There are many cultures that have great appeal. One of the most popular is the Eastern-Asian culture. There is scarcely a person or child that has not become familiar with Samurai and Ninjas. From The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Imaginex's Samurai Showdown, entertainment is filled with eastern characters and traditions. I wish I could say that these eastern influences are harmless, but that would be a falsehood. Everything the East produces is filled with their religious and ideological belief systems. Take the Samurai Sword alone. Often called a Katana or Daito, The Samurai Sword is a curved sword that attracts adults, teens, and children alike. What is not as widely known about this famous weapon is that it is part of the quasi-chivalric religion called Bushido. The Samurai believed their sword to be their soul. If they lost their sword, they lost their soul. Samurai also believed that dishonor was a cause for death; if they failed in combat they would commit harry carry (suicide) rather than live without honor.
The Samurai Sword itself is put together by a sword smith who prays Buddhist prayers over it as he constructs it and even places a prayer scroll in the tang. (The Samurai Sword: A Handbook, John M. Yumoto). Many Christians who decide to own Katanas or Samurai Swords find their home filled with a deep depression. This depression is a Spirit of Death that attaches to Asian objects like the Katana. One can with impunity say the Samurai Code and Belief System is built on death and even makes death part of its worship.
Now for the Ninja. Contrary to popular belief, ninjas did not wear masks or dress in black. Ninjas looked like ordinary citizens, who would blend into the crowd and then assassinate their target when it was most convient. The ninja that the west is familiar with is the mystical and mythological Shinobi or Ninja who sports the black outfit and mask (See Ninja Wikipedia). Ninjas are very popular with children, especially in this form:
Even I can remember all their names: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael. The problem with anything associated with Ninjas is that the belief system of Buddhism is prevalent and children who come to love these characters see them meditating and speaking Zen philosophy.
Ninjas have much in common with their Middle Eastern counterpart called the Hashishin. The Hashishin were Arab assassins that were believed to allegedly smoke hashish, hunt down their victim, and kill them. The Hashishim and Ninja both live by a code of death. Their occuptation is not defense like a knight or soldier, but killing poltical enemies. If a Ninja or Hashishim is caught, they too commit suicide.
But by now it is too late. The children are already hooked and parents do not want to isolate their kids from being apart of what is taking the nation by storm. Instead of taking a stand and finding alternatives, fathers and mothers concede and allow these eastern influences into their homes. As a result the demons and anti-Christ doctrines flood into the house and you will find the children changed.
It is time as Christians that we take a stand and protect our youth. We must develop in the next generation a genuine discernment that will allow them to either forgo being involved in these stories or give them the power to stay detached from the philosophies if they choose to be involved. I argue the latter is much harder and that regardless how resolved someone might be, the depression and darkness of those eastern religions will influence the atmosphere of their home and soul. We are called to not, "conform to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds." (Romans 12:2). Many Christians conveniently interpret this to mean conforming to blatant Satanic and worldly philosophies, but the scripture indicates no scale. It is clear as day that we are not to conform and that we must allow Christ to transform our minds when we foolishly do get involved in these cocktails of eastern mysticism.
No one wants to be party pooper, but if we do not "stand for something, we will fall for everything." The devil only needs a little compromise to make his plan of collapsing a Christian complete. The enemy rarely approaches us with his document of surrender to sign in plain daylight. No he packages his document of dissent against God with cute Pokémon and smiley faced Hello Little Kitty kittens. Our enemy knows how alluring the eastern creations are. I will say with confidence that you would be crazy not to find the Asia mesmerizing or their history without amusement. Samurai, Ninjas, Transformers, Power Rangers, Pokémon, and beyond are all appealing because they contain aspects of the Asian Culture that are fascinating. The problem is that they also contain the Buddhist, Shinto, and Zen belief systems.
There is nothing wrong with teaching children about Samurai and Ninjas. They need to know about these warriors because they will be in their culture. However, there is a difference between knowledge and emersion. You can teach about these popular fighters without making them fantastical. Tell the next generation about how the Samurai kill themselves if they are defeated or the Ninja really does not ware cool black outfits and killed people for a living. I once told a child about the Samurai and how if they lost a battle, they committed harry carry. That child responded, "that's stupid!" Indeed, it was such a waste of life. Beware my brothers and sisters of the influences behind the popular toys and TV programs. Investigate what the popular characters are teaching your children, your family, and even friends.
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