CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

Hello everyone. This is my first post and introduction to this forum. I'm not really sure what to say, so I'll just get right down to the point.

The main reason why I'm posting this is because I want to know if anyone is having or has had the same issue I'm dealing with. I am Christian, but long before I gave my life to Christ I was pretty much obsessed with anime and the whole shabang. I never got into hentai or that stuff, Thank God, but that was my life. Then when I gave my life over to Christ, about a week afterwards I talked to my youth pastor's wife about my obsession, because I felt like anime was controling me. She told me to take down all my posters in my room and stay away from it for at least a week, and that is what I did. I pretty much took it out of my life.

Now, what my problem is the fact that I still like anime, but I feel as if I shouldn't because I seem to get obsessive about it and leave God out of the picture. I have been to Otakon for the past maybe 5 years and with each passing year I hurt God more and more as I go against His will and leave Him at home for the weekend...I was into anime before Him so I guess I think that I don't need Him after. Last year I decided to go back to Otakon and try to witness to people, but even with that motive, I brushed that aside and just did my own thing. I want to go back again, but I feel as if I need to stay away from it all to keep myself from getting too obsessive again.

I think I need to learn this lesson in life before I move forward to my next goal, going to college at ICU, International Christian University. There, I will be surrounded by all my dreams and passions I have had for as long as I can remember, and I need to learn how not to get obsessive with it now before I hurt God even further.

If anyone can offer any advice I'd be grateful for it.

First off, welcome to the site! I really hope you enjoy it!

Second, before I (or probably anyone else) can offer you any advice, I need to know exactly what you mean by "obsessive." Because, I am a Christian who is in love with God and also enjoys anime, and for me, anime doesn't get in the way of my relationship with Him. I don't think that the two are mutually exclusive. But, the case may be different for you because of your habits before you came to Christ; it sounds like it's harder for you to keep you focus on God without anime distracting you. I doubt this is something that you couldn't overcome, but if you could let me know exactly what you mean when you say "obsessive," it would help me understand how far-reaching this problem is, I suppose.

Edit: Oh, btw, I'm going to move this to the "Who's who?" forum. It's more appropriate for that area of the site.

hello, welcome to the forums! it is very important to kep God as the center of your life.

Welcome to CAA. I agree with Yumie that Christianity and the good ones in the anime genre aren't mutually exclusive, but, as she said, there are probably cases where it should be kept in moderation carefully. Turkishmonky is right, too, that it is very important to keep God at the center of your life. Especially if you see anime hindering your spiritual growth, it may be wise to set boundaries to gradually decrease the obsession. Daily quiet times are a great way to keep your focus on your relationship with God. If there were a way that you could retain your anime hobby while having daily quiet times, that might work, but, in my own experience, prioritizing is harder to do than it sounds. As a newer Christian, it is really good that you want to get on the right track early on in your life. I've read that the person you become in your teenage years is often the person you remain all your life, at least in respect to a lot of things. I'll be praying that God directs you to make the right choice.

Well, before I returned to Christ and was really anime obsessive, my role model was my "friend" and former girl scout member Shelby. She is one of the worst people to look up to, but I did, because she knew a ton about anime and I liked what I saw from her. I basically tried to be like her and engross myself into as much anime as possible. Thank God I got some sense and quit girl scouts because of her, because she was so bad, and all I'll say about her is that she graduated high school last year and she now has a child of like one or so.

Anyway, I do have daily fellowship with God as much as I can, and I'm trying to live for Him as much as I can, although I am very young and still immature about things, being that I will only be 3 years old spiritually on March 12th. Um...when I say obsessive, I mean full out devoted to it I guess...see, I just have a hard time bringing God and anime together, because I don't have anyone as a good role model showing me its possible. I've been away from anime pretty much as much as possible, because I don't know how to maturely act with it, but its still a hobby and like of mine...I want to be able to moderately be around anime and manga and still be a godly Christian.

See, I think God wants me to be a missionary to Japan one day, and I think it would be a great idea if the bible were rewritten in manga format to make it easier for people to read and more enjoyable to read. Or, if I could somehow write lyrics for a Japanese Christian band, or something that helps spread God's truth...but, as of right now I'm no where near being anything good or effective because I can't even witness to the people right beside me here...

Anyway, I'm gonna stop griping here and let you guys respond again before I say anything further. (FYI, never ask me to explain because I just might write a book lol)

Hm, I'm with everyone else that you can love God and anime at the same time. May I ask if someone is telling you it is wrong?

I want to suggest that there is something wrong with many American Christians in that they are not accepting of many 'geek' hobbies. So they declare other people's hobbies taboo "obsessions", but wouldn't think twice about some of their own hobbies. For example, I know a great many people in the church obsessed with having the latest clothes. Or music. Or being popular over being godly. But a lot of people have hobbies they love. Like sports or cooking.

I guess what I am trying to say is that everyone has hobbies they are devoted to, and there doesn't have to be anything wrong with that.

I also want to be a missionary to Japan, and have been to seminary and short-term to Japan already. So ya know, there already is a Bible being written in manga form (there is a pic of it here, although I couldn't find a website for it: http://www.proverbs2525.org/activities/rainbow_club.php ). Having said that, I also want to note that most older teens and adults in Japan are not anime/manga fans. It's a misconception. Just as most Japanese love music we would consider 'pre-teen' (although I felt bad about telling many people that most adults in America do not listen to Britney Spears).

it's only wrong if you put it before God or on the same level as God. if it's truly consuming your life that's bad, but there's nothing wrong with liking anime in itself. if you've had a problem with putting anime before God before, then you may want to be extra extra careful with this.

oh and hello and welcome!

I think what my true problem is not the fact that I over obsess with anime anymore. I think what is really happening is satan trying to bring me down making me think that anime is bad and that anything related to Japan is bad, all because he knows God has called me to be a missionary there and that is a threat to him...

I can watch anime or read manga or even draw manga without going crazy about it, its just that I think satan made me believe that I was obsessive about it. I don't know for sure, but that is my guess. Now with Otakon, that could be a different story...

Are there any cosplayers here?

By the way, thank you for welcoming me here, everyone.

Welcome earthling.

Hello new member of our food supply....uh, I mean! Welcome to the board.

*Hands out Chocolate Pocky and Ramnue Soda to our new member*

If you ever need to talk to someone, just send a pm.

Wingzero22

Yay!!! Pocky and ramen soda!!!! ^_^ Hehe! Thanks!

Just to let you guys know I'm starting to feel better about the whole issue I brought up before. I think satan was just using me for all he could get, but Jesus is on my side so I have nothing to worry about.

I'm really glad to hear that, JC_Freak!