Should Christians Watch Naruto?

[Miku_Inuzuka]

well, my parents run a Sr. High youth group, and my moms ok with it, but my dad is pretty skeptical, he makes fun of it. one of the overall concepts of naruto is to never give up, and to follow your dream no matter the cost. it also tels people that they need friends and that they are the dearest people in the entire world. some concepts are pretty wierd, like some ppl say that 'orochimaru is the devil's spawn' or something like that. i think those concepts are good for improving someones overall...what is it called...attitude maybe? it teaches them good morals.

[X2thaU]

and that you get special powers if a demon is sealed in you by your own (dead) father. Bonus Pts if you also give a way your first kiss to someone of the same sex (is this awesome [Y/N])

[krozar]

PROBLEM: Due to genjutsu (clearly witchcraft), protagonist harnessing demonic powers, and Orochimaru being a flaming homosexual: Watching Naruto may cause me to undergo sheer incomprehensible agony for all of eternity with the knowledge that even a million years later my continual fate is to be immolated by flames in misery of pain and being so utterly alone, even if surrounded by other souls who share my horrendous fate--a fate that they, and I, will always know.

SOLUTION: I should place my religious values and eternal fate with people on a Naruto message board by asking them whether or not we Christians should watch Naruto.

Makes sense to me. The Bible was created with even more dubiousness.

Originally Posted by masterwong

In Jesus' day a guy like naruto would have that demon cast out of him and sent on his way.....A call to all Christians on the forum...should we be watching a show that main character uses demon power?

What is translated as "demon" in Japanese and demons in Western culture are two different things. Don't confuse the two. The Inuyasha portrayal of demons is a good representation of demons in Shintoism and folklore. Demons in Japanese folklore aren't even always evil, some can be playful and harmless and in numerous Japanese stories they have annoyed many a miko (shrine maidens) and have sometimes even befriend a miko, who's job is to destroy demons.

In Christianity they are minions of Satan who is the darker half of the duality of man represented as a person (most Christians would disagree with me on that.

If you're really a Christian. Get educated. PLEASE! Learn how to properly analyze situations a bit deeper and better express yourself and ideas. Christians basing moral decisions on half-cocked observations and obtuse explanations really make the religion difficult to swallow for the intellectual minority.

In response to another post: "Shinigami" is a western concept. It appeared in the late 19th century in Japan because of western influences. Shintoism does not have a grim reaper/god of death. There is the Enma Ou in Japanese mythology but that's based on Hindu mythology and is more akin to Hades. The Grim Reaper has no direct relation to Christian teachings. The Grim Reaper is far older than Christianity. A sentient personification of Death seems to exist since the beginning of history in all societies. Since that's the case, religion is in part a tool to take the sentient Death one step further since religion is largely based on the idea of mortality. One could then accurately say in the context that Shinigami is the Abrahamic God. The thought of a bunch of people in Seireitei embodying the Abrahamic God is thus heresy. Since that is the case, It is fitting that not only should a Christian not watch Bleach, but anyone who does should be punished by death. We should start with this forum, work our way toward 4chon, and end it with killing ourselves because we're posting on a Bleach and Naruto forum determining whether or not watching said shows are a sin. One thing I know about religions: sinning is serious business. often met with sadistic eternal suffering starting on the day of the universe's greatest comedic punchline in time--also known as judgment day. Enjoy your fire, assholes.

[XandorXerxes]

Originally Posted by krozar

What is translated as "demon" in Japanese and demons in Western culture are two different things. Don't confuse the two. The Inuyasha portrayal of demons is a good representation of demons in Shintoism and folklore. Demons in Japanese folklore aren't even always evil, some can be playful and harmless and in numerous Japanese stories they have annoyed many a miko (shrine maidens) and have sometimes even befriend a miko, who's job is to destroy demons.

Thank you for the explanation. I appreciated that part of the post.

Originally Posted by krozar

If you're really a person, Get educated. PLEASE! Learn how to properly analyze situations a bit deeper and better express yourself and ideas. Anyone basing moral decisions on half-cocked observations and obtuse explanations really make a religion difficult to swallow for everyone else.

Fixed that for you, sorry.

Originally Posted by krozar

In response to another post: "Shinigami" is a western concept. It appeared in the late 19th century in Japan because of western influences. Shintoism does not have a grim reaper/god of death. There is the Enma Ou in Japanese mythology but that's based on Hindu mythology and is more akin to Hades. The Grim Reaper has no direct relation to Christian teachings. The Grim Reaper is far older than Christianity. A sentient personification of Death seems to exist since the beginning of history in all societies.

Agreed with you up to here.

Originally Posted by krozar

Since that's the case, religion is in part a tool to take the sentient Death one step further since religion is largely based on the idea of mortality. One could then accurately say in the context that Shinigami is the Abrahamic God.

I don't believe that conclusion can be made from what we have here, sorry. Interesting line of thought though. Some Christians don't even believe that God has a hand in their death.

Originally Posted by krozar

The thought of a bunch of people in Seireitei embodying the Abrahamic God is thus heresy.

Not really. The definition of heresy is a bit different. You'd have to actually BELIEVE they were the Abrahamic God, and not just a cartoon. Some sticklers probably wouldn't like it anyways, as the case always is.

Originally Posted by krozar

Since that is the case, It is fitting that not only should a Christian not watch Bleach, but anyone who does should be punished by death.

Maybe if we were living in Salem or say, Europe a few centuries ago. A vast amount of Christian sects are founded on forgiveness, and the last time the church actually put someone to death? It's been a long while.

Originally Posted by krozar

One thing I know about religions: sinning is serious business. often met with sadistic eternal suffering starting on the day of the universe's greatest comedic punchline in time--also known as judgment day. Enjoy your fire, assholes.

Sinning is serious business. It's so serious that (in the religion I was brought up in) all you have to do is ask for forgiveness after understanding what you did and why it was wrong.

Also, I'd recommend you read some scholarly material on Christianity about what exactly heaven and hell are. The "traditionally perceived" versions are pretty... off the mark from what I've read.

I don't mean to be an asshole or to hijack the thread with this post - we could either start a new thread or talk over PMs if you want to continue this line of thought. I simply disagreed with part of what you wrote, and wanted to address it - I didn't mean to come across as a jerk by picking apart your post, sorry if that's what it looked like.

[krozar]

Originally Posted by XandorXerxes

I don't believe that conclusion can be made from what we have here, sorry. Interesting line of thought though. Some Christians don't even believe that God has a hand in their death.

Same with the Grim Reaper. Many believed he only gathered the souls of the dead, more akin to Charon ferrying souls across the Styx.

Not really. The definition of heresy is a bit different. You'd have to actually BELIEVE they were the Abrahamic God, and not just a cartoon. Some sticklers probably wouldn't like it anyways, as the case always is.

You have a very valid point and well expressed. Would be nice if such a thought was carried over into more situations.

Maybe if we were living in Salem or say, Europe a few centuries ago. A vast amount of Christian sects are founded on forgiveness, and the last time the church actually put someone to death? It's been a long while.

This is true. While the death penalty in the US often has a Christianity tilt toward it, nobody is actually executed for anything other than murder. Of course it's far from a Christian ideal as it's used quite extensively in China and Japan for example, two societies where Christianity is very minuscule in influence.

Sinning is serious business. It's so serious that (in the religion I was brought up in) all you have to do is ask for forgiveness after understanding what you did and why it was wrong.

True, but humans were made to sin and those coming from bad situations their whole life will often have to live a rough existence in order to cope. That rough existence being mixed with sin. Eternal retribution is not what I see as an omniscient supreme being stooping to.

Also, I'd recommend you read some scholarly material on Christianity about what exactly heaven and hell are. The "traditionally perceived" versions are pretty... off the mark from what I've read.

I have read the canon on Hell. Are you suggesting that maybe the early Christians were possibly a bit zealous, angry, and oppressed when such descriptions of Hell were written as I have always come to theorize? If that's the case, it's still seen as the benchmark of the afterlife.

I don't mean to be an asshole or to hijack the thread with this post - we could either start a new thread or talk over PMs if you want to continue this line of thought. I simply disagreed with part of what you wrote, and wanted to address it - I didn't mean to come across as a jerk by picking apart your post, sorry if that's what it looked like.

Actually your post was quite a pleasure and I should have replied sooner. Always good to discuss such things with a very cool-headed person. Far cooler headed than I tend to get in such discussions.

[nejix321]

I think as long as your not completely obsessing over Naruto. Then as a Christian yes you can watch, as long as God is still you number one.

[SuikoWraith]

The real question is: Does it matter?

Saying that media affects faith is like saying media makes us violent.

Then again SOME media is made with the intent of convincing people. But Naruto is clearly not one of them. So many fundies are so paranoid, they think so many things have an anti-Christian agenda. Do you really think all those people would bother?

[Lokki]

Originally Posted by SuikoWraith

Saying that media affects faith is like saying media makes us violent.

Actually, the have forgotten the TV for a while, and still blame the video games for corrupting our children. 80 years ago, the corrupter was the radio and rock-music. And before that in the 19th century, they blamed books.

[GaaranGaara]

Originally Posted by Lokki

Actually, the have forgotten the TV for a while, and still blame the video games for corrupting our children.

I say that if a kid snaps just by playing video games there has to be something wrong with him in the first place. So then it's not the games fault. Unless of course a console and a bunch of GTA's to a six year old that will distort his view of the world.

The point is, that the media & people should realize that playing video games doesn't automatically mess you up.

I've played them my whole life and I've turned out just fine.