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Apparently, every child who plays Pokemon is evil. Yes, that's right. We are all going to burn in hell. *Insert dramatic, pissed-off looking eye roll here.*

Please read.

Morality

Pokémon has been criticized by some Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Christian concerns over Pokémon have primarily addressed perceived occult and violent themes as well as the concept of "Pokémon evolution" (which some relate to the theory of evolution), which is said to go against the Biblical creation account in Genesis, which the majority of Japanese, not adhering to Christianity, do not believe in. The Vatican, however, has countered that the Pokémon trading card game and video games are "full of inventive imagination" and have no "harmful moral side effects". In the United Kingdom, the "Christian Power Cards" game was introduced in 1999 by David Tate who stated, "Some people aren't happy with Pokémon and want an alternative, others just want Christian games." The game was similar to the Pokémon TCG but used Biblical figures. In 1999, Nintendo stopped manufacturing the Japanese version of the "Koga's Ninja Trick" trading card because it depicted a clockwise swastika, a traditionally Buddhist symbol with no negative connotations. The Jewish civil rights group Anti-Defamation League complained because the symbol is the reverse of a swastika, which is considered offensive to Jewish people. The cards were intended for sale in Japan, but the popularity of Pokémon led to importation in to the United States with approval from Nintendo. The Anti-Defamation League understood that the issue symbol was not intended to offend and acknowledged the sensitivity that Nintendo showed by removing the product. In 2001, Saudi Arabia banned Pokémon games and cards, alleging that the franchise promoted Zionism by displaying the Star of David in the trading cards, and involved gambling, which is in violation of Muslim doctrine. Pokémon has been accused of promoting materialism. In 1999, two nine-year-old boys sued Nintendo because they claimed the Pokémon Trading Card Game caused their problematic gambling.


What are your thoughts, people?


FREEHOLD IOWA- Landover Baptist Pastor, Deacon Fred used a blowtorch and a sword Sunday morning to demonstrate that Pokemon games and toys are only sugar-coated instruments of the occult and evil.

Earlier this week at Landover's Wednesday evening service, children's pastor Marty Richards told 714 kids ages 2 through 10 that Pokemon is evil and was sent to this planet under direct orders from Satan himself.

To drive home his point, Richards burned Pokemon trading cards and video games with a blowtorch and skewered 14 plastic Pokemon action figures with a 40 inch broad sword. Richards then held the sword with all 14 pierced Pokemon figures over a charcoal grill. Richards' 5-year-old son tore the limbs and head off a Pokemon doll and spit on the dismembered carcass.

During the demonstration, the children chanted: "Burn it. Burn it,'' and "Chop it up. Chop it up.'' "Kill them All!"

Manufacturers of the hugely popular Pokemon products, including Nintendo and Hasbro Inc., lied openly about Pokemon's association with the occult.

The national Christian Coalition told The Press on Friday that it fully agrees with Landover Baptist's stand against the ungodly toy industry. "Toy manufacturers are being guided by Satan's minions." One source stated, "Demons are instructing the Nintendo and Hasbro companies on how to corrupt a child's innocence and create a future army of junior Satanists that will one day rule the world!"

Just... wow.

Is Pokemon evil?

There has been some opposition from religious factions (ie, intolerant Christians) regarding the Pokemon phenomenon. There have been books published, associating Pokemon with the devil. Pastors have publicly burned and mangled Pokemon toys (umm, isn't that likely to be more disturbing than the toys themselves?). People condemn and criticise it, thinking it is brainwashing kids. And the list is continually being added to.

I will begin by saying that yes, I am a Christian. Yes, I can see where these guys are coming from. And no, I do not think Pokemon is evil. Most Christians are not extreme people who try valiantly to find evil in everything. That is not what Christianity is about. You can't judge a group of people by one or two members. Thank you. ^_^;

Evolution

Christians do not (or should not) believe in the theory of evolution. Thus, this concept of Pokemon evolving would seem to present a problem. Rubbish. Evolution means change, or development. It's just to coin the term 'changing' for a Pokemon turning into another one is boring.

One guy said Pokemon were evil because they sprouted horns when they evolved. Um, forgive my ignorance, but are deer, bulls, rhinocerii and the like (all God's creations, mind you) suddenly deemed evil because they have horns?

With possible exception of female Nidoran, no Pokemon even has this attribute (of developing a horn). That horn is used in self defense or in fighting. Fighting, yeah, it may be wrong, it may be barbaric, but animals do it all the time. Territorial fights. Fights for a mate. Fights for food. Fights for survival. Etcetera.

Psychic, ghost and dragon Pokemon

This sort of thing seems to be a source of worry.

As far as I'm concerned, whoever made the game just chose fifteen different elements of strength. While this includes elements of nature; rock and ground, fire and ice, water and electric... It also incorporates living things, like grass, bug, flying and dragon. And finally, it incorporates characteristics of living things. Normal types have no elemental power. Fighting types use muscle power. Ghost types use the power of death. And psychic types use the power of thought.

The psychic and ghost powers on the show, you may disagree with them existing at all. Indeed, hypnosis can be a most dangerous thing in reality. Psychic abilities inspired by supernatural forces and ghosts are not considered to be just dead people... However, if one does believe in such concepts as this, they should also take into account that it is very unlikely Pokemon INTENDED to convey this sort of thing.

Psychic Pokemon are not portrayed as psychotic, or possessed, or anything like that. Some are cute animals, some are similar to humans - understandable, as humans have more powerful thought than most animals. You may think this is to disguise what they are. It is not. The game and show makes no pretense that these things are powerful and psychic.

On the show, ghost Pokemon are generally portrayed as good natured or funny.

Anyway, I'm not going to go into great lengths to defend psychic and ghost Pokemon, as I must confess I care little for them myself, except to say they are not meant to be evil.

As far as I know, and I do not profess to be an expert, Japanese people would not associate dragons with evil or the devil as they are oftentimes presented in Western society. Dragons represent good luck (and if anyone says that believing in luck is evil, lighten up), strength and courage.

Gee, I can't wait until gold and silver come out, introducing 'evil' species of Pokemon. WHY must they? Even I think that's too far. I mean, the name of the type of species probably doesn't mean they're exactly evil, just that they have 'evil powers'. But it's bad enough.

Card game

A lot of the negativity associated with Pokemon is due to the card game's stunning success.

Parents have tried to sue because the card game is encouraging gambling. This is among the stupidest allegations I have encountered. If you find you are spending too much money because your child wants a particular card that they can't get (thus OBVIOUSLY making it gambling as not all cards are equal rarity...), here is a revolutionary concept:

Do not waste your money.

'Tis a simple concept. You buy your child packs of cards less often, or you say that after a certain number of cards, you'll buy no more. Or, you make your child earn the money to buy the cards, either through his/her pocket money, or through chores.

From the sounds of things, some parents are going to be raising very spoiled children. No wonder kids behave like brats over the cards. Theory that the world works to serve you is enforced by a parent meeting your every need. (Sorry, spoiled children are a pet peeve of mine.)

The problem with the Pokemon card game is it provides an aspect of Pokemon that kids can easily take about with them. They want to trade. They want to get their favourite Pokemon, or a 'strong' Pokemon, or one that looks cool. They want to talk about which Pokemon are better and which cards they'd like to trade.

This spawns a problem when they want to do all this in class. Or, if they become obsessional about it. Although many children do like the card game a lot, I doubt they are truly obsessed. I have seen children trading on the bus, trading in class, discussing Pokemon constantly... yet they can still go out to typical kid places like the zoo and have fun. They can still laugh with their friends and they can still swing upside down on the monkey bars and they can still play kiss-chasey and talk about how the opposite gender is gross and they can still eat icecream and think McDonalds is the best restaurant in the world.

They can still be kids.

Difficulties with the card game are what has given Pokemon its bad name. The card game is not the sole representative of Pokemon.

Some people believe Pokemon is evil simply because it is brought to us by Wizards of the Coast, who also churn out Magic: the Gathering. This parallel is stupid and farfetched. Wizards of the Coast took to Pokemon because they saw its popularity and wanted to cash in. This is human nature and reasonable. If there was any 'evil' involved, it would be the 'evil' of greediness and so on. *laughs*

Master concept

Another attack made, one of the most common ones, is that it encourages kids to become masters.

Now, perhaps I am just stupid, but I do not understand this point at all. Yes, master can have negative implications. That does not mean the term itself is negative.

A person is a master of Pokemon in the same way they are the master of a pet. Being the master of a dog or a rabbit or something, is that evil? Playing 'god'? I doubt it. A Pokemon Master is someone who is good at what they do; they have a good technique and understanding of the Pokemon they base their career around.

Pokemon like to battle. Masters of Pokemon are not evil. Pokemon LIKE having masters, generally speaking. It gives them a sense of purpose and belonging. What's more, it gives them the opportunity to develop their strengths and abilities, and to prove themselves against others.

The Pokemon masters are those with good skill, who work well with their Pokemon. Honestly, what is wrong with that?

I looked up 'master' in the dictionary. The definition I think most fits 'master' in the context of Pokemon Master is a combination of "one who has ownership over something" and "an expert". This ownership is not some possessive thing. If Pokemon hated their treatment, they could easily revolt against it. They are powerful enough.

Crystals

Yes, I have actually heard someone say that evolution stones are like crystals, and are used to make monsters uglier, more powerful, more sinister. It's really just another means of letting Pokemon develop. Evolution is, in a way, a metaphor for growing up. Oftentimes, unevolved forms are more childish than their evolved forms.

Evolved forms are more powerful. They have to be. The POINT of the game is to build a powerful team and train them to be strong. If no Pokemon could really increase its power, that renders this whole theme a bit redundant, does it not?

There is nothing to suggest these stones are 'crystals'... you can just find them by digging in the ground or find deposits of them, like any other mineral.

Pocket Monsters

Of course, ANYTHING associated with the word 'monster' is evil. Allow me to get the ol' dictionary out once more. Okay. "Monster: An animal, a plant, or other organism having structural defects or deformities". This sums things up very nicely. Although these 'deformities' are not looked upon as such, they are different to normal animals.

At any rate, Japanese society likes the English language. There are sometimes things that don't make perfect sense or that we would place a different emphasis on. No biggie.

Miscellaneous

This business of mistaking a symbol on Japanese cards for a swastika. That is NOT a swastika. It is the other way around, is called a 'manji' and represents good fortune. I think a lot of people like to overreact.

Pokemon did not originate from some twisted mind, or from the devil. The basic concept, and the creatures, came from one man's memories of catching bugs and small animals as a child. Very sinister.

The idea of "battling" being evil is another stupid one. All of life involves conflict, and almost all games do too. It is a fact of life. And at any rate, Pokemon do not "die" or "get crunched into a bloody pulp". They faint, and can be recovered.


Ok. That's enough of that. Crazy, am I right?

well thank god im not uber christan i have cousin who is cause of there parents owo

well I'm not a HUGE pokemon fan and I really don't know what to say about this (TOO MUCH TO READ *headache* )

This is almost as funny as the article I saw about Skyrim being a homo-erotic game that teaches kids how to perform sex moves. It's a troll article, but it still makes me laugh, because you know there's that one dumb a** out there that believes it...
Here's the link