I honestly didn't want to have to write something like this. It's sad that we live in a world where these sorts of things are even being debated. As you read from the article's title, we will be discussing why lolicon, pedophilia, and hebephilia are morally deranged and deeply wicked.
Defining the Terms
Before we get too far into this, I want to make sure we have our terms defined. Loli(s) refers to a child who is, or a woman who looks like, a prepubescent or pubescent girl being portrayed in a sexual light (the male version is shota). Lolicon is a "genre of fictional media which focuses on young or young-looking girl characters, particularly in a sexually suggestive or erotic manner"¹ (the male version is shotacon).
Additionally, the term pedophil(e/ia) has to do with attraction (romantic, sexually, or otherwise) to a prepubescent child (0-~10). Hebephil(e/ia) refers to attraction to a pubescent child (~11-14/15). This means that those who like lolicon (or shotacon) are one of the following: Pedophiles, hebephiles, or both.
I'm sorry you had to sit through reading that, I wish I didn't have to either. But for this discussion, it is important we properly understand the terms we're using. Let's get into the topic at hand.
Why Does it Matter?
This topic is important because many anime contain lolis and pedo/hebephilia. It's sad, it's disgusting, but it's also true. Rather than inadequately dealing with this topic anytime it appears in an anime, I am writing this so that it can be linked on other pages.
It also matters because if you're fine with anime showing this form of wickedness, that seems like a safety risk for children. A generation that has grown up being taught via their shows that lolicon is okay is a dangerous world for an innocent child.
Does the Bible Speak on This?
Many people claim the Bible is silent on this topic or (like Muslims) state that the Bible allows or even condones it! I don't want to be graphic, but biologically speaking, a child is physically unable to do those sorts of things. It would make no sense for the God of all creation to include many scientifically supported practices (such as the washings in the Old Testament) and then allow this—something more harmful to the human body than either washing or not.
So, this leaves us with a question: Does the Bible say anything about this? The answer is, "Yes! The Bible does speak about this topic." There are a couple main passages I want to bring to your attention, one of which I think will surprise you.
The most explicit passage on this topic is probably 1 Corinthians 7:36. That verse says:
"But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry." (Ibid.)
The verse says that if a woman has "pass[ed] the flower of her
age," she may marry. Now, a girl who is (pre)pubescent does not fit this
bill. Thus, the Bible points to a woman's marriageable age beginning when
she is physically mature (which, according to science, happens sometime between 16-18). This also applies to males as well. In 1 Samuel 2:33, a preacher of God delivers a message to Eli. He says the following:
"And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age." (Ibid.)
According to this proclamation, the increase of Eli's house would die in the "flower of their age", that is, in puberty. Thus, we understand that the flower of ones age applies to both male and female.
The New Testament isn't alone in this assertion. The Old Testament supports this idea as well. Let's start in Ezekiel.
"[7]
I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast
increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. [8] Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was
the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy
nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with
thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine." (Ezekiel 16:7-8)
It is the LORD speaking here. He says (in an allegory) that He looked upon Jerusalem and saw that her breasts were fashioned (verse seven). It then says that it was now "the time of love" (verse eight). It also states that God entered a covenant with Jerusalem in verse eight.
We see that Jerusalem didn't become the Lord's, as a wife, until after her breasts were fashioned (i.e., matured), and then they entered a covenant. A prepubescent or pubescent child's breasts are not fashioned, and their body is not mature. And a prepubescent child, specifically, doesn’t have enough knowledge or reasoning to enter a covenant.
Lastly, let's look at that "surprise passage."
"[8]
¶ We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do
for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? [9] If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. [10] I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour." (Song of Solomon 8:8-10)
This passage, I think, may have surprised you. If
you paid attention, you'll notice these verses come from the Song of
Solomon. What better place to learn about the marriageable age in the
Bible than the Book about marriage?
This Isn't About Marriage?
One may claim that lolicon isn't about marriage, just sexual and/or romantic attraction. Sure, that's possible, but there are several things to consider:
First, lust is wrong. Lust, according to the Bible, is coveting (Romans 7:7).* We know that coveting is a sin.
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." (Exodus 20:17)
Lusting (coveting) your neighbor's daughter is part of this prohibition. Thus, having sexual attraction (i.e., lusting) after anyone, (pre)pubescent or not, is wrong. This forbids lusting after children.
I hate that I have to speak about this, too, but people would try and say "What if it's my kids?" To which I say, "Get away from me, and go turn yourself in." Incest is clearly forbidden by Scripture (Leviticus 18:6). It is also "without natural affection" (Romans 1:31) to have such attraction towards your own children.
*Lust isn't possible within marriage as coveting is the desire to have something with doesn't belong to you. Your spouse belongs to you and you belong to them.
Second, romantic attraction to a child is not normal. Romantic attraction is the desire to have a romantic relationship with someone, which is different from (but closely related to) sexual attraction (when towards someone not your spouse, it could be called lust).
You can't marry a child, thus romantic feelings for them should be out of the question. The obvious exception is if you're a pubescent child having a "crush" on someone of your own age bracket. Otherwise, it is lacking natural affection to be attracted to children, Romans 1:31 brings that to our attention.
Third, I mentioned this earlier, but it's harmful to a child's body if they tried to be a husband or (especially) a wife. They are not matured, they are literally children! I don't know what else to say but that they're kids. If someone is attracted to a child, they shouldn't be allowed around children, period. They should be turned in.
Lolicon and Shotacon
In light of what we see in the Scriptures, it is abundantly clear that God hates lolicon. God hates those who enjoy it as well. The Bible says that God hates "all workers of iniquity" (Psalm 5:5). Obviously, they need the Gospel and to be saved, but God still hates them. I hate them too. I hate all pedophiles and all hebephiles, and all lolicon enjoyers. This is biblical Christianity.
Probably the most well-known shotacon is an abomination straight from the lowest pits of Hell called Boku no Pico. It is a hentai (i.e., "anime porn") with young boys being the victims. It is literal child pornography. That is 1) against the Bible and 2) illegal. This is a "severe" case (it's in quotation marks as it's all serious—those are children!), but it's popular within many anime, even if to a lesser extent.
This sinful, trashy, disgusting, wicked, <insert fifty-nine million other negative adjectives> content is anti-Christ. Christ loved children—He didn't sexualize them. Lolicon and shotacon are perversions that only those of a Romans 1 brain could create or enjoy. If you like either of those genres or have a "waifu" that is a loli, please turn yourself in.
Sources:
1. "Lolicon." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Jan. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolicon. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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