# Has the Magic 8 Ball toy been under fire for being "satanic"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740 "2002-07-31T18:38:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![namowal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@namowal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/namowal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/1 "2002-07-31T18:38:47Z")
The Henry Potter books/movies were criticized by some screwballs as being satanic, or at the very least somehow encouraging kids to get involved with the occult. Has the Magic 8 Ball toy even been under such accusations? ---
**Author:** ![peasea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc79bd/32.png) [@peasea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peasea)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/2 "2002-07-31T18:54:05Z")
This magic/witchcraft == satanism [site](http://www.goodfight.org/hwwitchinghour.html) includes a testimonial claiming the use of a magic 8-ball in the pursuit of evil powers: > [@](#): > > “[as] a child I religiously watched ‘Bewitched,’ my favorite TV show. This show sparked my interest in spiritual powers. I read books on ghosts, ESP, palm reading, and even spells and curses. I also played with a magic eight ball, Ouija board, and magic set. I knew that there was evil power in the world and I wanted that power to get back at my mom for the way she treated me.” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/3 "2002-07-31T18:54:05Z")
I wouldn’t be a _bit_ suprised… ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/4 "2002-07-31T20:17:59Z")
**["Magic eight ball" Evil Jesus](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&as_qdr=all&q=+%22magic+eight+ball%22+evil+jesus&btnG=Google+Search)** turns up all sorts of interesting stuff, including this: > [@](#): > > Exposing yourself to any form of witchcraft, be it the ouija board, magic eight ball, trances, fortune telling, astrology, etc. is more dangerous than you realize.  …Satan is real and very dangerous… - [http://www.elsie-dinsmore.com/elsie/club/HarryPotter.htm](http://www.elsie-dinsmore.com/elsie/club/HarryPotter.htm) ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/5 "2002-07-31T20:42:20Z")
It’s a die (possibly 2) floating in a wierd blue solution with various phrases on it and may not even make sense in context. It’s not magic and I have idea how it’s satanic. Would it be satanic if someone designed a program (probably really simple) that would, at the push of a button, draw a random phrase out in answer to your question. ---
**Author:** ![peasea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc79bd/32.png) [@peasea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peasea)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/6 "2002-07-31T20:51:15Z")
[Shield of Faith Ministries](http://www.shieldofaith.org/resources/Counselors/Non_christian_religious_experien.htm) lists the magic eight ball under the heading “Occult involvement”. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/7 "2002-07-31T22:25:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HPL \* > \*\*It’s not magic and I have idea how it’s satanic. Would it be satanic if someone designed a program (probably really simple) that would, at the push of a button, draw a random phrase out in answer to your question. \*\* Without a doubt, someone would. ---
**Author:** ![ski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/8 "2002-08-01T03:16:34Z")
It’s one die, and (sorry to ruin it for anybody) fully 50% of the responses are of the “yes” variety. 25% are “no”, and 25% are “undetermined”. The moral of this story is that if you want something to come true, ask it so that you’re looking for a “yes” answer! There’s a web page somewhere where they dissect an 8-ball. A google seach should find it pretty quick. I have no idea how an 8-ball could be portrayed as satanic. But then lots of things people do baffle me. ---
**Author:** ![Babar714](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Babar714](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babar714)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/9 "2002-08-01T05:41:55Z")
Cannot say at this time. ---
**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/10 "2002-08-01T06:15:49Z")
Why do fundie groups consider the Magic 8-Ball satanic? Because they consider it a form of divination, like Tarot cards, and they believe all forms of divination tap into Satan for their power. (There’s at least [one Christian](http://www.geocities.com/christian_gamers_guild/chaplain/faga007.html) who disagrees, however.) ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/11 "2002-08-01T10:29:59Z")
Magic = Satanism Walking on water = Holiness Ahh, those wacky Christians.:rolleyes: (dig the sig) ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/12 "2002-08-01T10:56:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ski \* > **There’s a web page somewhere where they dissect an 8-ball. A google seach should find it pretty quick.** [Try here.](http://8ball.ofb.net/procedure.html) \*\* > [@](#): > > I have no idea how an 8-ball could be portrayed as satanic. But then lots of things people do baffle me. \*\* Well, it’s used for divination (Biblically forbidden), albeit flippantly. Not exactly Satanic, unless you believe that the magic eight ball can really predict the future and is embued with some sort of demonic power. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/13 "2002-08-01T17:04:11Z")
So is this Web site designer a Satanist? [http://www.futuregroup.com/8ball.asp](http://www.futuregroup.com/8ball.asp) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/14 "2002-08-01T18:44:42Z")
Some members of my mother’s family belong to a church that consider just dice the work of the devil (as well as cards, etc.). (So they replace the dice in their Monopoly games with a handmade 6 digit spinner. Spin twice to roll. That somehow was not Satanic.) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/15 "2002-08-01T19:06:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ski \* > **It’s one die, and (sorry to ruin it for anybody) fully 50% of the responses are of the “yes” variety. 25% are “no”, and 25% are "undetermined** Mine always says ‘kill them all’. Must be a factory defect. ---
**Author:** ![peasea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc79bd/32.png) [@peasea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peasea)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/16 "2002-08-01T19:14:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zebra \* > > \*\*Mine always says ‘kill them all’. > > Must be a factory defect. \*\* I’d definitely sue Tyco Toys, especially if you’ve already killed someone because of _their_ defective product. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/17 "2002-08-01T22:26:41Z")
Well, the 8 ball pretends to tell the future (please please please please please tell me no-one believes in it) so I can sort of see why it could be viewed as magic, and probably just attempting magic, regardless of if it can work, can be viewed as evil. But DICE? DICE?? OK gambling I can sort of understand, but how are dice more evil than any other random number generator? DO these people avoid 666s, 66s, and 6s or something? I know, I know, preaching to the choir… ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/18 "2002-08-02T00:04:23Z")
I would so not put it past some of the fundies I’ve known. ---
**Author:** ![Khadro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Khadro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadro)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/19 "2002-08-02T00:06:30Z")
as a slight hijack, is there anything that has NOT at some point been deeemed Satanic? ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740/20 "2002-08-02T00:07:42Z")
I’m sure the sdmb has or will be at some time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-magic-8-ball-toy-been-under-fire-for-being-satanic/121740.md?page=2)