Is Watching Anime a Sin?

A teenager once asked, "Is anime a sin? 'Cause I'm trying to love God more. I know war is a sin, but what if you're going for the good guys. Or what if it's just a regular anime?"

Here's my point. Literally, watching anime is not a sin. Yeah, right. In fact, I'm writing a book about it wherein I discuss the matter more specifically. Watching anime is just like you're watching an indie film, or Discovery Channel, wherein you acquire some information and at the same time you are being entertained. If I'm going to directly answer the question "Is watching anime a sin?" then the answer is no. However, there are many things to consider when it comes to anime. There are several "but's" about this matter. In a more literal sense, anime itself is not a sin but the way you handle your emotion while watching anime is another thing. That is just one of the many cases. Because there are many.

People, especially teenagers, who are hooked up with Japanese animation consider this merely as a form of entertainment. I do not argue about that anyway, since it's the fact. However, everyone must consider that if watching anime replaces your responsibilities and quiet time with God, then you are totally guilty in the eyes of the LORD. Watching anime becomes a sin when you spend time on it more than you spend time with God. Uh-oh. I don't want to sound like a preacher here, but, I have to include a verse that supports my claim.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8 ESV)

It is God's command that we should meditate on His word. Not only that, it says day and night. If we read the scriptures we will know the principles of God and the things that pleases Him, including the things that displeases Him. God is not pleased when His children are so busy doing other things for selfish reasons, when in fact He should be prioritized above anything else.

In this case, if you are watching anime and spending more time on it, then let me ask you a question: are you spending a quiet time with God? Can you compare your prayer time from how long you're watching anime stuffs?

If you want to love God more then you should be more concern of how to grow your relationship with the Father. We should not try to love God. But we should love God with all our heart, with all our mind, and with all our soul. That is the greatest commandment of the LORD!

I was once an anime lover before, and honestly, I cosplayed, too. And this is a viewpoint of a former cosplayer who abandoned the animeland in the pursuit of following Christ...

If watching anime is your priority in life, if you spend more time on it than anything else, then I tell you for certain, it is indeed a sin. And you are accountable of it in the Judgment Day.

I was once an anime lover before, and honestly, I cosplayed, too. And this is a viewpoint of a former cosplayer who abandoned the animeland in the pursuit of following Christ...