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Background information: Role-Playing Games & Popular Occultism |
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FABLE, a role-playing game (RPG)
First letter from
Karey:
Hi Peter,
I just read the Role-Playing Games & Popular Occultism article on the
crossroad's web site. My son is 15 and has played role playing games for a
few years. He is a Christian. He wants the new Fable game that is coming out
in September. Can you tell me anything about this game that I can share with
my husband. He will make the decision on weather my son can buy the game or
not. Thank you, Karey
Karey,
This is a difficult one to comment on. I went Fable's website at http://www.fableforum.com/index.php<http://www.fableforum.com/index.php>
to see what I could see. Sometimes I can read the descriptions of the spells
or see the inclusion of occult graphics in the games and that tells me
what's going on with the game. I don't really see anything here that raises
red flags but the site is new and the game is new and it is still in
development. Take a look at the site. Click on some of the links to get
deeper read and talk about it with your husband and your son.
The thing that I stress with gamers who call themselves Christian is that
EVERYone has a belief system. Your son's is a judeo-christian belief system
grounded in scripture. The belief system of most game developers is
something quite different. Have your son evaluate what he sees on this
website against what he believes and see what he comes up with.
Second letter from
Karey: Hi Peter,
Thank you for looking into the game. I did find a web site that gave me a
good idea of the game. They do get to practice sorcery and mix potions if
they choose to. It seems they have to go somewhere to be trained to do it
and their "skill" gets better with practice.
They call it using your
will. They can do whatever they want but are rewarded for doing good.
However, sometimes what they call "good" is not getting caught when you
commit a crime or kill someone. It is the towns people in the game that
respond to what the gammer does in the game. I can not find the same page I
read but I found this one:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/fable/strategy2.htm to give an idea of what
you are able to do in this game if you choose. We told our son he can not
have this game. Thank you very much,
Karey, Woah! Am I ever glad I never claim to know everything!
Thank YOU for finding this website. The author of the article is very
clear about where he stands in light of being given the opportunity to
chart his own moral course. May I have permission to post this discourse
between us on Crossroad's askpeter site. I want to post your findings 1)
because you demonstrated good scholarship in going out to do the
research for yourself in order to make an informed decision for your
child without relying solely on some "expert" telling you what to do;
and 2) because the Christian world needs every bit of truth the watchmen
on the wall can provide. God speed! Peter
Third letter from Karey:
Hi Peter,
You have my permission to post our conversation and the web findings. I
am happy to help in any way. Thank you for helping. God Bless,
Harry Potter (See also Harry Potter Overview-1 and Overview-2
First letter from Barbara: Hey Peter, I am 13 and I am a huge fan of Harry Potter, I have read all 5 books and have seen all 3 movies. I do not see what is so bad about them. Yes there is magic and dark magic but they r trying 2 put a stop 2 the dark magic in the books. They are not evil books, they are full of mystery and adventure.
I love these books and I am Christian. And I find it offensive that you people are critisizing J.K. Rowlings wonderful imagination. These books are not evil they are wonderful. So what's the big deal? Please email me back. From Barbara
From Peter: Dear Barbara, I agree with you that the Harry Potter series are great books and the movies are very well done. The storyline, per se, is not the problem with these books. Here s the problem: Harry s education, beliefs and actions are wholly and solely based on magic. Harry ALWAYS responds to conflicts by staying true to his belief system. There IS a world of magic out there that most Christian 13 year old girls know NOTHING about NOR SHOULD THEY. You have to agree with the fact that if a person has spent 8 hours a day, 7 days a week for 30 YEARS studying all forms of magic - that person has the right in this country to speak out with authority to the Christian world explaining why Christians need to stay away from these books. I have as much right to speak out against Harry Potter as J.K. Rowling has to write them. Praise God for that!
You write that J.K. Rowling has a wonderful imagination. I am going to tell you that what J.K. Rowling has is a mountain of knowledge that comes straight from the occult world. You would not know that because you have not studied the occult world BUT I HAVE. Rowling is masterful at deceiving young people into calling evil good. God warns us against such people. I can give you an analogy: if you take a bottle of Mountain Dew, uncap it, pour out 1/2 cup and replace that with 1/2 cup of clorox and recap the bottle what you will have is a bottle that LOOKS like Mountain Dew but SHOULD YOU DRINK IT? No. It LOOKS like Mountain Dew and it LOOKS GOOD but it IS NOT GOOD. Deception.
The second problem I have with what you write is the fact that you identify yourself as a Christian. Christians have a belief system too. Our beliefs are centered squarely on the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob AND ON HIS SON JESUS CHRIST whom God sent to pay the penalty for our sin. God tells us to stay away from witchcraft and wizadry (Deut 18:9-13). God didn t say stay away from BAD witches, or BLACK witches or GOOD witches or WHITE witches or CHILD witches or ADULT witches (or wizards/sorcerers) ... He said STAY AWAY FROM WITCHCRAFT because God knows that the father of witchcraft is His adversary.
I find it very interesting that you have written to defend Rowling and the things that are an abomination to GOD when you are SUPPOSED to have an allegiance to GOD and be on GOD s SIDE. If you BELIEVE in GOD then you should think twice about disobeying this command. King Saul did not think twice about disobeying this command and he paid.
In case you are not familiar with the Old Testament let s take a look at the NEW TESTAMENT: Gal 5:16-26 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. The bottom line is this Barbara: In life you will always be faced with choices, some of which you might consider unfair or unpleasant. If Jesus is your Savior then you will have to decide whether you will follow him or J.K. Rowling. Will you TRUST Jesus or will you trust J.K. Rowling? You will find as you go through life that this decision will be a kind of crossroads for you. Choose this day whom you will serve...
I hope this clarifies things for you. In Jesus, Peter
Second letter from Barbara: Hey Peter, its me once more and i hope im not 2 much of a pain but as long as im not trying the witchcraft and following it then why shouldnt i and others like me still read the books and watch the movies...its not like i have 2 choose between Jesus and J.K. Rowling...and yes u did help me understand ALOT but all i want 2 know now is why i cant read them...they r just stories and i dont believe in them at all i just love the mystery and adventure in it...is it wrong that i like 2 read them even though im Christian, plz email me back....From Barbara
From Peter: Barbara, unfortunately I
don't agree with you AT ALL that these books are JUST STORIES. My wife and I do
an entire 6 hour presentation to churches about that very attitude. People want
to justify what they want to do by saying Oh, it's just a movie or it's just a
book or it's just a story or it's just a cartoon or it's just a picture or it's
just entertainment. No... all media, printed or otherwise sends a message. You
have images in your head of Harry Potter and they power he has that have NOTHING
to do with God. In fact, if Harry Potter is just a book then why not read Anton
LeVey's Satanic Bible... it's just a book too, right???
This dilemna reminds me of the Rich Young Ruler in Luke 18:18-25 A ruler
questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God
alone. You know the commandments, 'DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT
STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'" And he said,
"All these things
I have kept from my youth." When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing
you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you
shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when he had heard these
things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. And Jesus looked at him
and said, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich
man to enter the kingdom of God."
Barbara, this young man thought he was doing OK until Jesus confronted him and
told him to get rid of everything and follow Him. He couldn't do it because he
loved the things of the world too much. He left very sad. You are asking my
permission, in effect, to continue to participate with the things that God calls
an abomination. It is up to you to decide what to do. You know where God stands
and you have to determine who is right, you or God. Your argument is not with me
or your parents or anyone else in this matter. Your argument is with God.
That's the best I can do for you!
Peter
Third letter from Barbara: Peter im sorry but i dont c how books or movies could b so bad...thanx 4 ur help but i will continue reading and watching Harry Potter...a matter a fact i just began reading the 2nd book 4 the 2nd time well thanx 4 everything. buh bye
From Bob: I am 24 years old, and a Christian of 8 years. From
at least as far back as age 12 until my conversion to Christianity at age 16
(and for a few years thereafter), I too, was enslaved by the occult. By
God's grace, I came to realize the evil of it all at about age 18 or 19, and
like those in Acts 19:19-20, I repented, and threw away my books and other
things that belonged to that abomination.
I think your advice given on http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/2003/occult-rpg.htm
speaks the truth that a vast number of American Christians desperately need
to adopt:
"Teach your child that every part of life must reflect his relationship with
Christ. Christians are vulnerable because they compartmentalize their God.
Kids say, 'It's only a game! It's just fantasy.' They don't see their God as
part of their daily life and play, so they leave Him out. In contrast,
occultists base every thought and action on their beliefs."
I remember that being that driving force of my indulgence into magic:
constant obsession. Now, the Holy Spirit has helped me to transfer that same
M.O. into my relationship with Christ. And in fact, at times in my life,
close Christian friends or family members have accused me of being too
"intense," and sometimes I allowed these judgements to decrease my passion
for the Lord (all the while observing how compartmentalization gives satan
the opening he needs to plant all kinds of post-modern, humanistic
philosophies into people's minds). But I am the way I am simply because I
have all-too often and painfully encountered the end of myself, and my
resultant deep need for Jesus. C.S. Lewis says, "It's Christ or nothing for
these kinds of people" in _Mere Chrisitanity_ and warns us _The Screwtape
Letters_ of the danger of a mediocre or moderated religion, that in the
devil's mind is "as good for us as no religion at all -- and more amusing."
So, I just wanted to say you have another brother in Christ out there who is
also thankful for Christ redeeming him from bondage (Psalm 107), so as to
encourage you to not give up your fight, that God is using men like you to
put real and saving truth in the minds of men and women who need it so
badly. Thank you for your faithfulness, and thank God for His.
Owls, familiar spirits and occult simulations
From
Mark Rooke: I'm really enjoying reading your web site. I like what you have
done on your web site in lining up Harry Potter with similarities in the
occult environment. It really helps in seeing the similarities between these
two topics.
I do, however, have a few comments to make. While all of your points are
backed by book passages, I am confused on one topic: the owls used for
everyday letters. Your site explains that Hedwig is a familiar spirit of
Harry, as are all the other owls/cats/pets that the kids have. I was under the
impression that a familiar spirit is a demon or other spiritual being summoned
into the body of an animal. The thing is, I can't find anywhere in the books
where a spirit is summoned into an animal. At best, there were spells in which
turned mice into snuffboxes or vanished kittens. I was under the impression
that these owls and other pets are just trained animals; no more demonic than
a falconer's birds at the renaissance festival. Did I miss something in
Rowling's story? (and I don't mean that sarcastically, I'm actually curious)
I also want to say thanks for telling parents to ask questions about magic
cards from non-condemnational perspective. I've seen all kinds of suggestions
on the internet for handling this subject, and your advice is far more sound
than burning the cards outright (which a site advocated). But you did say
something that I don't think is true: "The object of MG is to suck the life
force out of you opponent and take on his energy..." That's not quite true.
While the goal of the game is to bring your opponent's life points down, you
are certainly not trying to "suck the life out of your opponent and take on
his energy". Again, totally non sarcastically and out of a genuine interest to
learn more, where did you see this?
Also, let me explain why I keep saying "non sarcastically." I've had e-mail
conversations with people who interpret real, sincere questions as sarcasm and
get get the wrong ideas. I'd much rather be safe than sorry.
Thanks again!
PS: You can use this email on your site if you want. I figured I'd say this on
the random chance you may.
Peter's answer:
Dear Mark,
First let me tell you that I donıt consider ANYTHING that you have written
here as bogus or sarcastic. You have asked some wonderful questions that are
worthy of an honest response.
Letıs start with Hedwig and familiar spirits. In the occult realm occultists
use familiar spirits to carry thoughts, ideas or directions to other
occultists. Familiars can convey the emotional and psychological aspects of
people. Familiar spirits are not demons nor are they summoned into the body of
animals. That is why you canıt find an event in the book where a familiar is
called into an animal. Simply stated, they are elemental spirits that are
conjured by individuals to do their bidding, very low in the hierarchy of the
beings who serve the adversary. They exist on their own without a body.
Familiar spirits are mentioned in the King James Bible 15 times. Rowling uses
the owls the same way occultists use familiars - to communicate one occultist
to another. (See note)
Regarding Magic the Gathering and ³sucking the life force out of your
opponent,² MtheG is the same thing as a flight simulator. The first time
pilots fly an aircraft, they don't get behind the "wheel" in the cockpit and
turn the ignition key on and fly. NO WAY. Pilots spend hours and hours behind
flight simulators that present them with every possible thing that can happen
to them while they are flying a plane. Before a pilot ever gets in the plane
to fly it he has been well trained - virtually. This is exactly what Magic the
Gathering is... an occult craft simulator.
Mark, I did for real what Magic the Gathering does in virtual land. I know
what happens for real when a victor quenches an opponent - he takes on the
energy of the one who is defeated. In my response to Magic the Gathering I
just KNOW that in the game life can be restored - in reality that does not
happen. When kids make the transition from the game to the reality there is a
rude awakening ahead. Just like in the flight simulator if you crash the plane
you still get to walk out of the simulator. In reality if you crash a plane
you die.
Maybe I get a little intense about this stuff but I was engaged in the reality
of this stuff for 30 years. I have been called by the Most High God to be the
watchman on the wall. I am grateful to find those as yourself you are also
watching! Your questions are great and I just want you to know that you can
write with any question any time. Iıll be here. Thanks for letting us post
your letter.
In service to the Most High God,
Peter
Addictive interest in occult fantasies and RPGs
(Please pray for God's victory in each of these difficult battles)
From Margaret:
My son, turning 16 today, is an intelligent,
bright young man, but has developed an insatiable appetite for all things
fantastical. He started out being interested in Pokemon cards 5 years
ago until I looked into it and felt it to be evil where upon he got rid of
them. He then read all the Chronicles of Narnia and the Hobbit and
everything Tolkein ever wrote ( a number of times) I encouraged his
reading and saw no problem initially with Tolkein. He has moved onto 2 other
series....books by R.A. Salvatore and Dragon Lance Legends by
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I feel uncomfortable with these last authors
and have said so to him. He has always read voraciously but in the past 18
months has read almost entirely within the Fantasy or Science Fiction
genre. I have tried to encourage him to shift his tastes!
Running concurrently to this he has played Runescape on the web to the
point where he exhibited addictive behaviour. We have passwords on the
computer and have restricted access sometimes for weeks at a time. We have
banned Runescape and he has now developed a strong interest in Warhammer
and has been painting his first "army" for hours everyday getting ready to
start playing in real campaigns. He is now playing a game called
Pristontale. I am feeling punch-drunk!!!
His behavior has been at times very difficult, where he has had extreme
outbursts of anger, denial, lying and has lost interest in school. We are
evangelical Christians who believe in prayer and spiritual warfare and have
prayed for our son and our other children much over the years but I have not
found anyone else who is going through this as severely as we seem to be going
through it. Our cell group has prayed with us and for us as parents and we
have done some prayer and fasting.
My question really is how much can and should we be doing with a child of this
age. He will readily engage me in intellectual discussion and challenge my
thinking and then this can degenerate into angry outbursts. I often feel that
I have to be controlling to lick this thing and that is not what I want to be.
I am very concerned about him.
Peter's answer:
Dear Margaret,
This is a difficult situation because your son is older and has already
experienced the power that is behind the games he is playing. I cannot really
answer about how much can we do with a child this age. I can only give you
solid information about what he is involved in and what he is experiencing and
the direction he is moving in.
You are aware of Pokemon and you were right about it. You mention Runescape.
Runes are what witches use to guide their decision making. The game is an
occult game and you were wise to ban it. You mention WarHammer. We received
mail about this game from a young man who is sold out to chaos theory,
"Nothing is true; everything is permitted." He quotes from the WarHammer game
which is designed to provide instruction (neatly packaged in mythology and
fantasy) on how to become a warrior for the adversary of God. You mention
Priston Tale. We looked at this game on the web but could not find much about
it except that it is Japanese anime, uses occult graphics and has some forms
of low level spell casting. The evolution of the characters evolve much the
same way occultist evolve in power.
I am not familiar with the authors your son is currently reading but again, he
is surrounding himself with sensation that I describe as "sensation without
substance." Occultists believe that man is a spirit with a body. Christians
should also believe this but in truth they are taught that they are a body
with a spirit. There is a big difference between the two. Christians spend a
lot of time bringing the body into submission. They spend very little time
feeding their spirit. Most Christians never experience real power on this
physical plane and do not see themselves as victorious. What this leads to is
when young people experience an energy sensation that they havenıt experienced
before they have a tendency to move in that direction. Sensation becomes a
spiritual addiction. They view their Christian belief system as rote and
mechanical - something that cannot offer the same sensational experience.
Occultists, however, believe that their spirit must be energized (fed) on a
regular basis. Occultists ignore bodily limitations. They feed on sensation
and they need to forever increase its level because sensation is fleeting.
Occultists believe in nothing but power.
Your son has experienced sensation/power but he is not aware of the force or
agenda that is behind it - driving it. I would very much like if your son
would write to me and explain to me what it is that draws him into this realm.
I would like for him to explain where his Christianity fits into this world
view. I would like to carry on an intelligent dialogue with him that might
take you out of the picture for a while which will allow feelings and tensions
to subside. I know you don't know me but I am going to ask you to pray about
this and see where the spirit of God leads you.
You, your husband and your son will be in our prayers tonight. I hope to hear
from your son.
In service to Jesus,
Peter
Obsession with Magic: the Gathering (at the end, see the good results)
From a concerned Mom: I have a 14 year old son who I think is obsessed with the card game Magic. I have seen very noticable differences in his clothes, music, and attitude toward his family. He is a very intelligent young man. His test scores at school in math and science are off the charts.
He used to listen to christian music now listens to hard core music. He has withdrawn from me and his younger brothers. I recently found a journal that said he didn't care about his family and he only loved his magic cards. He wrote that he wanted to be a vampire and live forever. He's always gone to church but now I think the influence of the occult has him confused.
I never liked the card games (it started with pokeman in elementary school), but I didn't want to seem judgemental and I always thought because he was so intelligent that he could keep reality from fantasy, but now I think the two have become blurred to him. I'm not sure what to do. I'm scared if I take all his cards that he has invested so much time and even money in that it might push him further away. I would appreciate any advice you may have for me. I love him so much and want him back before it's too late.
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