When I first heard about Pokemon I thought “Oh no, not another craze.” Being a teacher I like to keep up with what all of these crazes are about - especially in regards to their underlying influences. It was after visiting an Internet site written by a Pastor from California that I learned more about this children’s game. Pastor Brett Peterson began to research Pokemon after observing his son and friends play, all who were into Pokemon. On one occasion during their play time he heard the children say phrases such as “Freeze, you’re possessed”, “I destiny bind you”, and “You’re hypnotised”. This greatly concerned him and he proceeded in prayer and fasting to seek God’s leading into this matter. His subsequent research has produced some startling facts about the influences in Pokemon.
Pokemon was created in Japan and is influenced by Japanese mysticism. Pokemon consists of a large number of ‘cute’ characters all of which have special powers to battle each other. Each Pokemon die to their old self and EVOLVE into another new, more powerful creature. For example Abra evolves to a creature called Kadabra, this creature “can send out waves of mental energy that can cause headaches at close range in the game.” Delightful huh? The creatures take on the appearance of dragons, ghosts, wizards etc. Many creatures have ‘psychic powers.’ Each creature has it’s own powers which they use in ‘battle’. Click here to read further about these creatures.
It would seem that Pokemon has surprising similarities with occult activities. In the game, Pokemon ‘trainers’ must go through a lot of training and ritual type actions to become “Master trainers’ with the ability to control the Pokemon creatures and their powers. A trainer ’summons’ one of their Pokemon, to battle other monsters and they use them as guardians. This technique is not dissimilar to Witchcraft whereby guardians, known as ‘watchtowers’ are called to protect the witches from ‘evil’ spirits during rituals. The circle in witchcraft, provides a ’safe’ area to practice. In Pokemon, the monsters are held in a “Pokeball” until the trainer summons them. Can we ignore these satanic influences? God has told us not to have anything to do with these occultic activities.
Pokemon creatures can only say their own name, so when they talk, they are actually chanting their name. Pastor Peterson observed that children often do the same thing when they are playing. He comments that “What we may not realise is that the children are actually opening their selves up to personality modification - an occult practice” he observed, “one three year old was chasing another boy almost trance like in expression, saying in a deep raspy voice, “Bulbasaur attack, bulbasaur, bulbasaur.” The children, it would seem are, in a very conservative and innocent way, doing what members deep into the occult practice regularly - meditating and chanting.” Can we afford to underestimate the potential influence of this game?
While it isn’t likely that the writers of the game intended to indoctrinate children into mysticism, new age belief systems or the occult - the fact remains that the Pokemon game seems to be doing just that. As parents, teachers and as Christians we need to be aware of what influence these things can have on our children. The fact that children spend hours playing these games and that most children seem to become obsessed with Pokemon - may be another reason to avoid it? We need to be encouraging our children to have a passion for the Lord not for Pokemon!
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him… The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15
From my reading on the topic I have come to the same conclusion as Pastor Peterson. I believe that Pokemon is a tool being used by Satan to influence our children! Please prayerfully consider if you want to allow your child to be influenced by this game.