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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
skylanders video game	Jessica	Thursday, September 5, 2013
Question: My children received a new video game called skylanders giants. I didnt really want them having this game- not sure why but it gives me the creeps. You have action figures that you put on what is called the "portal of power" and whichever character is n the portal is who is in the game. Its a kids game- supposedly a good vs evil theme- however many of the "good" guys look very demonic. It seems to have some possible occultic elements like magic spells . I have a bad feeling about it not sure why. I may just be looking to much into it. I'm wondering if you are familiar with this game. There was even an article in the national catholic register saying what a good game it was. Any input would be appreciated.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC Dear Jessica: I could not find the review of this game from the National Catholic Register, but did find other reviews. All the reviews I could find, including from Catholic sources, were favorable. I find it very interesting that even good orthodox and famous Catholics, sometimes, have little grasp of the subtleties of the occult. This video game is like most video games these days — a device to empty the pocketbook of parents. From what I understand to get to higher and higher levels requires the purchase of more and more characters to place on the "portal of power". Since video games, by their very nature, are addictive, I imagine kids will be begging their parents to buy more characters. According the review on the Patheos website, "Right now, there are 37 different characters representing the 8 different elements, and more to come. At $8 a throw, simply unlocking the entire game will cost as [sic] additional $40." And then there are "special expansion packages ... with 'powerup' figures and whole new levels than can be added into the game" that may cost $20 each. Also quoting from the Patheos review, "...every base package comes with three playable characters, each representing a different kind of elemental power: fire, water, air, earth, life, tech, magic, and undead." Patheos, a Catholic site, gives the game a good rating despite its presentation of a pagan and magical worldview. The characters use the "powers" of "fire, water, air, earth", which are the same elemental powers used in witchcraft and nature cults. It seems that Catholic reviewers are not concerned about the non-Christian worldview presented in these games. The worldviews of these games are not just non-Christian, but occultic, pagan, and witchy. Just because these games, and stories like Harry Potter, are good vs. evil, does not make them suitable. To begin with, a primary tenet of Christianity, or for that matter, of positive civilization, is that the "ends do not justify the means." If evil is fought by means of evil then it is out-of-line. To fight evil with witchcraft, as does Harry Potter, and it appears this game also, is a seduction into Satan's sandbox. The Catechism states, 1759 "An evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention" (cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, Dec. praec. 6). The end does not justify the means. What part of this do reviewers not understand? In addition, St. Paul reminds us that not only are we to avoid doing evil, but we are also to avoid even the appearance of evil: "From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves" (1 Thess 5:22). What part of that do reviewers not understand? I know that it is hard to stand for truth, to guard the door from subtle seductions of the evil one, against "its just a game" or "it just for fun". The devil counts on that naive attitude. The term "it justa..." was probably invented by the devil since this is the excuse most often made to justify activities that are at best imprudent and at worse directly evil in their worldview. For those reasons I do not recommend this video game, or any other games, books, cartoons and the like that have as their base a worldview of the occult, pagan, magic, or witchcraft. At the very least such activities are playing in Satan's sandbox. If we play in the evil one's sandbox we will get his sand in our shoes. 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

skylanders video game

Jessica

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Question:

My children received a new video game called skylanders giants. I didnt really want them having this game- not sure why but it gives me the creeps. You have action figures that you put on what is called the "portal of power" and whichever character is n the portal is who is in the game. Its a kids game- supposedly a good vs evil theme- however many of the "good" guys look very demonic. It seems to have some possible occultic elements like magic spells . I have a bad feeling about it not sure why. I may just be looking to much into it. I'm wondering if you are familiar with this game. There was even an article in the national catholic register saying what a good game it was. Any input would be appreciated.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC

Dear Jessica:

I could not find the review of this game from the National Catholic Register, but did find other reviews. All the reviews I could find, including from Catholic sources, were favorable. I find it very interesting that even good orthodox and famous Catholics, sometimes, have little grasp of the subtleties of the occult.

This video game is like most video games these days — a device to empty the pocketbook of parents. From what I understand to get to higher and higher levels requires the purchase of more and more characters to place on the "portal of power". Since video games, by their very nature, are addictive, I imagine kids will be begging their parents to buy more characters. According the review on the Patheos website, "Right now, there are 37 different characters representing the 8 different elements, and more to come. At $8 a throw, simply unlocking the entire game will cost as [sic] additional $40." And then there are "special expansion packages ... with 'powerup' figures and whole new levels than can be added into the game" that may cost $20 each.

Also quoting from the Patheos review, "...every base package comes with three playable characters, each representing a different kind of elemental power: fire, water, air, earth, life, tech, magic, and undead."

Patheos, a Catholic site, gives the game a good rating despite its presentation of a pagan and magical worldview. The characters use the "powers" of "fire, water, air, earth", which are the same elemental powers used in witchcraft and nature cults.

It seems that Catholic reviewers are not concerned about the non-Christian worldview presented in these games. The worldviews of these games are not just non-Christian, but occultic, pagan, and witchy. Just because these games, and stories like Harry Potter, are good vs. evil, does not make them suitable. To begin with, a primary tenet of Christianity, or for that matter, of positive civilization, is that the "ends do not justify the means." If evil is fought by means of evil then it is out-of-line. To fight evil with witchcraft, as does Harry Potter, and it appears this game also, is a seduction into Satan's sandbox.

The Catechism states, 1759 "An evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention" (cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, Dec. praec. 6). The end does not justify the means.

What part of this do reviewers not understand?

In addition, St. Paul reminds us that not only are we to avoid doing evil, but we are also to avoid even the appearance of evil: "From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves" (1 Thess 5:22).

What part of that do reviewers not understand?

I know that it is hard to stand for truth, to guard the door from subtle seductions of the evil one, against "its just a game" or "it just for fun". The devil counts on that naive attitude. The term "it justa..." was probably invented by the devil since this is the excuse most often made to justify activities that are at best imprudent and at worse directly evil in their worldview.

For those reasons I do not recommend this video game, or any other games, books, cartoons and the like that have as their base a worldview of the occult, pagan, magic, or witchcraft. At the very least such activities are playing in Satan's sandbox. If we play in the evil one's sandbox we will get his sand in our shoes.

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.