P
Psychic
Guest
There is a pokemon called Arceus, who is supposed to represent God. Is it right to use it?
- Status
U
Unitas
Guest
If you keep fantasy in fastasy and reality in reality I don’t see a problem with it.
I personally play Warhammer 40,000. The main reason it appeals to me is that the story and setting is a sci-fi adaptation of medieval christendom and christian history. Take the Chronicles of Narnia, make it a bit more obvious, and set it 40 millenia in the future. That’s 40k.
I don’t view it as blasphemous or dangerous; that aspect of it is actually what draws me to it.
G
Goddra2
Guest
Arceus doesn’t represent God, at least, not really. (That idea of yours troubled me a while ago, too, until I spent some time thinking about it). Arceus has roots in some Japanese mytho/theology, Daoist, I believe (Yin and Yang, and all that). Maybe a bit of Shinto.
Arceus was worshipped, according to the game, as a creator of the universe, a diety. There were several other deity-pokemon, too, like Dialga and Palkia (Time and Space creators). However, long story short, Arceus or the others weren’t really God for several reasons.
One) In the Anime (early on, at least), a character recalls the story of Noah. A Judeo-Christian story. This suggests Christianity. Which suggests one true God, if you think about it.
Two) A society being ancient and worshipping something doesn’t make that something God (how many times in the Old Testament do we come across societies worshipping other gods, like Moloch and Juggernaut? Or that Egyptian golden-calf-thing, for those of you unfamiliar with it?).
Three) Pokemon is a major operating franchise today, and probably would very much like to continue to be one (do not get me started on “pokemon isn’t the rage anymore”). If Arceus is “God”, you can go no higher. If you can go no higher, than there’s no more point to continuing Pokemon, which means that the franchise would eventually die.
Four) You cannot put God in a ball that can fit in your pocket. Even the Japanese, crazy as some of them are, know this.
Arceus was worshipped, according to the game, as a creator of the universe, a diety. There were several other deity-pokemon, too, like Dialga and Palkia (Time and Space creators). However, long story short, Arceus or the others weren’t really God for several reasons.
One) In the Anime (early on, at least), a character recalls the story of Noah. A Judeo-Christian story. This suggests Christianity. Which suggests one true God, if you think about it.
Two) A society being ancient and worshipping something doesn’t make that something God (how many times in the Old Testament do we come across societies worshipping other gods, like Moloch and Juggernaut? Or that Egyptian golden-calf-thing, for those of you unfamiliar with it?).
Three) Pokemon is a major operating franchise today, and probably would very much like to continue to be one (do not get me started on “pokemon isn’t the rage anymore”). If Arceus is “God”, you can go no higher. If you can go no higher, than there’s no more point to continuing Pokemon, which means that the franchise would eventually die.
Four) You cannot put God in a ball that can fit in your pocket. Even the Japanese, crazy as some of them are, know this.
B
bpbasilphx
Guest
One) In the Anime (early on, at least), a character recalls the story of Noah. A Judeo-Christian story. This suggests Christianity. Which suggests one true God, if you think about it.
Or then again, it could recall the story of Gilgamesh, which would suggest Babylonian mythology.
Or then again, it could recall the story of Gilgamesh, which would suggest Babylonian mythology.
G
Goddra2
Guest
They mention Noah specifically, including the dove and the olive branch.
T
thistle
Guest
Why would you care? Your profile does not indicate you even believe in God.
P
Psychic
Guest
If I wouldn;t care about God, why would I even be here?
N
Nickkname
Guest
Isn’t that blasphemy?
Edit: This is from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arceus#Arceus
Arceus (アルセウス, Aruseus?), known as the Alpha Pokémon or “The God of the Pokémon”, is the ultimate legendary Pokémon that premiered in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. It has a silver coloured body and has a large, golden wheel around its abdomen, connected by spikes filled with gems. It is said in a book called “The Original Story” that Arceus was born from an egg in a vortex of pure chaos. After it was born, it created three beings from itself, one of time (Dialga), one of space (Palkia) and one of dimensions (Giratina), and then three more beings (Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit). Those six creatures created matter and spirit, however Giratina was banished to another dimension, to guard the dead, while Arceus went to sleep. This story can be found in the Canalave Library, and can also be told from the various plates the player encounters in the story.
Arceus has the Multitype Ability, which allows the player to change Arceus’ type to any of the other sixteen types by having it hold various elemental plates found throughout the game. Arceus’ signature move, Judgment (Learns it at level 100), works hand in hand with the elemental plates. Arceus also has the highest base stat total of any Pokémon to date, which makes it the strongest Pokémon of all time.
Officially, Nintendo has not released further details on Arceus in Japan or the United States. The only way for players to currently capture Arceus is through cheats or glitches such as a Gameshark or an Action Replay DS by using either the event item, The Azure Flute or by using the encounter code.
Picture of said Poke’mon:
T
TurboVW
Guest
Wow, I sense real Christian love here…
Anyway. It can be blasphemy. It can also be just a fantasy game. I think that if you are aware it is a representation of God, and you think it may not be acceptable, then chances are, you may be right.
It may not be easy to always discern what is sacred and what is profane, because nobody is perfect.
G
Goddra2
Guest
Probably. Arceus borrows heavily (if not exclusively) from Daoist creation myths.
Me, I see him as maybe the first created being with a physical form (the physical form part is key: it is a creature of both body and soul, like us), which God made to help him in affecting to Creation. There are a number of Christian religion points in the Pokemon games, like Lugia (a second-generation legendary with the ability to create 40 day storms). Since Nintendo has not released any information regarding Arceus aside from a few in-game myths (and characters within the pokemon world itself have been known to interpret these myths wrongly) that sound Daoist, I’m willing to see how Nintendo says it should be seen.
Me, I see him as maybe the first created being with a physical form (the physical form part is key: it is a creature of both body and soul, like us), which God made to help him in affecting to Creation. There are a number of Christian religion points in the Pokemon games, like Lugia (a second-generation legendary with the ability to create 40 day storms). Since Nintendo has not released any information regarding Arceus aside from a few in-game myths (and characters within the pokemon world itself have been known to interpret these myths wrongly) that sound Daoist, I’m willing to see how Nintendo says it should be seen.
- Status