Is Shaman King bad?

[Kuroi Inu]

I like Shounen Jump and I paged through a copy of Shaman King in Borders the other day and it looked funny and cool although rather occultic (him connecting with the spirit world and everything). So i just wanted to know you guys' oppinnion on it before I got more into it.

[Iapetus]

I like Shounen Jump and I paged through a copy of Shaman King in Borders the other day and it looked funny and cool although rather occultic (him connecting with the spirit world and everything). So i just wanted to know you guys' oppinnion on it before I got more into it.

Well, if you like anime, you are going to eventually run into things that have occultic themes. I always thought that if you don't get too obsessive about something, it isn't that bad. Something could be sinful for one person, yet another person would not have a problem with it. If occult stuff gives you a hard time, stay away from it. Otherwise, it is a fun read.

-Iapetus

[uc pseudonym]

I would call it "bad" only if one was attempting to get any sort of moral or religious elements out of it. There is no possible way said things can be reconciled with Christianity. His (the artist's) philosophy is blatantly unchristian, and typical of many Eastern philosophies, in that it claims that all religions are a path to the same place.

But, that aside, as a secular reading, I have no problem with it. It's a good manga. Though I'd warn it gets a bit darker later on, that should only be an issue if you are easily disturbed, or very young.

[Kuroi Inu]

thanks guys

[uc pseudonym]

Sure thing. That's part of why we're here.

[Danyasaur]

yea I try to stay away from the kindda' oculttic stuff I just don't like the idea of spirits taking over somones body that's why I stoped watchin' Yugioh and never started watchin' Shaman King but like Jojo said most anime can be demonic just use decernment the Lord will help you.

[uc pseudonym]

As before, it's all about discernment.

I should point out that they stop doing Integration very soon in the series, and then do some other funky spirit things (much less like possession). I should also point out the series gets much darker later on.

By the by, it's Faust VIII. Faust VII was a legendary necromancer.

[Tycho]

The only thing that's kind of wierd is the later opponents and maybe Faust VII XD Shaman King is based on Buddhist elements, and maybe a bit of traditional Native American stuffs. Yeah. If you think about it, all anime/manga, in a sense, is demonic. Just guard your heart well ^_^

Right.... All anime/manga is demonic. Funny, I don't see a bridge, but I smell a troll. I suggest you tone down your rhetoric or you're going to get yourself banned.

[Shao Feng-Li]

let's see they communicate to the spirirt world with prayer beads, preform exorcisems, and vise versa,.... is it bad? you tell me

[uc pseudonym]

Tycho, you're pretty extreme yourself: "all anime/manga is demonic?" That's quite a broad brush there.

Ruroken... I'll assume you're being sarcastic. However, such a point doesn't really serve a purpose here.

[Mave]

erm... I think Tycho was merely repeating what Jojo was saying. And I'm not sensing any trolls here... Let's take it easy, guys...

Anyway, here's my 2 cents, Jojo (oh before that, welcome to the group! ). I disagree that all Anime/manga are demonic because A/M itslef is only a form of media created for entertainment. The problem is not the media but the force/influence using it. True, dark evil forces sure show themselves well in some A/M titles but it's our duty as Christians to learn to how to make the right choices about what pleases God and what doesn't. That's what this forum is all about. Learning to enjoy A/M according to God's way.

I'm a big fan of SK "artwise" since I think the mangaka's drawing style and designs are cool.

However, I am not comfortable with the spirits, undead, skeletons, exorcisms, praying to something else other from the One True God. It's the same feeling I get when I step into a non-christian worship temple. So, I'll be very cautious while indulging in this series. I only check out this series once in a while. Like UC said, it goes back to discernment and jojo, you're right, always guard your heart. I would personally tell others to tread carefully and avoid recommending it in fear of causing weaker brothers/sisters to stumble.

Cheers!

[Shao Feng-Li]

Forgive me UC I wasnt trying to be sarcastic. (Gah, I sound like it without trying!) Should a Christian really be involved in a manga like this Shaman King?

[Tycho]

Tycho, you're pretty extreme yourself: "all anime/manga is demonic?" That's quite a broad brush there.

Ruroken... I'll assume you're being sarcastic. However, such a point doesn't really serve a purpose here.

I was just repeating an above post. I'm sorry I got a little trigger-happy. I annoys me when people take a single occurance and try to judge an entire medium by it. However, I would like Jojo to defend his position a bit more.

I also have a softspot for anything fantasy related. And there seems to be this mindset that anything with magic or fantasy elements is one step away from worshipping the devil. What makes this any different from reading Lord of the Rings or Greek Mythology?

[uc pseudonym]

Hmmm... it appears I am the one in error. I apologize for not realizing you were quoting an earlier post, Tycho.

I pretty much agree with your point in the last paragraph of your prior post. Shaman King may not be Christian, but I certainly hope you weren't reading it for such. Excepting personal limits, if you condemn Shaman King you have to condemn Lord of the Rings too.

For the record, no one here is even being considered for a strike, much less the trolling stamp.

MichiruT gets the official thumbs up for being a mediator.

[MasterDias]

Well, I can somewhat understand why Shaman King would be more offensive to Christians than LotR.

LotR is set in a purely fantasy world.

Shaman King has a "semi-real world" setting and borrows a few occult-type terms that are used in the real world and mixes them in with the fantasy.

It is all up to personal convictions, I guess.
At least, that's my 2 cents...

[uc pseudonym]

MasterDias makes a good point (though by saying that it "could be offensive" you remove logic from the situation, because people can be offended by anything. Then again, that's probably more real). However, I'd argue that it really doesn't cut it. So is LotR saying that there exists a seperate plane of existance? Isn't that even more drastic? Of course, if you argue that its just fantasy, that covers Shaman King as well.

Off topic, LotR is all supposed to be the history of our planet.

[Tet-chan]

Off topic, LotR is all supposed to be the history of our planet.

eh,i dont really think it is.If it is,then does the elf race really exist?

[uc pseudonym]

I'm afraid I'm quite certain about this one, you'll see it in the Silmarillion (I think), in some of Tolkien's notes, and in the section "About Hobbits."

Besides, the elves all left at the end of "Return of the King." He explains the nonvisibility of hobbits, too.

[MasterDias]

Not that you mention it, I remember that LotR was, I think, supposed to be set in a kind of "lost age" deep in the past.

Although, the dwarves are still around at the end of RotK. I don't remember, but did Tolkien have a way of explaining the reason why they aren't around.

[Tet-chan]

I'm afraid I'm quite certain about this one, you'll see it in the Silmarillion (I think), in some of Tolkien's notes, and in the section "About Hobbits."

Besides, the elves all left at the end of "Return of the King." He explains the nonvisibility of hobbits, too.

So elves do exist

[Tycho]

So if LoTR is a pre-history, how do the Valar, Maia, and other extraplanar beings fit into the scheme of things?

That's what amuses me about people who blast other fantasy things but not LoTR. LoTR has a huge panthenon of "gods" that people then to gloss over since they've not read the Silmarilion.

[Technomancer]

Since I don't have much problem with other fantasy stories, it's no real issue. I can't see anyone taking these stories as serious depictions of the world. If people are having difficulty understanding fantasy, their problems are probably with reality.

[uc pseudonym]

So elves do exist.

That's why LotR is a fantasy story. That's just the way Tolkien set it up.

So if LoTR is a pre-history, how do the Valar, Maia, and other extraplanar beings fit into the scheme of things?

Umm... as they are in the Silmarilion? It's fantasy.

One thing I'd note about the Silmarilion is that it was never published by Tolkien. Who knows what he would have done with it? As I see them, they're viable parts of his world, but I don't take them incredibly seriously.

That's what amuses me about people who blast other fantasy things but not LoTR. LoTR has a huge panthenon of "gods" that people then to gloss over since they've not read the Silmarilion.

Good point.

Since I don't have much problem with other fantasy stories, it's no real issue. I can't see anyone taking these stories as serious depictions of the world. If people are having difficulty understanding fantasy, their problems are probably with reality.

What he said.

[Shao Feng-Li]

makes sense to me. if im aloud to see lotr why shouldnt i see spirited away? or inuyasha? well maybe not that one cause of a lil adult conent *ahem* I think waht you really should worry about is cussing or suggestive content in anime.

[MasterDias]

Narnia also had a few references to gods and nature spirits from what I recall.
It's been awhile since I read them but I do remember that there was a "river god" in Prince Caspian.

[madphilb]

I'm just now reading the Narnia series... I read it and wonder why people wig out so much over other things.

I guess ultimately the only reason they don't wig over Narnia is because it was written by C.S. Lewis, a professed and well known/loved Christian rather than some icky secular person (hope the tiny bit of scarcasm came through there )

Then again to each their own... I personally haven't been turned off Shaman King, but I find when I watch Yu-Gi-Oh it's usually with a bit of me going Hrmmm (think Marge Simpson's voice).

Oh Well.

PHIL

[Technomancer]

I always found Yu-Gi-Oh to be about as interesting as watching a cribbage tournament.

[shooraijin]

Do not post such things when I have a mouthful of soda. It's bad for computer monitors.

[MillyFan]

I know this is *incredibly* off topic. . .but I love your signature, Technomancer.

Seek not death in the error of your life, neither procure ye destruction by the works of your hands. For God made not death, neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living. For he created all things that they might be: and he made the nations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor kingdom of hell upon the earth.

Wisdom 1:12-14

[uc pseudonym]

Everyone, everyone; this has gone on too long. This off topic tangent ends now. Anything else off topic will promptly disappear into the big black box.

But this topic seems just about over. Does anyone else have anything to say on the issue?