later...and some will rebel regardless of what we do...but we make our decisions based on what God says and then stand firm knowing that God is good and that we are showing our kids a prime example of Christianity. This is something that, after the rebellion, they will need for the rest of their lives. So, what is more important? Showing our kids how we can slip under the word of God and have more fun in this world or how we can live by and stand strong with Gods word and live fuller lives as He intends? I'll go with the second...Thanks!
Again, this could be interpreted to say that if a person lets their children play with Yu-Gi-Oh!, they are somehow less of a parent, and more of a "teen," that is not a good witness for God in their family life.
