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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Computer gaming as a disabled adult	Felicia	Saturday, February 11, 2012
Question: Dear Father I have always enjoyed computer adventure games and recently joined a computer game company online. Some of the games are puzzle games not many tho and most are adventure games which I love. I have noticed more and more of these are beginning to contain questionable aspects. They are NOT RPG games, but typically the player acts in the role of an adventurer, investigator or relative for example, ie. of a deceased person and needs to rid an area of evil spirits or free souls... and yet some are classic, general mystery games (or murder mystery) detective (ie. Agatha Christie, etc). The reason I am becoming concerned is some of the games I have played begin generally FINE, and do not appear to be paranormal nor occult based ie. as a mystery and then I notice there is a pentagram, or I have to collect ingredients for a spell, etc.. as the plot switches in the game and there are paranormal like aspects or vodoo or ghosts, spirits, demons, witches, etc. that pop in. I have express my concerns against all the occult or paranormal in the games on the reviews portion of the gamesite, yet have consistently with few exceptions gotten bashed relentlessly by the majority of the other members players saying it is ONLY a game and we are NOT DOING anything WRONG, it is GOOD against EVIL. SO they have a point in that and I actually are not thinking evil thoughts in playing the games but wonder about it and also, some I Do NOT enjoy but have purchased, I wonder if I am open for attack? So, are these games truly potential for invoking demon type warfare? I am NOT talking about the RPG games (tho I have played some in the past). I will also mention that I come from a (very) abusive childhood by my mother (but have gone through therapy) she is an open agnostic aka atheist. I read that abuse can "open" a person to attack. In fact, I was also abused by a doctor recently (I reported it). But it seems that I (we, family) go from one calamity to another even though I am home MOST of the time due to chronic illness (past MANY years!) except to go to Dr appts and Mass. My spouse has recently lost a career position, our adult child was in an accident and diagnosed with a medical problem and I have been additionally diagnosed with more ailments very recently (even though we practice healthy eating, excercise within limits, etc). We have also blessed with much, too, so I am not disregarding Gods graces, realize, please. It has just that this has become a true dilemna for me as I have spent money on the games (some I have not played yet). and since I can not leave the house much I need some diversion other than reading. I also pray a LOT and also pray the rosary every day. On TV I watch almost entirely Catholic TV and TCM (classic movies). So are the games really bad and opening up potential for spiritual harm even if I do not actually RELATE to the bad part of the game? Thank you for reading this and answering. God Bless.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Felicia: When you cast spells in these games you open yourself up to demonic attack even if you did not have the intention of casting an actual spell. St. Paul tells us that we are to avoid sin and all things evil, and, we are to (1 Thess 5:22) "Abstain from all appearance of evil." Any game that has occultic elements of any kind needs to be avoided. As for the immature dismissal, "It only a game", the phrase "It's only" or "It's justa" comes from the devil. He absolutely loves it when people say this. The more people dismiss the influence of the devil as silly or whatever, the more the devil can work covertly to trap us. All games, books, movies, TV shows, videos have a worldview, have an agenda. The question is to determine the worldview of the media. Harry Potter promotes a worldview of witchcraft and is thus to be avoided. The games you are talking about with spells, pentagrams, and other occultic elements are to be avoid at all costs. To indulge in such things can put you are Satan's radar. These so-called "pretend" spells can sometimes cause real effects. There is no such thing as "It's justa..." Avoid all this stuff. As for the Good fighting evil, we do not fight evil with evil. We fight evil with the Truth of God. The weapon we have is the sword of the Spirit to take down evil. St. Paul tells us how to fight evil: (Eph 6:10-18) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. (2 Cor 10:3-6) For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. St. James says, (James 4:7) "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." And there is a lot more in Scripture. Any game that does not approach spiritual warfare in this way is authored by the devil. Evil is not fought be evil. Evil is fought by righteousness. It sounds like you and your husband are having some troubles, "bad luck", as-it-were. I suggest that both you and your husband go through the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance linked below. Also, I recommend the Hedge Prayer of Protection and the Breaking Spells and Curses prayers found in our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog. We will be praying 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

Computer gaming as a disabled adult

Felicia

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Question:

Dear Father
I have always enjoyed computer adventure games and recently joined a computer game company online. Some of the games are puzzle games not many tho and most are adventure games which I love. I have noticed more and more of these are beginning to contain questionable aspects. They are NOT RPG games, but typically the player acts in the role of an adventurer, investigator or relative for example, ie. of a deceased person and needs to rid an area of evil spirits or free souls... and yet some are classic, general mystery games (or murder mystery) detective (ie. Agatha Christie, etc).

The reason I am becoming concerned is some of the games I have played begin generally FINE, and do not appear to be paranormal nor occult based ie. as a mystery and then I notice there is a pentagram, or I have to collect ingredients for a spell, etc.. as the plot switches in the game and there are paranormal like aspects or vodoo or ghosts, spirits, demons, witches, etc. that pop in.

I have express my concerns against all the occult or paranormal in the games on the reviews portion of the gamesite, yet have consistently with few exceptions gotten bashed relentlessly by the majority of the other members players saying it is ONLY a game and we are NOT DOING anything WRONG, it is GOOD against EVIL.

SO they have a point in that and I actually are not thinking evil thoughts in playing the games but wonder about it and also, some I Do NOT enjoy but have purchased, I wonder if I am open for attack?

So, are these games truly potential for invoking demon type warfare? I am NOT talking about the RPG games (tho I have played some in the past). I will also mention that I come from a (very) abusive childhood by my mother (but have gone through therapy) she is an open agnostic aka atheist. I read that abuse can "open" a person to attack. In fact, I was also abused by a doctor recently (I reported it). But it seems that I (we, family) go from one calamity to another even though I am home MOST of the time due to chronic illness (past MANY years!) except to go to Dr appts and Mass. My spouse has recently lost a career position, our adult child was in an accident and diagnosed with a medical problem and I have been additionally diagnosed with more ailments very recently (even though we practice healthy eating, excercise within limits, etc). We have also blessed with much, too, so I am not disregarding Gods graces, realize, please.

It has just that this has become a true dilemna for me as I have spent money on the games (some I have not played yet). and since I can not leave the house much I need some diversion other than reading. I also pray a LOT and also pray the rosary every day. On TV I watch almost entirely Catholic TV and TCM (classic movies). So are the games really bad and opening up potential for spiritual harm even if I do not actually RELATE to the bad part of the game?

Thank you for reading this and answering. God Bless.

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

Dear Felicia:

When you cast spells in these games you open yourself up to demonic attack even if you did not have the intention of casting an actual spell.

St. Paul tells us that we are to avoid sin and all things evil, and, we are to (1 Thess 5:22) "Abstain from all appearance of evil."

Any game that has occultic elements of any kind needs to be avoided.

As for the immature dismissal, "It only a game", the phrase "It's only" or "It's justa" comes from the devil. He absolutely loves it when people say this. The more people dismiss the influence of the devil as silly or whatever, the more the devil can work covertly to trap us.

All games, books, movies, TV shows, videos have a worldview, have an agenda. The question is to determine the worldview of the media. Harry Potter promotes a worldview of witchcraft and is thus to be avoided. The games you are talking about with spells, pentagrams, and other occultic elements are to be avoid at all costs. To indulge in such things can put you are Satan's radar. These so-called "pretend" spells can sometimes cause real effects. There is no such thing as "It's justa..." Avoid all this stuff.

As for the Good fighting evil, we do not fight evil with evil. We fight evil with the Truth of God. The weapon we have is the sword of the Spirit to take down evil.

St. Paul tells us how to fight evil:

(Eph 6:10-18) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

(2 Cor 10:3-6) For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

St. James says, (James 4:7) "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

And there is a lot more in Scripture. Any game that does not approach spiritual warfare in this way is authored by the devil. Evil is not fought be evil. Evil is fought by righteousness.

It sounds like you and your husband are having some troubles, "bad luck", as-it-were. I suggest that both you and your husband go through the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance linked below.

Also, I recommend the Hedge Prayer of Protection and the Breaking Spells and Curses prayers found in our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog.

We will be praying 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.