Spiritual Gifts and Supernatural Strength: Embracing Faith and Differences through Dandadan

There are moments when anime resonates with my faith in ways I never expect. Recently, the anime Dandadan struck a chord with me.

For those unfamiliar, Dandadan follows the adventures of Momo Ayase, a high school girl who believes in ghosts but not aliens, and a boy nicknamed “Okarun” who believes the opposite. Together, they encounter both supernatural and extraterrestrial forces, battling spirits, aliens, and curses while discovering their own unique powers. 

The themes of embracing our calling and seeing from different perspectives, whether through Momo’s chi exercise or the contrast between aliens and ghosts, surprisingly mirror parts of my spiritual journey and my relationship with my husband, who practices Buddhism.

Embracing Your Calling: Praying Boldly Like Momo’s Chi exercise

In Dandadan, Momo is initially reluctant to perform the chi exercise that her grandma taught her, feeling self-conscious and strange. I couldn’t help but see a reflection of myself in her hesitance. As a new believer, I often find myself self-conscious when I pray in public or openly reference my faith. Sometimes, I worry that others might think I’m odd or overly spiritual. Momo’s experience reminds me of the Bible’s encouragement in Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…”.

Just as Momo eventually embraces her chi and her powers, I’m learning to stand firm in prayer and my identity in Christ. Even if the world doesn’t always understand, prayer is my way of connecting with God and accessing His power. Momo’s journey shows me that growth often comes from moments of discomfort, and in the same way, stepping into my calling and embracing spiritual practices like prayer can lead to deeper strength in Christ.

Momo’s supernatural abilities are unique to her, and just as she grows stronger by embracing her gifts, I want to continue strengthening the gifts God has placed within me. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Seeing Different Perspectives: Strength in Our Differences

One of the most interesting dynamics in Dandadan is the clashing perspectives between Momo and Okarun. Momo believes in ghosts, while Okarun firmly believes in aliens. Each thinks the other’s beliefs are far-fetched, yet they’re both proven wrong when they encounter the realities of both supernatural forces.

This reflects my own experience in my marriage. As a Christian, my faith centers around Christ, while my husband’s Buddhist practice brings him strength and wisdom from a different spiritual tradition. Just like Momo and Okarun learning that both aliens and ghosts can co-exist in their world, I’ve come to appreciate that our beliefs don’t need to cancel each other out.

In episode 2, Momo and Okarun work together during their fight against the Flatwoods alien, each using their own strengths. Okarun, confident from his lifelong belief in aliens, isn’t afraid to face the alien head-on. Despite his possession by Turbo Granny’s curse, he asks Momo to only partially suppress the curse, so he fight back using a stronger form. Meanwhile, Momo’s spiritual powers—awakened during her encounter with aliens—enable her to assist him. Her knowledge of ghosts and supernatural forces becomes essential, and she later uses her telekinesis and spiritual abilities to save the both of them multiple times.

This cooperation between Momo and Okarun reminds me of Philippians 2:4 which says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” 

In the same way that Momo and Okarun combine their individual strengths to overcome obstacles, my husband and I encourage  each other’s growth, recognizing that while our strengths different, they’re equally valuable.

Faith and Anime: A Bridge Between Worlds

One of the reasons I love anime is how it can serve as a bridge between different worlds and perspectives. In Dandadan, we see how two seemingly opposite beliefs—aliens and ghosts—don’t negate each other but can coexist in a shared reality. Moreover, Momo and Okarun’s teamwork mirrors how my Christian faith and my husband’s Buddhist practices, while different, don’t have to conflict, but instead can challenge and bring out the best in one another.

In my own spiritual journey, I seek to honor Christ while encouraging those around me. I hope to continually grow in boldness, embrace my calling, and strengthen the unique gifts God has given me, while also building bridges of understanding, mutual respect, and love.