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This is a religious Website (That I see as propaganda) that is explaining the evils of Pokemon
Here is a bit from the Article if you're too lazy to read all of it.
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WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?
... Share your observations. Spark awareness in a young child with comments such as, "That monster looks mean!" or "That creature reminds me of a dragon," along with "Did you know that in the Bible, serpents and dragons always represent Satan and evil?"
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MARKETING A NEW LIFESTYLE
The Pokemon mania supports a financial conglomerate that knows how to feed the frenzy. The television series is free, but it drives the multi-billion dollar business. It also inspires the obsessive new games that disrupt schools and families by giving the children --
a seductive vision: to become Pokemon masters
a tempting promise: supernatural power
a new objective: keep collecting Pokemon
an urgent command: "gotta catch them all"
These enticements are drilled into young minds through clever ads, snappy slogans, and the "Pokeman rap" at the end of each TV episode:
"I will travel across the land
Searching far and wide
Each Pokeman to understand
The power that's inside.
Gotta catch them all!"
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CHANGING BELIEFS AND VALUES
Barbara Whitehorse started seeking answers after her son asked a typical question: "Mom, can I get Pokemon cards? A lot of my friends from church have them." Much as she wanted Matthew to have fun with his friends, she gave a loving refusal. Matthew's tutor had already warned her that the Pokemon craze could stir interest in other kinds of occult role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. At the time, she wondered if the tutor had just over-reacted to some harmless entertainment. After all, the cute little Pokemon creatures looked nothing like the dark demonic creatures of D&D. But when she learned that a local Christian school had banned them because of their link to the occult, she changed her mind.
I have my own reactions to these, but I'll let you discuss them among yourselves.
HOWEVER! There seems to be some legitimate controversy and conspiracy related to Pokemon that isn't based off of staunchly conservative christian propaganda
The following comes from the Bulbapedia article about some of the Controversy surrounding Pokemon games and Anime
In the TCG
Members of the Jewish community accused Nintendo of using an offensive image in the Japanese version of Koga's Ninja Trick. The image in question, features an omote manji, a left-facing version of the swastika.
While in the Western world, the image of the swastika in any form brings to mind the fascist and racist policies carried out by Nazi Germany during the course of World War II, the swastika's origin was in ancient times. It is used as a symbol of peace and good luck by many cultures, including that of Hinduism, where the left-facing swastika represents, perhaps a bit irony, love and mercy.
In the anime
In All Things Bright and Beautifly!, A Team Rocket fantasy involves Jessie, James and Meowth, as well as many Team Rocket Grunts, raising their hands in a manner somewhat similar to the Hitler salute. This was edited out in the English dub of the anime, with the grunts no longer raising their hands. More, presumably female, grunts were also added, replacing some of the generic male ones.
And a Picture for you guys from the episode in question:
I can see how people find this offensive...
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In the games
In European releases of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the sprite art for Registeel is altered slightly. While in Japanese and English releases Registeel's arm is extended, non-English European versions use an altered sprite presumably due to the original pose's resemblance to the Hitler salute. In all versions of Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver, and Platinum, the sprite is of this new design.
A picture of the controversial data:
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And here are some linked to Satanism (which i find a bit ridiculous, but I have to present alot of data)
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Satanism
Some fundamentalist Christian groups have accused Pokémon as being linked to Satanism. The following is a summarized and possibly incomplete list of their reasons for this accusation:
Pokémon are like demons. They are captured and must be called upon to perform tasks.
Magical talismans (supposedly a reference to Gym Badges) are needed to control them.
Pokémon evolve. Though this transformation is more akin to metamorphosis in most Pokémon, the theory of evolution is denied entirely by the most fundamentalist creationists, who believe that all things as they are presently were divinely inspired.
Some Pokémon evolution even requires the use of certain magical stones.
Many Pokémon have extraordinary paranormal powers, notably Psychic-types.
Those with Psychic powers are labeled as having been given these powers by Satan in the Bible itself.
Many Pokémon embody or practice East Asian spiritual or mystical concepts, being that the franchise originated in Japan. Some Christian groups denounce these as pagan rituals.
Some claim that if one were to play backwards the Pokérap, "Gotta Catch 'em All!" can be heard as "I love Satan".
Some Pagan religions claim many Pokémon have similarities to many pagan spirits
From that list I find it particularly interesting the one about Psychic Powers:
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Many Pokémon have extraordinary paranormal powers, notably Psychic-types.
Those with Psychic powers are labeled as having been given these powers by Satan in the Bible itself.
The above statement isn't true. Or at least the part about Satan granting supernatural powers. In the bible, it is warned against looking for prophecies from the future, because those beings that grant prophecy are demons. That is WAY different from being given powers by Satan.
Now: I never thought i'd be quoting scripture in a Pokemon thread, let alone posting a serious thread about controversy in the Pokemon paradigm, but here we go:
Leviticus 19:31
"Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God."
This says (in my words) Don't go looking for wizards and demons. They will lie to you. I am your god and only i can tell the future
Isaiah 8:19 and 8:20
"And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? [20] To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
I may be quoting the scripture out of context or misreading entirely. Call me out on it, I'm not right 100% of the time.
NOW that you all have hopefully read the information regarding various controversy about Pokemon I want you guys to discuss
Discuss the veracity and legitimacy of the claims surrounding Pokemon.
lol yeah. we just shouldn't assume that because something symbolizes something in one instance, all things referring to that thing has the same symbolism. Symbolism is strictly subjective to culture.
I'm too tired to grace this with my wonderful sarcasm... or come up with anything for that matter. So I'm just gonna say this...
I was raised in a Christian household. My parents never had an issue with Pokemon aside from thinking it was weird. However virtually everyone thought it was weird back then.
Pokemon is a Fantasy (sort of... kind of... in some way) game / cartoon. While it's true the Pokemon themselves may be based off things that's about as far as it goes.
Uh, I'm too tired to dignify this nonsense with a response any further. But basically, it's just a game / cartoon. I've been playing it since the 4th grade and nothing bad ever happened to be from it.
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The image in question, features an omote manji, a left-facing version of the swastika.
Oh so that's why they changed the seal on Neji's forehead in NARUTO during the TV broadcast in America (and I assume any other county other than Japan as well). To an 'X'. Because that makes sense I guess.
Although valid argument on the hand-raising thing. It is possible that this was intentional for a reason... bumbling as they be, Team Rocket were the bad guys.
Although if they're trying to say Pokemon will brainwash us and turn us all into mindless Pokemon-loving slaves who become absorbed in playing the games / watching the cartoon.
...Well, then they're right! And I'm totally okay with that.
Christianity is a minority religion in Japan and they didn't even expect this game to get this popular to begin with. They were catering to Japanese kids, there's no reason to expect them to cater to minorities where they're from.
One, Take Control of Me? You're Messing With the Enemy Said it's Two, it's Another Trick, Messin' with My Mind, I Wake Up, its Taken all These Days to Find ya
Friends, Take Control of Me, Stalking 'Cross the Gallery, There He Goes Again, Take Me to the Edge Again All I Got is a Dirty Trick, I'm Chasin' Down the Wolves to Save ya I Tell You I Want You, I'll Tell You I Need You, the Blood Ain't on My Face, Just Wanted You Near Me The Blood Ain't On My Hands, I Just Wanted You Near Me
Pokemon is a Fantasy (sort of... kind of... in some way) game / cartoon. While it's true the Pokemon themselves may be based off things that's about as far as it goes.
Although valid argument on the hand-raising thing. It is possible that this was intentional for a reason... bumbling as they be, Team Rocket were the bad guys.
Although if they're trying to say Pokemon will brainwash us and turn us all into mindless Pokemon-loving slaves who become absorbed in playing the games / watching the cartoon.
...Well, then they're right! And I'm totally okay with that.
I didn't quote the text here, but you said you were raised in a christian household. I have NO problem with that, I know alot of people that are being raised and were raised in a christian household. They're very nice and friendly, and very pleasant. BUT, I do have a problem with brainwashing and linking everything that you don't approve of to Satan and religion. NOT everything is religious, I'm sure you and your parents understand that.
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I agree with that. Obviously you can't create something like that 100% from scratch. You need some outside influence. Not everything is satanic, however. It's not real, so there is no need to take it seriously
Second Block:
The hand raising thing is justifiable, especially because the Japanese anime is for a totally different audience than the American anime. I understand how they wanted to establish that Team Rocket is the antagonist. But I think they went a bit over the top.
Last Block:
It's a game, a cartoon, and just general fun. Nintendo doesn't want to get kids to worship Satan, they just want to continue making billions off of them. This article's writer(s) are extremely Xenophobic and paranoid.
The linking of the natural world to symbols pointing to God and to the "other side" is very medieval thinking. I do not mean that in an arrogant or offensive way; the usage of nature as a symbol for God is truly the thinking of the medieval age. Of course nowadays people still use things to symbolize other things; but in all honestly, grasping at straws in this manner seems counterproductive to me. I've never seen any religious symbols blatantly put into any type of Pokemon merchandize/franchising, but maybe that's just me.
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Pokemon Conspiracy and Controversy
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