How do you react to anti-anime church folk?

[Kai Robin]

Hurray my first topic!

How do you deal with church-folk who think anime is evil? My folks keep on pushing me to go to the local youth group but said group is of the mindset that anime and"worldly things" will "corrupt my mind." One of the senoir youth leades told my sister my folks were "unconvincted" because they listened to the local oldies station. Obviously God and Church commitment are more important than anime but any advice on how to deal with people who are closed minded against things that are important to you?

[FadedOne]

Umm...put bluntly, if the youth leaders think OLDIES music is worthy of the Holy Spirit's conviction? dont go. run away in the opposite direction. It's either a cult or just way too strict. IMO, legalistic crap like that will only scare you away from the REAL God who isn't a formula or a set of rules!

[Debitt]

I think you should respect these people when you're around them, but if you think the youth group's stance on anime and oldies (of all things) would keep you from reaping the benefits of attending a youth group, then don't go. There's no point in going through the motions if you're not going to find fellowship and grow spiritually there, and the people, I think, are a big determining factor in that.

Maybe tell your parents you're uncomfortable with the group's stance on things and try to find another youth group to attend? :3 Good luck. <3

[Raiden no Kishi]

Tell your parents you need to find a better church. Seriously. Run, don't walk.

.rai//

[Mithrandir]

I don't know if I would suggest changing churches over one youth pastor. It's possible that the YP does NOT speak for the overall church's theology (I've seen that many times in the past). I'd certainly explain what happened to my parents and if they want to try and talk to the YP or the senior pastor that's their concern.

If that's the overall feeling of the church, however, you might be better served in another community. Some families are better suited for that environment than others, and it's possible your family would be better in another location.

YMMV, of course.

[mitsuki lover]

I rather think that if they have such a negative reaction to listening to Oldies that
it would be more adviseable to look around for another church home.Not only does it sound overly strict in it's interpretation of what is and isn't allowable for Christians to do,but it might,and I agree with Fadedone on this,be a little tending toward the cultic side.
If there is a church that belongs to one of the mainline denominations around in your area like a Methodist or Presbyterian or Lutheran I would seriously consider
checking it out.There are plenty of good conservative churches within those denominations,not all of them are alike.
Also check with your friends at school to see what youth groups they go to.
But basically find a better place to go to church.

[MasterDias]

I would just ignore them, or find a new church like the others stated. I haven't really had that experience before with anime, but I have had minor experiences involving video games/RPGs.

[Fish and Chips]

Hurray my first topic!

How do you deal with church-folk who think anime is evil?

I don't deal with them. Apart from my family, I generally don't bring up Anime or Manga with people I think would be disinterested in them. I have a harder time working with people who just don't care for it in general, religious convictions aside.

[freerock1]

Fortunately I haven't run into too many people who are blatantly opposed to it in my church. Though I did talk with my youth pastor briefly about it. Initially he didn't seem to have a very positive opinion of anime, though I think he may have been a little more open to it after I talked to him.

(For the record, I'm the senior youth leader at our church, under the YP and his wife. One cool thing is that through my interest in anime, God has, I believe, given me a chance to connect somewhat with a couple of the teens that are into anime -- one of whom is particularly a challenge to connect with.)

Back to your situation, though... As other posters have said, if they're that closed minded about things, you might want to search for another church. If this church has a problem with your parents listening to Oldies radio, it sounds like they're maybe a little too legalistic. Obviously as Christians we can't embrace an "anything goes" attitude, but we can't afford to impose our man-made rules on others either.