Nuggets from Occult Invasion—Toys, Games, and Films

Many of the games, toys, videos and films most popular among children and youth involve the occult. Games such as “Dungeons and Dragons” (there is even a “Christian” counterpart called “Dragon-Raid”) involve the players in nonstop occultism. These “fantasy role-playing games” are extremely dangerous because of the use of the imagination, which is the quickest way into the occult. Lack of space prevents us from naming and analyzing these. Parents need to study these games for themselves.

Children’s cartoons on TV and videos provide both enticement and initiation into the occult. Parents need to be aware of the purpose and meaning behind them. America’s children have become obsessed with the occult through the media. There is a parallel between the creatures who have become the heroes and heroines of today’s youth and the ancient pagan gods and goddesses—both in their appearance and in their powers.

Among the most popular heroes are the Teen-Age Mutant Ninja Turtles, who maintain their special powers through Eastern meditation learned from their guru, Splinter the Rat. She-Ra is the head of a group of sorceresses and goddesses who rule the universe from Crystal Castle, the center and source of all power. Then there are the half-human, half-animal Thunder Cats whose eyes light up with an inner occult power. Many more could be named.

More than one Sunday school or vacation Bible school teacher has asked the children in the class what they would do in danger or trial, only to hear some respond that they would cry out not to God or Christ but to She-Ra, Princess of Power, to He-Man, or to the Power Rangers.

The Star Wars film series started a trend 20 years ago. George Lucas promoted witchcraft by introducing the Force with a dark and a light side (black and white magic). The Jedi knights were the followers of the “old religion,” another name for Wicca, or witchcraft. The laser sword was not a weapon but a divination device which only those initiated into its power could use. Luke Skywalker couldn’t make it work until he learned to go into an altered state and “let the Force take over.” Obi Wan Kenobi became Luke’s spirit guide, communicating with him from the other side. Darth Vader, who seemed the embodiment of evil, turns out to have U Thant’s inner perfection and joins Obi Wan on the other side of death, thus revealing the oneness of all. Yoda is a yogi who teaches Luke the power of positive thinking. For millions of young children the occult Force took the place of God.

Star Wars was followed by other films openly promoting the occult. There were Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Poltergeist, Ghost, and a host of others. Through films and videos today’s youth are being seduced into the unholy trinity of sexual immorality, rebellion, and the occult. One of the hottest films during 1996 was The Craft. This story of four girls who became involved in witchcraft was aimed at teenagers.

“Wizards” is a game that has been used in Southern California public schools, supposedly to teach spelling. However, it promotes demonology and sorcery and humorously portrays Satan as a great achiever and leader. Other occult books include Deborah Rozman’s Meditating with Children: A Workbook on New Age Educational Methods, which has received wide praise. Referring to the effects of this book, the San Jose Mercury newspaper declared enthusiastically, “Educators who once turned to Ritalin and other drugs for hyperactive children…are now turning to daily meditation exercises—with positive results.”

A book presenting Christianity would not be allowed in public schools because of the selectively-enforced separation of church and state. But this book is accepted widely, even though it teaches basic Hindu religious practices and is dedicated to “Paramahansa Yogananda for some of the exercises and much of the inspiration for writing this book [and] above all…to The One….” Its basic premise is “the Divine Nature of Childhood,” and its stated purpose is to help “Children everywhere…evolve towards their spiritual destiny.” The book is a compendium of blatant Hindu religious symbols and practices, from chanting the OM and yoga exercises to self-realization. Yet East-West Journal says, “…the absence of a religious point of view in the book makes this volume an excellent learning vehicle.”