Are you related to someone under the age of 18? Chances are, you’ve heard of the “game” Charlie Charlie Challenge.

If you haven’t heard of it yet, all you need to know is that the Twitter hashtag #CharlieCharlieChallenge has been tweeted more than 2 million times! It’s not only popular, it’s dangerous…as we will explore below:

The identity of “Charlie Charlie” is disputed. Some say “Charlie Charlie” is the victim of a car accident that can now commune with the living and the dead. Another version is that “Charlie Charlie” is a small child that committed suicide. Another version is that “Charlie Charlie” is the name of a demon with dark powers in Mexico.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like option A, B, or C!

Parents are rightly concerned since kids are playing Charlie Charlie at school and trying their hands at pencil divination.

I’m getting lots of request to give my {Christian/Catholic} take on Charlie Charlie, so here goes:

How is Charlie Charlie Challenge Played?

Basically Charlie Charlie is a poor man’s Ouija board.

Here’s how people play Charlie Charlie (I’m explaining the game, not encouraging anyone to do it – please don’t do it – I explain why below):

Step 1: Draw an cross with 4 quadrants on a piece of paper.
Step 2: Label two of the resulting quadrants “no,” and the other two “yes.”
Step 3: Place two overlapping pencils on each axis of your grid, crossing them in the middle.
Step 4: Say “Charlie, Charlie, are you there?” and ask a question. (eg, “Is Mr Smith a murderer?” “will I marry Jenny?” )
Step 5: The pencils will move and provide an “answer” as “yes” or “no.”
Step 6: Say “Goodbye” to Charlie. Allegedly, if you don’t say “Goodbye,” the offended spirit of Charlie Charlie will haunt you.

Where Did Charlie Charlie Challenge Come From?

Charlie Charlie is a version of a “game” of divination called Juego de la Lapicera (“Game of the Pens”) played in Spanish-speaking countries. It became popular through a YouTube video titled “Jugando Charly Charlie.” Since then, it has now spread to the English speaking world and is being played in schools everywhere. I have parents writing to me complaining about how Charlie Charlie is even encouraged by some schools or teachers in the classroom!

Is the Charlie Charlie Challenge Evil?

Yes! We should be alarmed by Charlie Charlie. It is a form of divination and every act of divination is gravely sinful – chiefly because divination leads to demonic possession. Divination has always been condemned by Christians:

All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to “unveil” the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2116)

I met a real life exorcist last week who has performed over 100 exorcisms. Trust him. Demonic possession is real. You don’t want demonic voices in your head! Demons want to destroy your emotional and psychological well-being.

According to him, the two leading causes of demonic infestation are: 1) divination/occult practice (like Charlie Charlie), and 2) sexual crimes/abuse. These are how demons gain their entry into humans.

Father Jose Antonio Fortea, an exorcist recognized by the Vatican said that the Charlie Charlie Challenge poses a real danger as it involves the summoning of spirits. Father Fortea explained that “calling on spirits” is an occult action and that “some spirits who are at the root of that practice will harass some of those who play the game.”

Charlie Charlie as Demonic Activity

Look, Charlie Charlie is at best necromancy (talking to the dead) and at worst demonic consultation (talking to demons). This is not safe at any level. Demons are real. The Devil is real. Demons are fallen angels who were once good.The demons are envious of humans and have an infernal hatred for us. These demons want to rob your joy, rob your peace, and rob your sanity.  They wish to destroy young people especially and hurt them sexually, emotionally, physically, and intellectually.

Demons would love to grab a foothold in your soul so that they can steal away your peace and sanity. Charlie Charlie may appear innocent to some, but this is precisely the kind of “game” that demons use to take hold of you.

Catholic exorcists are reporting that demonic possession and infestation is on the rise globally. Ouija boards are once again popular and available for sale at your local Target. The popularity of the Charlie Charlie Challenge reveals that young people are thirsting for the transcendent, but they are seeking it through a spiritual path that will open their souls to malignant spirits.

True peace and true clarity comes from resisting the dark forces. True peace comes from God who sent His Son to be our Prince of Peace.

Tell your kids and tell your friends that Charlie Charlie should be avoided 100%. Don’t mess around with forces that you can’t handle. Like other forms of addictions, you never know how low it could take you.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

[reminder] Had you heard of Charlie Charlie before? Do you know people who have tried it?[/reminder]

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