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Dragon Ball Z

Another installment in the Dragon Ball series is Dragon Ball Z. This show, which is widely popular, even today, has several things wrong with it. Some of these are deeply spiritual as well.

Immodesty

There is inappropriate clothing in this anime. IMDb says, "Girl characters show cleavage and wear short skirts. Flirty behavior with boys."¹ This is immodest dress and behavior. The Bible speaks much of such behavior in Proverbs 5-7, and about immodest clothing in 1 Timothy 2:9:

"That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words." (Proverbs 7:5)

"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;" (1 Timothy 2:9)

Such things are not becoming of Christ. Because of this, God would not be pleased with His children consuming this kind of content.

Chi

This show has an energy called chi (or ki).² It is used for "ki attacks".³ This is magic! This is witchcraft! Magic is explicitly forbidden by the Scriptures.

"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." (Exodus 22:18)

The LORD is clear that He despises witchcraft. I do not believe Christ would have us to watch things that displease Him.

Murder

Murder appears throughout the show.⁴ Murder is an offense against God. God "created man in his own image" (Genesis 1:27), so we should not take the life of another human unlawfully. This is the exact argumentation God Himself uses in Genesis 9:6. Over and over in Scripture we are told not to murder:

"Thou shalt not kill." (Exodus 20:13)

"Thou shalt not kill." (Deuteronomy 5:17)

"¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:" (Matthew 5:21)

And there are so many other passages that speak about this. Look up "murder" in a Bible app and you'll see reference after reference speaking about murder being wrong. One example is from the Book of Numbers which speaks of the avenger of blood who was to kill the murderer. God takes this very seriously!

Mr. Satan

There is a character in this show called "Mr. Satan" (or censored to "Hercule," coming from the Greek Hercules). Now, I don't know about you, but I don't want anything to do with Satan virtually or otherwise! He is our enemy (Matthew 13:39). In Ephesians 4:27, we are told "Neither give place to the devil."

"By the end of Dragon Ball Z, Goku and his friends come to see the good in Mr. Satan and decide that he is a noble hero."⁵

Is not this Satan's exact plan? To become the "savior" and "hero"? To be "like the most High" (Isaiah 14:14)? May the Lord chasten us if we fall to Lucifer's weak tricks! Satan is not good!

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44, emphasis and underline mine)

Be not deceived! Satan is the "prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2) and the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). We are in a spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:12)—let us never forget that! The only way over him is through the Word of the LORD (Ephesians 6:17). Let us "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11)!

Conclusion

We can see that this anime is not Christian, not even close. The Lord would not have us to watch this anime. It clearly violates the Bible and the holiness God has called us to.


Sources:
1. "Parents' Guide to Dragon Ball Z." Common Sense Media, commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/dragon-ball-z. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
2. "Ki." Dragon Ball Wiki, dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Ki. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
3. "Dragon Ball Z: Parents guide." IMDb, imdb.com/title/tt0214341/parentalguide. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
4. "List of deaths in the Dragon Ball series." Dragon Ball Wiki, dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_deaths_in_the_Dragon_Ball_series. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
5. "Mr. Satan." Dragon Ball Wiki, dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Mr._Satan. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
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