her first ouija board

[the_ultimate_evil]

A pink version of the popular Ouija board game has some critics seeing red.

The children's sleepover staple — sold by Hasbro since 1967 — now comes in hot pink, an edition released two years ago that gets tweens to call on "spirits" to spell out answers to life's pressing questions.

It's designed for young girls ages 8 and older, but some say the mysterious product is a "dangerous spiritual game" that opens up anyone, particularly Christians, to attacks on their soul.

The game continues to be sold at Toys R Us locations in the U.S. and Canada for $19.99, although it's currently being "phased out," company officials say.

"There's a spiritual reality to it and Hasbro is treating it as if it's just a game," said Stephen Phelan, communications director for Human Life International, which bills itself as the largest international pro-life organization and missionary worldwide. "It's not Monopoly. It really is a dangerous spiritual game and for [Hasbro] to treat it as just another game is quite dishonest."

Phelan, who has never played the game, said the Bible explicitly states "not to mess with spirits" and that using a Ouija board will leave a person's soul vulnerable to attack.

"All Christians should know, well everyone should, that it's opening up a person to attack, spiritually," he said. "Christians shouldn't use it."

Asked how the game differed from magic kits or Harry Potter-themed merchandise, Phelan replied, "The difference is that the Ouija board is actually is a portal to talk to spirits and it's hard to get people to understand that until they actually do it. I don't pretend to know how it works, but it actually does."

Phelan also noted that the pink version of the game is explicitly marketed to young girls who may want to partake in "something dangerous" during a late-night sleepover.

"It's pink," he said. "That wouldn't appeal to me when I was 8."

The pink edition is also available for $33.99 on Amazon.com, where some commenters likened the game to occult materials targeting "tween" girls.

"Just unbelievable," one posting read. "Hasbro — you should be seriously ashamed — you have lost your way. Ouija boards are NOT 'games' and they certainly should not be marketing these to children."

Toy expert and consultant Chris Byrne said he found "absolutely nothing" wrong with any version of the game.

"And if something doesn't fit your value or belief system, you don't have to buy it," Byrne said. "There's absolutely nothing remotely Christian or un-Christian about it. I think people are projecting their belief system on it."

Byrne, who writes for timetoplaymag.com, said he was unclear of the origin of the notion that Ouija players can somehow communicate with spirits or the dead.

"That is something that people have made up and it became part of our culture," he said. "It's always been entertainment. What I remember is trying to brain my younger brother with the board because he kept moving it. It's just funny that people make up this stuff."

Hasbro officials say they have received a "couple of dozen" complaints following a recent report on the pink version. Patricia Riso, a Hasbro spokeswoman, defended the game as, well, just that.

"Our response is that Ouija is simply a game — and it is intended purely for fun and entertainment," she wrote FoxNews.com.

Bob Friedland, a spokesman for Toys R Us, said the pink Ouija version has been on clearance at its locations and is being "phased out" moving forward as new products are being introduced this year.

"There are very few pieces in our inventory in store and it is no longer available online," Friedland wrote.

In a statement to FoxNews.com, the Toy Industry Association said the game is among thousands of options to bring "fun and excitement" to children.

"TIA encourages parents to make their own choices about which products are most appropriate for their families," the statement read.

Byrne, meanwhile, said the current version of the game is not much different from the first Ouija-like game first patented by patent attorney Elijah Bond in May 1890.

"It's been a popular toy for years, and I've played it and I don't do any Macbeth-like witchcraft," he said. "It's no different from watching a scary movie or a good ghost story."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584998,00.html

say this on the news this morning, should be funt:

 

[Majic Walrus]

"Phelan, who has never played the game, said the Bible explicitly states "not to mess with spirits" and that using a Ouija board will leave a person's soul vulnerable to attack."

Funny we don't see more Ouija related demon attacks...

 

[Ugfugly]

in a free market society, this is perfectly acceptable

 

[Aesop Rocks]

I love that hipsters are letting their souls becoming vulnerable to demonic attacks.

It's about time they're killed off.

 

[ChickenScratch]

Wow, the religious afraid of demons. I guess they solved the vampire problem then, good for them.

But in all seriousness, what's their problem with a dumb board game.

 

[Bad Superman]

I can imagine the promotional posters for the game. . . the dead girl from The Ring dressed in pink holding a brand new pink Oujia board. The tag line: Come play with me, let's be friends.

 

[chamber-music]

The fact there are people who are actually afraid of witchcraft today and believe in demons attacking people makes me laugh. Reminds of those people going nuts over Harry Potter

 

[katie_girl09]

Pink? Doesn't that make it, like, less scary and defeat the purpose?

I wouldn't play that game ever! Seems creepy to me. And yes, I am religious and do believe in the spirit world.

 

[CrashNburn]

I wish the "spirits from the Ouija board" would come and take these a-holes that actually believe in that crap!

 

[chaseter]

They should have released a Paranormal Activity Edition Ouija Board.

 

[Casius--J]

I believe in that stuff, would NEVER touch those things. I mean come on the whole purpose of the game to ask questions and let the pad "guide" you to the letters.

Dunno sounds too freaky for me and have no desire to let those kind've of things come into my life.

 

[chaseter]

I don't mess with it either. I do believe in demons but even if you don't think that they exist...why **** with stuff like that? It's like not believing in the Loch Ness monster but wearing a fish suit and swimming in the Loch. Sure it may be fun but what if it was real?

 

[katie_girl09]

^Thank you. Even if you don't believe in it, isn't it just smarter not to mess with it?

 

[E-Man]

It's pretty funny that they're making this. It shows that ouija boards are more about making a buck off of believers in the supernatural. Ouija boards have been proven to be fake anyway. Penn and Teller have an episode about them, and it's on Youtube. I'm obviously not going to post it though for obvious reasons.

 

[Majic Walrus]

^Thank you. Even if you don't believe in it, isn't it just smarter not to mess with it?

Yeah I don't think that going outside will kill me, but why risk it?

 

[huskerwebhead]

^Thank you. Even if you don't believe in it, isn't it just smarter not to mess with it?

How do you find time in the day to do anything with all the chain letters you have to keep sending back out? If you don't send them all to 1,345,324 people in 15 minutes you'll have bad luck for 10 years!!!!

 

[chaseter]

It's pretty funny that they're making this. It shows that ouija boards are more about making a buck off of believers in the supernatural. Ouija boards have been proven to be fake anyway. Penn and Teller have an episode about them, and it's on Youtube. I'm obviously not going to post it though for obvious reasons.

Because the supernatural act on que eh A lot of people don't believe in ghosts but I am not going to go into an old prison and yell for them to come forth and throw something at me.

 

[katie_girl09]

Yeah I don't think that going outside will kill me, but why risk it?

Now you're just fishing for an argument. Those two things aren't even remotely the same.

How do you find time in the day to do anything with all the chain letters you have to keep sending back out? If you don't send them all to 1,345,324 people in 15 minutes you'll have bad luck for 10 years!!!!

To me that's quite different as well.

 

[E-Man]

Because the supernatural act on que eh A lot of people don't believe in ghosts but I am not going to go into an old prison and yell for them to come forth and throw something at me.

I wouldn't go into an abandoned prison because it's too damn cold and dark. I am not interested enough to go seek them out like that. I am not sure of their existence. I've never seen a ghost, nor have I found logical evidence that disproves their existence. If there was a haunted beach or some haunted cafe that wasn't in some terrible surroundings, then I'd probably go. Who wouldn't want to look for ghosts on a beach in the Caribbean?

 

[chaseter]

Ouija boards have been around for a lot longer than chain emails.

I wouldn't go into an abandoned prison because it's too damn cold and dark. I am not interested enough to go seek them out like that. I am not sure of their existence. I've never seen a ghost, nor have I found logical evidence that disproves their existence. If there was a haunted beach or some haunted cafe that wasn't in some terrible surroundings, then I'd probably go. Who wouldn't want to look for ghosts on a beach in the Caribbean?

So why potentially call forth something that you didn't want to call forth? Using a Ouija board is seeking them out to communicate.

 

[Majic Walrus]

Now you're just fishing for an argument. Those two things aren't even remotely the same.

To me that's quite different as well.

I don't think so. I think they're pretty close actually.

If you don't believe in the dangers of the ouija board then using it doesn't scare you so you'd probably have no qualms about doing it...

However... That being said, if you don't believe that the ouija board really does contact the "otherside" you probably don't really have any desire to use one at all. So most people that are using them do believe.

 

[chaseter]

If you don't believe in them, go get one and call forth a demon and invite them into your house!

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I am a stronger believer in the supernatural and of the unknown. While I've never seen a ghost, demon, or any kind of unknown creature it still doesn't sway my beliefs in those particular aspects of mysteries.

As for Quija boards? I will never, ever, ever mess with them as I do believe they open a gateway to a possible demonic attack of some sort.

There's a reason why spirits and certain entities are where they are. Leave them there and don't try to be a hero and antagonize or entice them into entering this realm.

 

[E-Man]

I don't think so. I think they're pretty close actually.

If you don't believe in the dangers of the ouija board then using it doesn't scare you so you'd probably have no qualms about doing it...

However... That being said, if you don't believe that the ouija board really does contact the "otherside" you probably don't really have any desire to use one at all. So most people that are using them do believe.

That's pretty much how I am. I already don't think that they're real, so I don't really care about proving myself wrong. I think that spirits have a helluva lot better **** to do than answer living people's questions.

 

[Majic Walrus]

I am a stronger believer in the supernatural and of the unknown. While I've never seen a ghost, demon, or any kind of unknown creature it still doesn't sway my beliefs in those particular aspects of mysteries.

As for Quija boards? I will never, ever, ever mess with them as I do believe they open a gateway to a possible demonic attack of some sort.

There's a reason why spirits and certain entities are where they are. Leave them there and don't try to be a hero and antagonize or entice them into entering this realm.

Why do demons need cardboard with letters to attack?