Demonic or Egyptian?

[LiquidMan]

Why is it I hear the Jaws theme…

Don’t kid yourself, sharks have sharp teeth, and they are a very primitive killing machine. But we wont get bitten if we stay out of their ocean. Right?

Staying out of the water due to paranoia that there may be a shark is not the right answer to a problem.

Since you clearly don’t know much about this game, I suggest you do just a bit of research before posting.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

Staying out of the water due to paranoia that there may be a shark is not the right answer to a problem.

Since you clearly don’t know much about this game, I suggest you do just a bit of research before posting.

Funny thing about that… warlock , wizard, use of magic, use of powers.

You asked if the helmet was demonic. You must have a bit of a gut feeling about the implications of games promoting these themes. So must many others , given you suggest we google this theme as there is a wealth of questions on it.

What we watch , read, play with, interact with in life, the media, be it mainstream , or social media, affects us in some form. Elsewise there would be no rulings on these things by the Church , censorship bodies, and the Bible would not have advice on how best to live our lives, and what to avoid and shun.

Is watching porn ok? Gratuitous violence? Animal cruelty, how about watching witchcraft or watching people engaging in sorcery, ?

If you answer no to any of those, how is role playing as a warlock/ wizard who uses magic and sorcery , in an interactive ( or single user) game ok? Is role play as a warlock any different from role playing in other activities that the Church Catechises against?

Names such as cat, dog, warlock, plane, wand, spell all mean something. They have a dictionary definition. Thats language. Dog means 4 legged canine, usually loyal, barks , ways tail if happy, can get cranky and bite. I say dog , or shark, you identify with this term, this name.
Look up warlock. What does that term mean. What is identified with that term? What does society, the one you live in, identify with that term.

It can be a very good idea to stay out of the water, in a known hunting ground of a predator, or hangout location for a stinging jellyfish. We don’t put our hand in a place likely to harbour a poisonous snake. This is just practical advice, rather then paranoia. If you see a lovely Rockpool
On a hot day, but the sign says 'no swimming - crocodiles '. Watcha going to do?

 

[Roseeurekacross]

And this is your 3rd or 4th thread on symbols and equipment in games, are they demonic, satanic etc.

Perhaps have a good chat with your Priest, maybe also turn off the computer and pick up the Bible. ?

 

[edwest2]

Speaking as an Assistant Art Director, symbols and images have meanings. They are included or not included based on only two reasons: 1) They look cool. or 2) I approve of these images.

In a computer game, the designers may, or may not, be totally ignorant of the origins/meanings of these images or the guy in charge is and that’s what he wants. There is no way to tell if if it’s intended or unintended.

The other concern is based on what I call a perceived commonality index. In other words, how would the average person interpret this image? People see a ton of images every day and I, and the head Art Director, along with other relevant staff, have to make rapid judgements about images. Not to brag, but we do have an extensive knowledge of symbols and images and say yes to this and no to that.

So, even though an image may be used in a certain context, the average person may perceive it as good or bad.

A game is just a game does not go to the heart of it.

I hope everyone takes the following as only to instruct:

Proverbs 14:15

New International Version
“The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.”

New Living Translation
“Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps.”

English Standard Version
“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”

The young can be taken in by not wanting to examine things. Be careful. It is easy to be too trusting.

Ed

 

[anon98328916]

Bad spirits, the devil, satan, whatever your name for “he whose butt will be kicked down to hell by St Michael The ArchAngel”,

Is having a great time with these internet computer games, through game developers.

No wonder the demand for Exorcists is on the rise, and people are demanding quick Baptism and Exorcism. ( see recent thread)

It can’t come quick enough.

 

[Wesrock]

Ok you asked for advice, you got it. You don’t like it.

The fact remaines you are playing as, and have chosen to be a warlock in this game.

Putting our heads in the sand and acting like Ostriches wont help your cause now.
Why? Because it has been pointed out to you what a warlock is.
The game describes a warlock as weilding magic like powers derived from universal fundamental energies. Right. Well magic and sorcery are not allowed in our Faith.

It’s not magic in the game. It’s just highly advanced technology that allows the character to manipulate space. Calling it the occult is like someone from the twelfth century looking at planes, cars, computers, and electric lights and, not understanfing it’s simple scientific development, calling it magic and the occult. Or, say there’s a (God forbid) nuclear war and the only humanity that survives os reverted back to copper afe technology, and them looking at our computers and cars (that survived) as some type of mysterious, arcane magic and not scientific technology.

 

[Wesrock]

On the flip side, it does make me question if there’d be a goats helm for a character class called “warlock” (regardless of the fact that it’s technology and not magic) if the goats head wasn’t already a western cultural association with the occult. If you saw rooster heads everywhere associated with satan instead, would the designers of this warlock helm gone a different route, to play into the pop culture? I imply no malicious motives on the behalf of the designers, who probably don’t even believe such things, just wondering if they got their design inspiration from common cultural associations with the ideas of the arcane and magic. It seems like a fair implication, and less of a stretch than claiming they didn’t look at the culture when designing costumes for their arcane “magic” user.

And I’m still pretty far from Roseeurekacross in approaching video games such as this, don’t get me wrong. But some of the comments here seem overly defensive and flippant, and that makes me want to consider the other side. (I may not put any stock in horoscopes and such superstitions, but even so, the balancing scales of Libra have ever been an apt description of me).

 

[xNoOnex]

I’m curious as to how many people who show concern over sorcery and such in video games feel the same way about things like Lord of the Rings or Arthurian stories.

Anyway… As someone else in this thread has said, this isn’t the first time you posted something like this here. If you worry that it will influence you negatively, you should avoid it, even if it’s benign.

 

[CatholicWhovian]

I’m curious as to how many people who show concern over sorcery and such in video games feel the same way about things like Lord of the Rings or Arthurian stories.

Anyway… As someone else in this thread has said, this isn’t the first time you posted something like this here. If you worry that it will influence you negatively, you should avoid it, even if it’s benign.

After reading all of the comments on this thread, I have to agree to this.

What is the difference between Gandalf in Lord of the Rings is technically a warlock. How come he’s acceptable than this particular character the OP described? (well, the mask is a giveaway which personally I have problems with, but I don’t play Destiny, so I don’t mind)

Wouldn’t it be more prudent to discern where did the magical character in a particular work of fiction get his or her powers from? Did the character get his or her powers from some benign source? Technology? Natural force? Or the occult?

Don’t get me wrong, demonic symbols and influences disturb me. A lot. And I am careful of such influences. But sometimes I feel people can get carried away and generalize the origins of magic in fiction, leading them to a conclusion that strikes me as simple and rash. There’s no attention to the specifics or the origin. If we really want to identify if something is influenced by the Devil we must be prudent in discerning the spirits.

G.K. Chesterton once said, “Idolatry is committed, not merely by setting up false gods, but also by setting up false devils; by making men afraid of war or alcohol, or economic law, when they should be afraid of spiritual corruption and cowardice.”

Is the ram’s helmet disturbing? Yeah. Does it create spiritual corruption? Probably. Does the warlock character encourage going into the occult? I doubt it. Destiny is set in a future timeline. The magic’s probably advanced human/alien technology.

Oh yeah, and as a gamer myself, besides leaving time to play games, I also leave time for prayer. I am praying for the world and I am engaging in spiritual combat in my prayer life. Not all video games have demonic symbols, just to clarify.

 

[Dwyer]

After reading all of the comments on this thread, I have to agree to this.

What is the difference between Gandalf in Lord of the Rings is technically a warlock. How come he’s acceptable than this particular character the OP described? (well, the mask is a giveaway which personally I have problems with, but I don’t play Destiny, so I don’t mind)

Wouldn’t it be more prudent to discern where did the magical character in a particular work of fiction get his or her powers from? Did the character get his or her powers from some benign source? Technology? Natural force? Or the occult?

Don’t get me wrong, demonic symbols and influences disturb me. A lot. And I am careful of such influences. But sometimes I feel people can get carried away and generalize the origins of magic in fiction, leading them to a conclusion that strikes me as simple and rash. There’s no attention to the specifics or the origin. If we really want to identify if something is influenced by the Devil we must be prudent in discerning the spirits.

G.K. Chesterton once said, “Idolatry is committed, not merely by setting up false gods, but also by setting up false devils; by making men afraid of war or alcohol, or economic law, when they should be afraid of spiritual corruption and cowardice.”

Is the ram’s helmet disturbing? Yeah. Does it create spiritual corruption? Probably. Does the warlock character encourage going into the occult? I doubt it. Destiny is set in a future timeline. The magic’s probably advanced human/alien technology.

Oh yeah, and as a gamer myself, besides leaving time to play games, I also leave time for prayer. I am praying for the world and I am engaging in spiritual combat in my prayer life. Not all video games have demonic symbols, just to clarify.

Gandalf is not a warlock; he’s a wizard; I think he was maybe a spiritual being of some sort because doesn’t he essentially resurrect himself after dying in Moria?

A warlock is defined as a man who practices sorcery which is defined as: “Use of supernatural power over others through the assistance of spirits; witchcraft” which sounds more like Harry Potter.

Also, Gandalf states when fighting the Balrog Demon in Moria that he is a “Servant of the Secret Fire”.

Note Gandalf fights the Balrog demon; he doesn’t ally himself with it.

And the significance of the “Servant of the Secret Fire” statement is interpreted as meaning that Gandalf is a servant of the Christian Holy Spirit.

There’s both Good Magic and there’s Bad Magic in the Middle Earth world. Gandalf uses the magic seldomly and for good purposes or ends (e.g., he makes some fireworks to delight and entertain the Hobbits on the special occasion of Bilbo’s big 111th birthday party).

The character Saruman is similar in nature to Gandalf but uses his magic constantly and for bad, evil ends.

 

[xNoOnex]

Gandalf is not a warlock; he’s a wizard; I think he was maybe a spiritual being of some sort because doesn’t he essentially resurrect himself after dying in Moria?

A warlock is defined as a man who practices sorcery which is defined as: “Use of supernatural power over others through the assistance of spirits; witchcraft” which sounds more like Harry Potter.

Also, Gandalf states when fighting the Balrog Demon in Moria that he is a “Servant of the Secret Fire”.

Note Gandalf fights the Balrog demon; he doesn’t ally himself with it.

And the significance of the “Servant of the Secret Fire” statement is interpreted as meaning that Gandalf is a servant of the Christian Holy Spirit.

There’s both Good Magic and there’s Bad Magic in the Middle Earth world. Gandalf uses the magic seldomly and for good purposes or ends (e.g., he makes some fireworks to delight and entertain the Hobbits on the special occasion of Bilbo’s big 111th birthday party).

The character Saruman is similar in nature to Gandalf but uses his magic constantly and for bad, evil ends.

However, magic in Middle Earth is morally neutral. As you said, Suraman uses his magic for evil purposes and Gandalf for good… But their magic all comes from the same source.

I’d even argue that most fantasy settings, that’s how it is; its a science more than a supernatural power. Take a pinch of sulfur or coupe bat droppings, speak of few worlds that alter a reality and presto, you throw a fireball.

Trying to apply real world terms and thought to something that doesn’t even jive with real world occultism seems a bit silly to me.

 

[Wesrock]

What is the difference between Gandalf in Lord of the Rings is technically a warlock. How come he’s acceptable than this particular character the OP described? (well, the mask is a giveaway which personally I have problems with, but I don’t play Destiny, so I don’t mind)

puts on dork glasses

ahem



Gandalf is no man or elf. He’s essentially a lesser angel (called an ainu or maia within Tolkien’s lore building in the fictional Quenya language) in a corporeal form, sent by archangels who themselves are commissioned by God to watch over Middle Earth. Gandalf was tasked with guiding men against Sauron, as were Saruman, Radagast, and the other two unnamed “wizards” (lesser angels) sent. Sauron himself is also a lesser angel, though a fallen one.

 

[Sky_River]

There have been numerous stories of Catholic in the deliverance ministry who stated they have had to deliver some people and properties that had a pagan object in their house, be it a statue of a false God etc (because whoever owned it previously had consecrated the object to Satan).

St Paul warns of having anything to do with false gods, warning that sometimes the false gods that were worshipped by certain religions was actually private revelations coming from demons,

St Paul wrote in the New Testament:
“Do you know know the false gods the Greeks worship are fallen angels/ demons?”

Because of the fact that some religions were simply made up by early civilizations and a few did have demons appearing in the form of false gods, pagan objects can be very dangerous.

It doesn’t matter if you do not believe in the pagan gods and are not worshipping them,

That object may have been used in a consecrated ritual doing homage to a false god that is not the God of the Bible.

Objects consecrated to false spirits can be very dangerous.

Atheists who have had ouijii boards in their houses experienced spiritual activity around the house, mysterious illnesses that doctors couldn’t cure, terrible runs of bad luck/ accidents, and have needed exorcism/ deliverance of themselves/ their property by a Catholic Exorcist.

Get rid of that object and bless it and your house with Holy Water. Holy Water has exorcism prayers prayed over it.

I believe demons can be cast out only by the power of God. In exorcism there are too many rituals, which are man made. Demons can pretend to leave the body but keep staying inside, exactly what happened to Anneliese Michel.

I read that on Youtube about exorcism.

 

[CatholicSpirit]

Bad spirits, the devil, satan, whatever your name for “he whose butt will be kicked down to hell by St Michael The ArchAngel”,

Is having a great time with these internet computer games, through game developers.

No wonder the demand for Exorcists is on the rise, and people are demanding quick Baptism and Exorcism. ( see recent thread)

The demand for exorcists is up? I would love to get a job doing that, or at least an apprentice! If only there was an exorcist apprentice sign-up and after a couple years you can become a priest after that. I’d be the first one in line!