JESUIT RETREAT HOUSE

Thank you for sending me the materials, cards and instructions for the game, "MAGIC, The Gathering". I studied the material with great interest and compared it with the other occult material I have gathered for my work as a consultant to law enforcement, religious groups, the clinical community, cult survivors and those involved in occult practices.

It is clear that the material is occult-related and at the very least uses symbols from those practices for whatever learning goals they may have. I think I would urge caution to any parents or children using such materials, because it has been my experience that they can become obsessed by them. The game encourages magical thinking which is not based in normal reality and as such can lead to serious mental disorder. For example, the use of an ouija board can have the effect of producing startling results that can at once fascinate and frighten. These magic cards can have the same effects, since they are appealing to the same forces.

I would say that the cards could have the capacity to absorb attention away from other important educational and life tasks, and the highly competitive nature of the game, which requires a player to be reduced to zero, could stir the combative and aggressive qualities of a person. It would not surprise me if there were some signs of violence in connection with them. The game is described as, "Magic is a game of battle in which you and your opponent represent powerful sorcerers attempting to drive each other from the lands of Dominia." (p.3)

That would, in my estimation, be very undesirable behavior in the young who should instead be learning cooperation and non-violent conflict resolution - certainly not reducing an opponent to zero.

Another aspect of the use of these cards is the religious nature of the game. The images and terms used in the game are not neutral in a religious sense. Whatever lessons are being taught by them are being presented through religious forms. The fact that our faith has assigned very clear and definite religious meanings to the words and images in the game makes it a religious game, whatever the object lessons might be.

The energy of the game is mana (not Manna in the Biblical sense of special food during the Exodus). Mana is a polynesian religious concept that depicts the power of elemental forces embodied in an object of person. Mana in the world of the occult (including witchcraft) is analogous to God's grace in the world of Christian faith. In our Sacred Scriptures, mana is spoken of (without using the word itself) in St. Paul's Epistle to the Galations, 4:3.8-9:

"In the same way we also, when we were not of age, were enslaved to the elemental powers of the world. ... you became slaves to things that by nature are not gods; ... how can you turn back again to the weak and destitute elemental powers?"

St. Paul further elaborates in his Epistle to the Colossians, 2:8:

"See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy...according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ."

I am quoting scripture here to show that the energy spoken of in the Magic game (mana) is referred to in our scriptures and has a religious meaning. Let no one doubt that the energy referred to as mana is the same thing as elemental powers. It is not divine energy or life, which is called grace, but is some kind of spiritual force from the world, which we would call the spirits of the world, perhaps demonic.

Further evidence that the Magic game is in fact a religious practice comes from the designations of the cards themselves. Anyone reading the names would be led to the conclusion that they refer to some sort of religious practice, however unclear. I will enumerate a few of them here:

Demonic Hoardes, Demonic Tutor, Summon Demons, Sorcery, Armageddon, Dark Ritual, Soul Exchange, Sacrifice a Creature, Unholy Strength, Summon Clerics, Enchantment, Black Spell, Circle of Protection, "...followers deified him after his death", Evil Presence, Sacrifice a Goblin," ... acquire the divine gifts of spiritual and physical wholeness. The most devout are granted...", Cursed Land, Ankh of Mishra, Gurardian Angel, "Followers-regarded all religions equally, with open contempt", Air elemental, Spirits of the Air, Farrelite Priest, Icarian Priest.

These are images of religious faith, however ambiguous, and are referred to in religious terms by Christianity. Armageddon, for instance, is a reference to the final battle between good and evil, mentioned in the Book of Revelation, 16:14-16. There it has a very explicit religious meaning.

The point I am making is that the images and words of the Magic game are promoting a very religious point of view. At the very least the religion is paganism or witchcraft.

I would say that allowing the game to be played on schoolgrounds is a violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment. That clause is frequently used to disallow prayer at school, Christmas crib scenes, religious holiday pagents, e.g. Easter, Hanukkah, etc. I think that a very good case could be made about the unconstitutionality of the game being played on school premises. Certainly it would be intolerable to allow a game, whatever the intended educational goal, using cards depicting Jesus, Mary, Saints, the Mass, St. Michael the Archangel, the Sacraments, etc. on school premises.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to discuss this game. I found it very interesting reading, and alarming from the point of view of one who works with people obsessed by the occult and survivors of cults. Whenever I encounter such dreadful images and beasts, I thank God that I have been given faith in a God of light and truth, of mercy and compassion, who shows himself over and over to be stronger than the "elemental powers" of this world.

I will remember you and your efforts in my prayers.

Please remember me in yours.

Sincerely,Rev. Bernard J. Bush, S.J.Ph.d

Retreat Director, Spiritual Counsellor

Chair, Clergy Advisory Board, California Consortium to Prevent Child Abuse

Vice President, Board of Directors, California Consortium to Prevent Child Abuse

Co-Chair, Vision Work Group of the State Collaborative Advisory Committee

Member, State Collaborative Advisory Committee (design of delivery of family and children's services to State of California)