Kingdom of Priests

Kingdom of Priests

Raichu! Gesundheit!

posted by David Klinghoffer | 7:00am Thursday June 4, 2009

Pokemon_Jets.jpg

When I got home from work last night, our 7-year-old rushed up to me. He’s currently obsessed with Pokemon cards — which I had thought went out of business long ago but evidently I was wrong. He breathlessly explained, “Dad, I got a Raichu card today! Pikachu evolved into Raichu!” Pokemon evolutionary theory? I had to stop myself from laughing, as anyone who follows this blog will know why. Ezra informed me that when one Pokemon creature (in this case, a rabbi-like critter) dies, it comes back to life as a more evolved version with higher, more advanced HP value (I forget what that stands for but it’s very important).
Where have I heard something strangely like this, but from adults?
UPDATE: I loved this line from Wikipedia’s article on Pikachu: “In the Pokémon Yellow game, using a Thunder Stone on a Pikachu makes it cry and refuse to evolve.”


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Larry Lennhoff

posted June 4, 2009 at 10:24 am


Where have I heard something strangely like this, but from adults?
Kabbala, with its doctrine of gilgulim? Or from the Rambam’s notion that after techiyat hamaytim body and soul will be reunited, but each will be perfected according to their merits? Just a couple of possible sources.



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Glen Davidson

posted June 4, 2009 at 11:53 am


Where have I heard something strangely like this, but from adults?

Oh, I’m quite sure that it’s the caricature of evolution that you hear from your fellows at the DI.
Do I win a prize?



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leora

posted June 4, 2009 at 5:42 pm


Cute airplane! I want one. But I’m with Larry, there’s absolutely no justification for taking a little potshot at anyone here… :-)



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