Disney accused by Catholic cleric of corrupting children's minds

[Galahad]

I don't know. I think the Reverend Father has a point. This is an entire site with tens of thousands of members dedicated to the Mecca that is Disney World. Some people here put themselves in tremendous financial peril for one more visit to Mickey, for example. No one can really dispute that Disney is selling those moral messages as a product with no other purpose than to part us from our money. To honestly believe that they have any other motive is naive at best. If it were any other corporation there would be hundreds on this board that would be agreeing entirely.

 

[GeorgeG]

It's all a big peeing contest over who will control you. Since the very beginning, he who controls the masses gets all the bragging rights, not to mention the profits. The Catholic church has lost a lot of that control over the centuries and they're not very good losers.

 

[ConcKahuna]

I don't know. I think the Reverend Father has a point. This is an entire site with tens of thousands of members dedicated to the Mecca that is Disney World. Some people here put themselves in tremendous financial peril for one more visit to Mickey, for example. No one can really dispute that Disney is selling those moral messages as a product with no other purpose than to part us from our money. To honestly believe that they have any other motive is naive at best. If it were any other corporation there would be hundreds on this board that would be agreeing entirely.

That isn't entirely the fault of Disney, that's just our society in general. Everyone is out to make money, and Disney is just better at it than many. I agree with GeorgeG, the Catholic church is probably upset they didn't think of it first!

 

[Galahad]

That isn't entirely the fault of Disney, that's just our society in general. Everyone is out to make money, and Disney is just better at it than many. I agree with GeorgeG, the Catholic church is probably upset they didn't think of it first!

Perhaps. I'm not Catholic and never have been so I didn't read that angle into it. Regardless, I think there is a lot of truth in what he said. Doesn't matter what the motivation was. Something isn't less true just because you can say "I know, but what are you?".

If he was using Disney as an example of what's wrong with us I don't think he's far off.

In fact in may be emblematic of the entire crisis we are now in. We had the dot.com bubble, and the housing bubble, and the credit bubble, but really, the great economic bust could very well be chalked up to one giant materialism bubble.

 

[Mysteria]

sounds like someone didn't get to go to Disney when he was little!!!!

That's funny. As I read some of the post to DH this is exactly what I said when I was finished.

 

[bicker]

Regardless, I think there is a lot of truth in what he said. Doesn't matter what the motivation was.

Of course it does. The motivation is the whole point of the statement, in this case. There are substantially better ways to express the actual truths, here, i.e., the dangers of materialism. Instead, that truth was abused to try to pass-off falsehood, such as the linkage to Disney, the implied linkage between actual truth and the writer's own personal moral code, etc.

 

[ConcKahuna]

In fact in may be emblematic of the entire crisis we are now in. We had the dot.com bubble, and the housing bubble, and the credit bubble, but really, the great economic bust could very well be chalked up to one giant materialism bubble.

That's what living in a capitolistic society can do to you. It's one of the main reasons groups like Al Quaeda (sp?) hate us so much.

 

[sunnyday123]

Can't we just say we like Disney because it's fun??? Because there is fantasy involved and it takes us away from our everyday lives, with bills,chores, and routine?

And if Disney toys are considered materialistic, would'nt all toys be under the same umbrella?


I still say he didn't get to go to Disney when he was little. Probably got picked last for kickball, too.

 

[Galahad]

And if Disney toys are considered materialistic, would'nt all toys be under the same umbrella?

Sure they would. I think the point that I took away from it is that in some areas, and Disney is just one of those, it becomes a religion-like thing. Look at the DIS. People are making the pilgrimage to WDW 2 or 3 times a year - at great expense. People need to make sure they have ALL the DVD's - now they must ALL be in Blu-Ray. People need to make sure they get ALL the princess stuff. Stay at ALL the resorts.

It's not just Disney. I find myself doing in in other aspects of life too. I play music semi-professionally. It's not enough that I have a room full of instruments. I always want the latest gadget - a newer horn, etc. I don't think that outlook on life is harmless. Doesn't matter to me whether you think the alternative to it is organized religion or not. Our current relative misery is directly related to these prurient obsessions, IMO.

 

[L107ANGEL]

I think you make great points Galahad!

 

[rie'smom]

The article makes some very good points. I agree with Galahad.

The part that most have a problem with is the Disney link. The movies do have merchandising but so do most movies. It was a generalization and generalizations leave a person wide open for attacks.

There are some posters for whom the mouse has become a demi god. Read the different boards and see how some are on the brink of bankruptcy but they have to see the mouse just one more time before they lose everything. It's a sickness.

Don't forget that there are also many for whom WDW is evil for any number of reasons: Gay Days, slutty young actresses, alcohol in the parks, unreality of princes and princesses, inaccuracy of historical details in movies, not faithful to books on which movies are based, the way heroines only become self actualized through finding their prince....

 

[LukenDC]

The Catholic Church---with its corruption, lust for power, centuries of persecution, greed, hypocrisy, and scandal---has been its own undoing.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Okay, pot meet kettle.

I've been to Disney many times, and yeah, it does promote a culture of materialism and, to a certain extent, greed. But I've also been to the Vatican. I have never before or since seen such an ostentatious misuse of wealth as I did in St. Peter's. It was beyond impressive. My mom, who was raised Catholic, stated that this was exactly why she could never stay in the faith.

Funny, I know a whole bunch of lapsed Catholics. Don't know too many lapsed Disney fans.

 

[Galahad]

The Catholic Church---with its corruption, lust for power, centuries of persecution, greed, hypocrisy, and scandal---has been its own undoing.

What does this have to do with what was written?

 

[Galahad]

Okay, pot meet kettle.

I've been to Disney many times, and yeah, it does promote a culture of materialism and, to a certain extent, greed. But I've also been to the Vatican. I have never before or since seen such an ostentatious misuse of wealth as I did in St. Peter's. It was beyond impressive. My mom, who was raised Catholic, stated that this was exactly why she could never stay in the faith.

Funny, I know a whole bunch of lapsed Catholics. Don't know too many lapsed Disney fans.

So I guess you suppose that this priest wrote his opinion as some sort of official position as a Catholic? His religion didn't even enter my mind when I read the piece. If the pot is black, it certainly doesn't make the kettle less so.

 

[ConcKahuna]

What does this have to do with what was written?

"Last week, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, expressed similar concerns about the direction of society when he said that social cohesion has been eradicated due to "rampant consumerism and individualism"."

That quote right there basically says "the church is suffering because of consumerism". He's blaming media and capitolism for the downfall of society.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

So I guess you suppose that this priest wrote his opinion as some sort of official position as a Catholic? His religion didn't even enter my mind when I read the piece. If the pot is black, it certainly doesn't make the kettle less so.

True, but Disney doesn't send hypocrites to h-e-double-hockey-sticks.

 

[Galahad]

"Last week, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, expressed similar concerns about the direction of society when he said that social cohesion has been eradicated due to "rampant consumerism and individualism"."

That quote right there basically says "the church is suffering because of consumerism". He's blaming media and capitolism for the downfall of society.

Not sure I'd disagree with most of that really. If you read "individualism" as "me first-ism" then he's also dead on right.

 

[ConcKahuna]

Not sure I'd disagree with most of that really. If you read "individualism" as "me first-ism" then he's also dead on right.

Individualism

noun 1. a social theory advocating the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual.
2. the principle or habit of or belief in independent thought or action.
3. the pursuit of individual rather than common or collective interests; egoism.
4. individual character; individuality.
5. an individual peculiarity.
6. Philosophy. a. the doctrine that only individual things are real.
b. the doctrine or belief that all actions are determined by, or at least take place for, the benefit of the individual, not of society as a whole.

So basically the republican party?

 

[crazyforgoofy]

True, but Disney doesn't send hypocrites to h-e-double-hockey-sticks.

Ok now that's both true AND funny.