Christianity CAN get along with Magic: The Gathering

My Ex-Friend Dan

The person who introduced me to Magic was a kid named Dan, from my old church. My family had left due to problems with the church staff. Dan, however, remained my friend, despite pressure to let me "go to hell alone." It was a very controling church, and misguided in many ways. Anyway, Dan had played Magic with some other friends of his, and taught it to me using some cards he had bought. I remember that he bought a couple of Ice Age starters, which were recommended to him. He also bought some Weatherlight boosters, because that was the newest expansion.

Well, I enjoyed the game enough to buy my own cards, and wanted to show my new deck to Dan. I had spent about $20 on cards. However, Dan had gone to a church retreat that summer, and I had to wait for him to get back. When he finally did, I found out he had attended a lecture on the occult.

The lecture, coupled with pressure from the church, had made Dan realize that Magic: The Gathering cards were possessed by Satan, and he had to get rid of them without somebody else falling to the trap of the cards.

Dan had a little problem. He was a pyromaniac, to an extent that it would probably get him into trouble one day. So what does his misguided church do? Tells Dan he should burn his cards. Great, encourage the kid in his problem. Dan also encouraged me to do the same. At that point in time, I had no job, and didn't want to burn $20. I resolved to keep playing. This later was one of the reasons I am no longer Dan's friend, though we made an attempt for a while.

My Theory on God's Power

Anything which appears magical can be explained by advanced science. Cavemen thought fire was magical. Knights thought gunpowder was magical. We thought spontaneous combustion was magic for a while. Similarly, I believe that God's miracles are simply holy magic. In the end, God is the greatest wizard ever. And that, ultimately, is a science so advanced of us that we will never reach it's like. That is why God remains holy and all powerful - He invented science when He created the universe, and he has complete control over it.

As For This "Possessed by Satan" Nonsense. . .

I have been playing Magic for the better part of four years now, and the only religious disaster that has happened in my family was my Dad's conversion to Bhuddism - and he doesn't play Magic! My bedroom remains free of split pea soup, and while I don't always get up in time for church on Sunday, I couldn't always do that before I played Magic anyway! I must conclude that Satan does not possess Magic cards.

Safe Colors

I think every player has his/her own set of favorite colors that they build most of their decks out of. Mine are green and blue, a "good" color and a neutral color. I rarely play with black, the "evil" color. I think this is another reason that I have not found trouble with Magic cards. I believe if you tempt yourself too much, you will eventually lose out. I advise against playing with too much black if you have issues about games influencing life.

In Conclusion

Dan and his church might think the road to hell is paved with Magic cards, but I have met enough nice people playing Magic, including myself, to say that they are mistaken. Also, intent is everything - if you play Magic as a game, no worries, but if you get into it for the occult, you are in deep kimshi.

As for that anti-black thing I really don't agree. Sure, in the game black is generally evil but that doesnt mean anything. It is a game. Black isn't an evil color any more than any other color. Its just a color! You might as well say all black people are evil if you believe that!

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NOW DONT YOU WANNA GROW UP TO BE JUST LIKE ME?!

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"Sticks and stones break my bones, but whips and chains excite me."

My ref list: http://classic.magictraders.com/reflists/DarkDamion.html

Thats a good point about monopoly, and the brainwashing for that matter.

In 1 Corinthians 11:23 Paul put it this way.

"Everything is permissible"- but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"- but not everything is constructive.

So, this little verse gives us the low down on God's opinion of things of the world (in this case magic cards). I think the problem lies on why we play magic. It would be wrong to play cards while envisioning yourself as a sorcerer, but from being around the local tourny scene I almost never see that. I think WotC has transformed magic into more of a mathamatical strategy card game with a little luck, and the pictures on there to enhance collectability.
Otherwise magic can only get in the way of your spiritual walk if you think about it 24/7.
Jesus told us to take up our cross and follow him, but we don't need to be monks. In fact when you play magic you get a chance to make friends with different people and allow yourself to be in a position to witness the gospel.

Killing the first born of the egyptians, turned the river to blood, a swarm of locusts.

I am a devoted Christian. I play magic.
To Christians, the actual game should not be shunned upon, but maybe some of the ideals which might be brought forth from it.

Please let me explain.

In the eyes of a magic-playing Christian, a magic card is a means of entertainment. A means of having fun.

It is harmless in everyway. Satan does not possess a magic card. The Skull in Necropotence or the Priest in Yawmoth's Bargain is NOT going to jump out and attack you.

But according to the ten commandments, "do not have any idols before me" - a magic card could make a christian's mind more focused on a card than on god...

Therefore this could inevitably lead to stealing cards, ripping off each other, and committing other acts of displeasure in God's eyes.

That is how i see it.

As long as the Christian keeps Magic what it truly is - a game, then it will be fine.

But if he starts basing so much of himself on it that the game leads him or her to steal and sin, then maybe it has turned into something which should not be persued any further.

I myself, being a Christian, have been playing magic as a game. I trade alot, I talk about it alot, but I have NOT made it something to steal and lie over.

So the battle between Magic and Christianity isn't all too pointless, but it is a bit misguided.

The evil in the game is usually not in the game itself, but in the player who plays it.

So please people, don't blame Richard Garfield

Oh yes, one more thing. I have in no way offended Atheists or other religious members in my post. I respect their beliefs whole-heartedly. So I am slightly disappointed by some of the people out there who are badmouthing Christianity through churches though, with all that brainwashing stuff - you are all entitled to your opinion, as long as it is not spoken to offend anyone else.

Thanks for listening,

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Ally
* Serenity *

I was raised Catholic, although I've never been what you would call devout. That's not to say that I didn't follow the faith, because I did, and I still do. I just never really felt comfortable with the strict nature of the church that I attended. Anyway, because of my upbringing, I always believed that any symbol that could represent something evil was to be ridiculed and shunned.

I don't know how many people have played since the original sets, but there were more than a few cards that could be viewed as evil. Examples of this are Demonic Tutor, Unholy Strength (there's a pentagram in the original background), Contract from Below, etc. I enjoyed the game when I first began to play, but it wasn't long before my upbringing began to conflict with the game. At times, I almost felt guilty for playing Magic, and even moreso for enjoying it so much.

Finally, though, I spoke with a family friend about it, and he gave me some advice. He asked me if I really thought that Magic was evil, and I told him that I didn't, since it was only a game. He then told me that, if it was something that I enjoyed and I felt that there was nothing wrong with it, then I should trust my instincts and follow their guidance. To this day, I still play a lot of Magic, and I don't feel guilty about it one bit. There are other things in my life that I regret, so why waste my time worrying over a game?

The magic game's influence on religious players is up to the player's themselves.

Personally, I do not think people need to bring this issue up so sternly.

Magic was intended to be a form of fun entertainment. It was never intended to start disputes based on religious and cultural beliefs.

Lets keep Magic what it truly is: a game.

< To Kworb - I beg you not to go around and just state "God doesn't exist" - everyone has their beliefs, and you are definitely entitled to your own belief/opinion - but please, don't state them so that it offends others. Thank you, and forgive me for the sensitivity on the subject.>

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Ally
* Serenity *

Im Catholic. I play Magic. Check this out- I have a straight black deck! Its based on the DESTRUCTION of lands and STEALING cards from people's hands!
Does that make me evil?
I go to church every sunday. I pray, I believe in God, but Im not without my reservations.
Im very interested in astronomy and the universe, and the more I study it the more it gets me thinking.
Still, I believe in God and I dont think that God would have made himself redily comprehendible to an 18 year old kid like myself.
So where am I going with this?
Ok - magic is just a game. Its cardboard with pictures and words on it.
Magic is no different than any other card game, any other game. Its something people do to pass time because we are more intelligent and more easily bored than other animals.

A cat licks its own *******, people play magic.

And people who play magic but dont play black becase its "evil"...you people are just full of bull****.
Do you really think it matters what color your cardboard is?
Lemme try to understand your logic.
The color black is only "black" (something humans made up) because it absorbs all the light that hits it, and "white" is only "white" because it reflects all light.

Its has nothing to do with whats RIGHT and WRONG, GOOD or EVIL.

Im ranting here, I know.
It just seems to me that some people just dont think.

The same preacher who will tell you a magic card will seal your fate in an eternal sea of flames will turn around after church and pop cats with a pellet gun in his back yard.

Its my personal belief that you should worry about yourself, and if the next guy wants to play a card game that maybe you dont, well then by God you let him play it and keep your mouth shut.

Maybe he doesn't like you takin pot shots at the stray cats in your back yard.

Live your own life, do what makes you happy.
If you like to play magic, good for you. Have fun with it, but dont let it consume your life.

Never let anyone else influence your opinion about anything. In the end you only have to answer to yourself and God, and with all the problems in the world, I seriously doubt that God cares what color your cardboard is.

Have fun with magic, go to church on Sunday if thats your thing. If not, play more magic.

Thats my *****in and bundle of life lessons for the day.

Think people, cmon.
~

Ashram

Christianity vs. Magic: The Gathering - A pointless battle

If this is what you truly believe, then why are you posting this? Why do you argue? Why do you try to convince?

All you are doing is being a hypocrit, as are all of you who try to convince people who are doing no more than being faithful to their religion, as you are being "faithful" to your game. Atheists shouldn't pop up here (referring to those immature enough to toy with others' beliefs), and I more than anyone would gladly have a talk with those who decide they should make fun of the beliefs and practices of religious people.