The Evils of Poorly-Researched Articles
Just finished reading an article on Pokemon cards.
I have to say, I was very disappointed by this article. The title, 'How Pokemon and Magic Cards Affect the Minds and Values of Children', really enticed me. I thought it was going to be a good, well-structured, interesting and insightful article about the mind-sets of children who play these card games. Alas, it was just a diatribe by a religious nut (and yes, I am a Christian myself) who seeks to find fault with anything that isn't in the Bible. I mean, that book was written 2000+ years ago. You are allowed to adapt to modern times.
It was clear that the author of this article had never actually watched an episode of Pokemon, never mind played the card game. He quotes the episode where Ash battles Sabrina at her gym. But he says that Ash is trying to steal her Kadabra. This is in no way true. Ash battles Sabrina to win a badge so that he can go to the Pokemon League. He is not trying to steal anything.
The author also calls the theme song the 'Pokemon Rap', which is a different song entirely. He says that the song encourages greed and occult violence. All of this is apparently evident in the last line, "Gotta catch 'em all". Had he listened to the whole song, he would know that it talks about courage, friendship, defending the world from baddies, learning from each other and working together to overcome challenges.
Furthermore, the author offers no evidence to show that watching Pokemon causes anti-social behaviour or devil worship. He merely states that it is true and expects us to believe his highly-emotional attacks. In fact, nearly every episode features Ash or other characters learning lessons about life. About living with courage, passion and conviction. About caring for each other and helping others. There is the episode where Ash and co save an abandoned Charmander but then respect its wishes to go back to its previous master. There is the episode where they save an entire city from angry Tentacruel and Tentacool. In the very first episode, Ash puts himself at risk to save his Pikachu. There are even several occasions where Ash teams up with his enemies to acheive something for the good of everyone, such as to get off a sinking ship or an exploding zeppelin. Pokemon is about friendship and teamwork and exploring everything life has to offer. Pokemon teaches kids that it's ok to have strengths and weaknesses and that they should surround themselves with people who will complement them to make a strong team.
Another line the author mis-quotes is the call that, 'You've got the power in your hands, so use it.' The author claims that this will cause children to believe that they have magic talismans in their pockets that will make them all-powerful. Really what it is saying is that the children have within themselves the power to make their dreams come true. This is a lesson that I have also learnt from Jesus' teachings in the Bible. When he says that the meek shall inherit the earth, and to let the children come to him because they are the future.
I just don't see how teaching kids life lessons like these can be construed as 'evil'. Or anti-Christian.
I have to say, I was very disappointed by this article. The title, 'How Pokemon and Magic Cards Affect the Minds and Values of Children', really enticed me. I thought it was going to be a good, well-structured, interesting and insightful article about the mind-sets of children who play these card games. Alas, it was just a diatribe by a religious nut (and yes, I am a Christian myself) who seeks to find fault with anything that isn't in the Bible. I mean, that book was written 2000+ years ago. You are allowed to adapt to modern times.
It was clear that the author of this article had never actually watched an episode of Pokemon, never mind played the card game. He quotes the episode where Ash battles Sabrina at her gym. But he says that Ash is trying to steal her Kadabra. This is in no way true. Ash battles Sabrina to win a badge so that he can go to the Pokemon League. He is not trying to steal anything.
The author also calls the theme song the 'Pokemon Rap', which is a different song entirely. He says that the song encourages greed and occult violence. All of this is apparently evident in the last line, "Gotta catch 'em all". Had he listened to the whole song, he would know that it talks about courage, friendship, defending the world from baddies, learning from each other and working together to overcome challenges.
Furthermore, the author offers no evidence to show that watching Pokemon causes anti-social behaviour or devil worship. He merely states that it is true and expects us to believe his highly-emotional attacks. In fact, nearly every episode features Ash or other characters learning lessons about life. About living with courage, passion and conviction. About caring for each other and helping others. There is the episode where Ash and co save an abandoned Charmander but then respect its wishes to go back to its previous master. There is the episode where they save an entire city from angry Tentacruel and Tentacool. In the very first episode, Ash puts himself at risk to save his Pikachu. There are even several occasions where Ash teams up with his enemies to acheive something for the good of everyone, such as to get off a sinking ship or an exploding zeppelin. Pokemon is about friendship and teamwork and exploring everything life has to offer. Pokemon teaches kids that it's ok to have strengths and weaknesses and that they should surround themselves with people who will complement them to make a strong team.
Another line the author mis-quotes is the call that, 'You've got the power in your hands, so use it.' The author claims that this will cause children to believe that they have magic talismans in their pockets that will make them all-powerful. Really what it is saying is that the children have within themselves the power to make their dreams come true. This is a lesson that I have also learnt from Jesus' teachings in the Bible. When he says that the meek shall inherit the earth, and to let the children come to him because they are the future.
I just don't see how teaching kids life lessons like these can be construed as 'evil'. Or anti-Christian.