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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
How can I break with addiction to fantasy?	Minnie	Monday, November 1, 2010
Question: At the beginning of the letter I would like to apologise for my English, it is not my native language, I come from Poland, so I am sorry for my mistakes. I hope they would not hinder understanding. I must confess that for the last five years I have been an ardent fan of fantasy literature and movies, especially Tolkien. This fascination began with my watching the film The Return of the King. I became instantly fascinated with Tolkien and the fantasy genre. I had some misgivings about the spiritual wholeness of such entertainment, but most Catholic websites I consulted, both Polish and foreign, were rather complimentary towards Tolkien’s writings and these of his friend, CS Lewis. Recently I got acquainted with new information about Tolkien and Lewis, revealing their connections to freemasonry and the golden dawn occultist group. Of course this was never spoken of on the Catholic websites. From what I read, the conclusion is that the books by Tolkien and Lewis are full of hidden occultist references, motifs, and allusions, which are difficult to find if one does not know they are there, and which are a kind of wink to “the insiders”. What makes it especially dangerous is the clever mix of these ideas with some Christian ones, which in turn causes it to be harder to spot the heresies. All these ideas can creep into the readers/viewers’ minds unawares. Tolkien and Lewis, even if they are less harmful than other writers in the fantasy genre, can definitely have a detrimental effect. I have observed from my own example that the fact of my being a Tolkien fan made me more tolerant of other fantasy/sci-fi books/films, and more prone to read/watch something which I would never get interested in had I not been a Tolkien fan in the first place. But by the time I have learnt about it, I was so deeply addicted to fantasy that it is extremely hard for me to break the habit. Maybe I was particularly vulnerable to this spiritual menace of fantasy, I am rather a sensitive person, and for others it may be not such great a threat. Now I am addicted to fantasy, namely reading it, watching fantasy films, browsing fantasy websites, and reading the forums devoted to fantasy writers, as well as collecting computer wallpapers and pictures dealing with fantasy themes and characters, not to mention fanfiction. Now I try to get rid of this addiction, but even deleting some fantasy pictures from my computer seems to break my heart. I cannot imagine my life without fantasy, even though I have realized it is sinful to be so deeply interested in this genre. I hope that with God’s help I will be eventually free. How can I break with this horrible addiction?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Minnie: Let me first begin discussion Tolkien and Lewis. Tolkien was a devout Catholic and Lord of the Rings, for example, is written from a Catholic worldview. Lewis was a devout Anglican. His stories are written firmly within the Christan worldview also. There is absolutely nothing contrary to Christianity in the stories of Tolkien or Lewis. Whoever is suggesting that Tolkien and Lewis were Freemasons or Golden Dawn and their writings have all sorts of "hidden occultist references, motifs, and allusions" are idiots. There are many conspiracy nuts out there with personality disorders who make a conspiracy out of leafs falling from a tree. Since Tolkien and Lewis use symbolic imagery in their stories, these conspiracy nuts see what they want to see and make absurd accusations. Ignore these idiots. As for an "addiction" to fantasy. According to our faith we are to avoid over-attachment to anything. I use to have an over-attachment to record albums. When I was teenager my "addiction" to record albums lead me to even steal records from stores. Whenever we find ourselves overly attached to anything, we need to work to find a balance; we need to learn "detachment" to material things. One of the primary ways to do this is to use self-discipline. Bite the bullet and get rid of the things to which we have such over attachment. In may case, I gave away all my records. I no longer have a over-attachment to records so I can buy record albums without a problem now. But, I had to give them up for several years in order to break the attachment. For some people giving up the thing they are attached to must be permanent. Whether it "breaks your heart" or not, you need to get rid of those fantasy pictures. You need to mortify your desire to indulge in any fantasy activities, books, websites, games, movies, etc. While appropriate fantasy stories such as Tolkien and Lewis are perfectly okay, in your case, because of your addiction, you should avoid all fantasy -- even the fantasy that is okay. This is similar to an alcoholic. Drinking alcohol is not a sin as long as one does not get drunk. But, for an alcoholic avoidance of all alcohol is needed. In fact, it is best if the alcoholic never enters a bar or even go to a party where alcohol is served. Whatever it takes to avoid indulging. Jesus said that "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell" (Matt 5:29). Jesus was teaching us that we need to be detached from all that would damage our soul. That is what you need to do. Avoid all contact with any fantasy items. To help you do this there are four suggestions in addition to Prayer & Devotion (including Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at least once per week), Confession, and Mass: 1) practice self-denial and self-discipline. Remove from your life all things that tempt you into your compulsion. When you feel tempted to indulge in fantasy, get up and do something else. Temptations usually last only for a few minutes at a time. So, if you are tempted to go to a fantasy website, for example, get up and away from the computer and go wash the dishes, or vacuum the floor, or whatever. By the time you finish the dishes the temptation will most likely have faded. 2) talk to your doctor. Addictive behavior is associated with an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, such as Serotonin. Drugs like Zoloft can correct this imbalance and help to "take the edge off" of the compulsion to make self-discipline easier. Rigorous exercise can also have this effect on the brain, but if exercise does is not sufficient, then see a doctor. 3) Resign/abandon yourself to God's will. As we abandon ourselves to God, it becomes easier to not allow things like fantasy (or record albums) to "control" us so. To be free from our compulsions we need to abandon ourselves to God. See our pamphlet on Christian Resignation as a Prerequisite to Freedom. 4) Pray a Spiritual Warfare Prayer against addiction: Dear Heavenly Father. You have told us in Your Word that those who set their minds on things of the flesh cannot please God, are hostile to God, and leads to death (Romans 8:5-8) . I acknowledge that my mind has been set on things of the flesh, in the form of addiction to ______, ______, ______ [fantasy, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, food, gossip, judgmentalism, sex, etc.] that wage war against my soul (1 Peter 2:11). I have transgressed Your holy law and given the enemy an opportunity to wage war in my members (Ephesians 4:27; James 4:1; 1 Peter 5:8). Indeed You have said that it is better to cut out our eye if it makes us stumble than to burn in hell (Matthew 5:29-30). I come before Your presence to acknowledge these sins and to seek Your cleansing (1 John 1:9) that I may be freed from the bondage of sin (Galatians 5:1). I thank You that in Christ my sins are forgiven. I now ask You to reveal to my mind the ways that I have brought myself to this addiction and therefore grieved the Holy Spirit. So that I may find healing and freedom I ask You Lord that all ground gained by evil spirits because of my addictions be canceled and taken back and that all bonds and bondages the devil has placed upon me be broken forever (Galatians 5:1). I pray that You will shed light on all my ways that I may know the full extent of my addiction. I claim my body and mind for the Lord Jesus Christ, and in His Name, and with His authority, declare freedom from my addictions of ______, _____, _____ and to all attachments, bondages, and involvements with the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ. By faith and by the Sacraments of the Church I have received You into my life and am now seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6). I now choose to adopt a spirit of freedom from addictions and a heart given over to You. In the name of Christ Jesus I pray. Amen. We will be in prayer for you. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

How can I break with addiction to fantasy?

Minnie

Monday, November 1, 2010

Question:

At the beginning of the letter I would like to apologise for my English, it is not my native language, I come from Poland, so I am sorry for my mistakes. I hope they would not hinder understanding.

I must confess that for the last five years I have been an ardent fan of fantasy literature and movies, especially Tolkien. This fascination began with my watching the film The Return of the King. I became instantly fascinated with Tolkien and the fantasy genre.

I had some misgivings about the spiritual wholeness of such entertainment, but most Catholic websites I consulted, both Polish and foreign, were rather complimentary towards Tolkien’s writings and these of his friend, CS Lewis. Recently I got acquainted with new information about Tolkien and Lewis, revealing their connections to freemasonry and the golden dawn occultist group. Of course this was never spoken of on the Catholic websites.

From what I read, the conclusion is that the books by Tolkien and Lewis are full of hidden occultist references, motifs, and allusions, which are difficult to find if one does not know they are there, and which are a kind of wink to “the insiders”.

What makes it especially dangerous is the clever mix of these ideas with some Christian ones, which in turn causes it to be harder to spot the heresies. All these ideas can creep into the readers/viewers’ minds unawares. Tolkien and Lewis, even if they are less harmful than other writers in the fantasy genre, can definitely have a detrimental effect.

I have observed from my own example that the fact of my being a Tolkien fan made me more tolerant of other fantasy/sci-fi books/films, and more prone to read/watch something which I would never get interested in had I not been a Tolkien fan in the first place.

But by the time I have learnt about it, I was so deeply addicted to fantasy that it is extremely hard for me to break the habit. Maybe I was particularly vulnerable to this spiritual menace of fantasy, I am rather a sensitive person, and for others it may be not such great a threat.

Now I am addicted to fantasy, namely reading it, watching fantasy films, browsing fantasy websites, and reading the forums devoted to fantasy writers, as well as collecting computer wallpapers and pictures dealing with fantasy themes and characters, not to mention fanfiction.

Now I try to get rid of this addiction, but even deleting some fantasy pictures from my computer seems to break my heart. I cannot imagine my life without fantasy, even though I have realized it is sinful to be so deeply interested in this genre. I hope that with God’s help I will be eventually free.

How can I break with this horrible addiction?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Minnie:

Let me first begin discussion Tolkien and Lewis. Tolkien was a devout Catholic and Lord of the Rings, for example, is written from a Catholic worldview. Lewis was a devout Anglican. His stories are written firmly within the Christan worldview also. There is absolutely nothing contrary to Christianity in the stories of Tolkien or Lewis.

Whoever is suggesting that Tolkien and Lewis were Freemasons or Golden Dawn and their writings have all sorts of "hidden occultist references, motifs, and allusions" are idiots. There are many conspiracy nuts out there with personality disorders who make a conspiracy out of leafs falling from a tree. Since Tolkien and Lewis use symbolic imagery in their stories, these conspiracy nuts see what they want to see and make absurd accusations.

Ignore these idiots.

As for an "addiction" to fantasy. According to our faith we are to avoid over-attachment to anything. I use to have an over-attachment to record albums. When I was teenager my "addiction" to record albums lead me to even steal records from stores.

Whenever we find ourselves overly attached to anything, we need to work to find a balance; we need to learn "detachment" to material things.

One of the primary ways to do this is to use self-discipline. Bite the bullet and get rid of the things to which we have such over attachment. In may case, I gave away all my records. I no longer have a over-attachment to records so I can buy record albums without a problem now. But, I had to give them up for several years in order to break the attachment. For some people giving up the thing they are attached to must be permanent.

Whether it "breaks your heart" or not, you need to get rid of those fantasy pictures. You need to mortify your desire to indulge in any fantasy activities, books, websites, games, movies, etc.

While appropriate fantasy stories such as Tolkien and Lewis are perfectly okay, in your case, because of your addiction, you should avoid all fantasy -- even the fantasy that is okay. This is similar to an alcoholic. Drinking alcohol is not a sin as long as one does not get drunk. But, for an alcoholic avoidance of all alcohol is needed. In fact, it is best if the alcoholic never enters a bar or even go to a party where alcohol is served. Whatever it takes to avoid indulging. Jesus said that "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell" (Matt 5:29). Jesus was teaching us that we need to be detached from all that would damage our soul.

That is what you need to do. Avoid all contact with any fantasy items.

To help you do this there are four suggestions in addition to Prayer & Devotion (including Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at least once per week), Confession, and Mass:

1) practice self-denial and self-discipline. Remove from your life all things that tempt you into your compulsion. When you feel tempted to indulge in fantasy, get up and do something else. Temptations usually last only for a few minutes at a time. So, if you are tempted to go to a fantasy website, for example, get up and away from the computer and go wash the dishes, or vacuum the floor, or whatever. By the time you finish the dishes the temptation will most likely have faded.

2) talk to your doctor. Addictive behavior is associated with an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, such as Serotonin. Drugs like Zoloft can correct this imbalance and help to "take the edge off" of the compulsion to make self-discipline easier. Rigorous exercise can also have this effect on the brain, but if exercise does is not sufficient, then see a doctor.

3) Resign/abandon yourself to God's will. As we abandon ourselves to God, it becomes easier to not allow things like fantasy (or record albums) to "control" us so. To be free from our compulsions we need to abandon ourselves to God. See our pamphlet on Christian Resignation as a Prerequisite to Freedom.

4) Pray a Spiritual Warfare Prayer against addiction:

Dear Heavenly Father. You have told us in Your Word that those who set their minds on things of the flesh cannot please God, are hostile to God, and leads to death (Romans 8:5-8) . I acknowledge that my mind has been set on things of the flesh, in the form of addiction to ______, ______, ______ [fantasy, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, food, gossip, judgmentalism, sex, etc.] that wage war against my soul (1 Peter 2:11). I have transgressed Your holy law and given the enemy an opportunity to wage war in my members (Ephesians 4:27; James 4:1; 1 Peter 5:8). Indeed You have said that it is better to cut out our eye if it makes us stumble than to burn in hell (Matthew 5:29-30). I come before Your presence to acknowledge these sins and to seek Your cleansing (1 John 1:9) that I may be freed from the bondage of sin (Galatians 5:1). I thank You that in Christ my sins are forgiven. I now ask You to reveal to my mind the ways that I have brought myself to this addiction and therefore grieved the Holy Spirit. So that I may find healing and freedom I ask You Lord that all ground gained by evil spirits because of my addictions be canceled and taken back and that all bonds and bondages the devil has placed upon me be broken forever (Galatians 5:1). I pray that You will shed light on all my ways that I may know the full extent of my addiction. I claim my body and mind for the Lord Jesus Christ, and in His Name, and with His authority, declare freedom from my addictions of ______, _____, _____ and to all attachments, bondages, and involvements with the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ. By faith and by the Sacraments of the Church I have received You into my life and am now seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6). I now choose to adopt a spirit of freedom from addictions and a heart given over to You. In the name of Christ Jesus I pray. Amen.

We will be in prayer for you.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.