BLEACH: a question

[airichan623]

BLEACH... one of the most popular manga and anime series to hit this earth. But the spiritual content of the series bothers me. At first, I liked the series. I liked the action, it made me laugh, and it wasn't really all that scary. But then I hit volume 20. Before that point, the spirituality was questionable but not to the point that I wouldn't read it anymore. Then the villain's plot was revealed, and after that it began to delve into areas of spirituality that were beyond fantasy and can truly influence people. Though the villain is bad, some Christians could be spiritual damaged by his speech, though very short, about how no one stands above the heavens on the throne of God; not kami, not Soul Reapers, not Hollows, and not shinigami-- and how HE planned to fill the void in heaven. And also, there's the whole thing about how if a Soul Reaper wishes to become even stronger, he must break down his internal "breaking point" and join with the Soul Reaper's opposite being-- the Hollow, through "hollowfication". WHOA BIG RED FLAG GOING UP HERE!!!:?: You guys have to to me-- what do you think- does the series get better as time progresses, or does the bad spirituality come up more and more frequently? I would appreciate your comments-be nice plz.
Thx

[Edited for spoilers. I'd rather no one have the series' best twist ruined.]

[ich1990]

Quality-wise the series gets worse as time progresses, so if you are thinking about stopping, now would not be a bad time. As for spiritual content, little is made of the aforementioned plot mechanics in the next dozen or so volumes, although Ichigo continues to develop his hollow powers.

Remember that Lucifer had delusions of grandeur wanted to be in charge of heaven too, but he got what was coming to him. Also, just because a crazy villain claims that there is no God in heaven doesn't mean that there isn't one. I am curious, how is being a hollow any worse than being a "death god"?

Also, welcome to the forums.

[goldenspines]

Your topic is incorrectly titled, I believe. This is more a question than a debate.
We discourage theological debates on CAA. But if you're just asking a question about the content of the series(as you seem to be doing), that's fine.

Keep it peaceful in here. ^_^

[LadyRushia]

Your topic is incorrectly titled, I believe. This is more a question than a debate.
We discourage theological debates on CAA. But if you're just asking a question about the content of the series(as you seem to be doing), that's fine.

Keep it peaceful in here. ^_^

Seconded.

Also, all that stuff you mentioned hasn't been touched on in a very, very long time. I agree with Ich's post, and if you don't feel comfortable continuing the series then stop reading it. Or you can choose to ignore those parts and focus on the larger themes of the series.

Here are CAA's reviews of Bleach, though they might be outdated.
http://www.christiananime.net/reviews_anime.php?display=209
http://www.christiananime.net/manga_reviews.php?display=184

[EricTheFred]

Any time you watch gothic stuff, things involving ancient mythologies or drawing from foreign religions, and all entertainments that run contrary to your knowledge of the truth, whether you ought to continue depends entirely upon your own heart.

If you have to keep reminding yourself that's not the way reality works, or if you find yourself arguing with the 'theology' of the fiction, maybe it just isn't the right anime for you. After all, while we are supposed to stand up to demons, we aren't supposed to go deliberately pick fights with them.

For me, the term 'Suspension of Disbelief' is a very literal one. I am setting aside the fact that I don't believe any of it in order to enjoy the show. It is no different than watching a Disney flick about talking cars. If the show troubled someone else though, I would rather turn it off.

[~darkelfgirl~]

Any time you watch gothic stuff, things involving ancient mythologies or drawing from foreign religions, and all entertainments that run contrary to your knowledge of the truth, whether you ought to continue depends entirely upon your own heart.

If you have to keep reminding yourself that's not the way reality works, or if you find yourself arguing with the 'theology' of the fiction, maybe it just isn't the right anime for you. After all, while we are supposed to stand up to demons, we aren't supposed to go deliberately pick fights with them.

For me, the term 'Suspension of Disbelief' is a very literal one. I am setting aside the fact that I don't believe any of it in order to enjoy the show. It is no different than watching a Disney flick about talking cars. If the show troubled someone else though, I would rather turn it off.

I agree.

[Doubleshadow]

I haven't found the spiritual content to be an issue because, as a series written by a non-Christian author in a non-Christian country dealing with a totally and completely fictional universe, I know it's not supposed to reflect what is real. I have had times where manga have presented spiritual issues that bother me, and in such instances, I examine myself as to why this is so, and what I should do. I have stopped reading series' when necessary, but I don't believe a personal battle should translate to my saying those series' are inappropriate for a Christian.
As for Aizen specifically, delusions of godhood are not limited to the realms of fiction. It did not effect me spiritually.

[Dr.Faust]

I've had this happen to me befor. My teacher sead that Poke'mon was demonicent and I felt like I was sinning for playind the game.I started to qusten my fath(luckly Thousand Foot Krutch got me back on track).I think that your fath should come in to play when reading a seres. For example I used to read Air Gear up until adout book 3 when it got too volger for my tast, but I stell read xxxholic and that contans a lot of sprital content. I fell as long as its not porn or and godbashing its not so bad.Most anime artist are not christen so they don't take it as offencev as us. Besides think of all the people whe tryed to become God: Lucifer,Light,Creed(from Black Cat),Black Haert(Marvel comics) they all fell and this person most likely will too.

[airichan623]

i appreciate all your incite. thank you. i wondered because for me the spiritual content affects more deeply than other people. for those like me who dont like the too nonChristian spiritual-- is xxxholic OK? (does the good outweigh the bad?) more opinions plz
ps. not a theological debate, just a big question

[Dr.Faust]

holic is ok the only real problem that i have is the fact that yuko can creat "gods"

[EricTheFred]

holic is ok the only real problem that i have is the fact that yuko can creat "gods"

And worlds. Bear in mind that "gods" is "kami" in Japan... not really gods in the Western sense at all. Although, I think the pre-christian Greek concept of Daimonos from which we get our word "Demon" comes closer. (Note that we get our concept from Judaism. The Greek word was used to translate the Hebrew word. I'm referring to the concept that originally applied.)

Of course, early theologians believed that the Greek and Roman supernatural existed, but was in reality the demons of Judaism disguising themselves. This view has always made a lot of sense to me. So, from a Christian point of view, we aren't talking "gods" at all.

Enough of that. The fact is, Yuko is a fictional character with extraordinary power within her fictional universe. Getting back on topic, I would say she might indeed bother the original poster at least as much as some of the theological issues in Bleach.

I'll say it again. Don't deliberately pick fights with your demons. They may lurk for you in places that they don't lurk for me. I'm fine with xxxHolic and Bleach, but the Lord deliberately made you and I different, and I know he did so for a reason. Some of us have hard shells that everything bounces off. That's me. But, I suspect people like me aren't sensitive enough for many of the jobs He needs done. Perhaps that's where you come in.

[Dr.Faust]

thinks for explaning Fred. holic is my favoret munga and that neede to be explaned. i cant wate untell they relese the US box set for the holic anime