Is Disney the antithesis of Christianity?

[Laz]

WDW is a great place to introduce your children to the variety of races, cultures, religions, etc. It is a moral, controlled environment where everyone is welcomed as long as the rules are obeyed. Walk into the parks and you and your children can stand in the same lines with women in burqas (sp?), people speaking differnet lanquages, gays, conservative Christians and Jews, and many others. Every person there has one common thought, and that is to have fun at Disney. We even saw a muslim woman in a swimsuit type burqa at Typhoon lagoon! Try going to another amusment park and watch both straight and gay couples crawling all over each other everywhere in the park. UGH! You won't find that at WDW.

Many on this thread have already stated that you work, shop, and live your lives around people whose ideals and lifestyle you don't agree with. Why not start your children out meeting these peoples at WDW?

 

[cardaway]

For some reason this reminds me of years ago when I first came to the Dis , there was someone like this. An easily influenced lady was asking ppl in the trip board what in Mk wasn't "evil" so she could convince herself and family to go.

Yes, people have even come here and said they avoid Epcot because the stuff in the attractions (SE, UoE) that favors evolution.

 

[Charade]

Your opinion?

My opinion is she's a kook.

 

[Charade]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't most Disney movies about good triumphing over evil!? Isn't that a main Christian message?!

Pirate!!!!

 

[joshsmom]

Intolerance and hatred is the antithesis of Christianity.

Very well said.

 

[Missy1961]

My younger brother & his wife (Roman Catholic) boycott Disney because the company offers insurance coverage to same sex partners of it's employees. Meanwhile, they didn't boycott other film companies or any other company that offers it--including companies like Microsoft. But the last time they visited us, my SIL put a movie in the VCR for the kids. I have tons of children's videos, and many aren't Disney (the majority are). What did she choose? Disney's version of Robin Hood. I guess it's OK now.

 

[phillybeth]

Intolerance and hatred is the antithesis of Christianity.

Took the words right out of my mouth!

 

[phillybeth]

For some reason this reminds me of years ago when I first came to the Dis , there was someone like this. An easily influenced lady was asking ppl in the trip board what in Mk wasn't "evil" so she could convince herself and family to go.

I remember that one on the Trip planning board- she wanted to know what attractions were "Christian".

 

[helenabear]

My opinion is that there are people who are too afraid of everything. They intentionally try to find bad in everything in life. That just allows them to stick to their churches and small groups and not experience anything in life. They are the ones who claim to know everything about life and how to live it, yet know nothing at all. They fear more than they love. They hate more than they accept.

To me that is completely against the teachings of Christianity.

Just based on this, I would say this person leans more towards the last statement I just said.

Considering how much Christian holidays like Easter, Christmas and Halloween are celebrated in Disney (in and out of the park). I would say that lady has nothing to base it on. Disney does NOT sponsor Gay days, but they do have enough respect for all out there (hate the sin, not the sinner) to allow all walks of life in the park. That is open love to me. Also there are some things about Dinosaurs, but not all Christians believe that evolution does not exist. In fact I was taught about it in my religious based school.

They also have Chronicals of Narnia there... if that isn't Christian based, I don't know what is!

So yeah, someone who is too afraid to learn the truth to step foot in a park that she knows nothing about. One who is willing to listen to untruths and not researching before making a false judgement.

JMO

 

[disneyfan67]

I used to argue this with people who knew I was into Disney and loved going to WDW. It usually came from recent converts or newbies to the religion they practiced. You could try and reason with them, but usually it was a waste of time. Once a person has closed their mind with the help of religion, there's usually no reasoning with them. I wouldn't deal with that person anymore and all you will do is get frustrated with them.

 

[diznygirl]

Why on earth are you trying to change her mind?!

Tell her that yes, absolutely Disney is the antithesis of Christianity. It is evil and must be avoided at all costs. She should not go, and she should tell everyone that she knows not to go.

(More room for me )

This is the proper response!

 

[Daxx]

Yes it is, but I was pretty much focusing on Narnia since the book and the series was written by a well known christian author, CS lewis. The Narnia chronology books were written over 50 yrs ago. The lion character, Aslan is a symbol of Jesus in the book. I saw it in the movie as well. Pretty cool!

Oh, yeah -- I knew what you were getting at w/the Narnia reference. I've studied the Chronicles of Narnia in college (some of the best lit courses I ever took) and we really went in-depth to the religious aspects/influences of/in the books. I knew exactly why you chose that movie over others. I just took it a bit further to point out that most of the other Disney movies, while not religiously influenced, still held the Christian belief or good overcoming evil.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Oh please (to your co-worker).

I believe if Christ were here with us today in flesh and blood he'd love Disney World. I bet seeing the joy on the faces of children and adults alike would thrill him.

Now, the question is what would be his favorite attraction. Hmm...I'm going to guess Splash Mountain.

 

[Fitswimmer]

On my last visit in December, I was thinking of how unashamedly Christian much of Disney's Holiday celebrations are. The Candlelight Processional is the most "in your face" I would think, but I heard Christian carols playing everywhere. The "mythology" of Disney itself lines up quite well with a Christian world view. Good ALWAYS triumphs over evil, everyone works together toward common good and the family is practically elevated to a sacrament.

I knew people that tried to match up Disney to New Age and they made a good case too.

What I think, is that everyone can find something in Disney's message to love or hate-it depends on what they choose to see.

 

[letterdavidman]

The short answer? Yes, it is.

Think about it: Disney (in every permutation, from the movies, to the parks, to the broadway shows) is fun, vibrant, colorful, entertaining, surprising, and bursting with life.

Every Christian church I've ever been to (and I've been to a LOT), is pretty much the exact opposite of all those things: boring, dull, everything done by rote and out of obligation, just an overall feeling of going-through-the-motions-because-hey-we've-ALWAYS-done-it-this-way-and-it's-EXPECTED-of-us.

 

[N&B'smom]

The short answer? Yes, it is.

Think about it: Disney (in every permutation, from the movies, to the parks, to the broadway shows) is fun, vibrant, colorful, entertaining, surprising, and bursting with life.

Every Christian church I've ever been to (and I've been to a LOT), is pretty much the exact opposite of all those things: boring, dull, everything done by rote and out of obligation, just an overall feeling of going-through-the-motions-because-hey-we've-ALWAYS-done-it-this-way-and-it's-EXPECTED-of-us.

You couldn't have possibly gone to a charismatic church then, they are anything but boring, dull, etc. They are very upbeat.

The problem I have is people like this give all Christians a bad name. I'm a Christian however, I do not hate anyone. It's not my job to judge anyone, God loves us all equally. This person is obviously very close minded and doesn't exemplify the love that God is.

Shelby

 

[salmoneous]

She told me that she boycotts Disney because it is the antithesis of Christianity because it allows things like the gay week.

To me, people who feel Disney is the antithesis of Christianity because they allow gay people as customers are the antithesis of Christianity.

So much of Christianity has been hijacked today by people who don't want to emulate Christ. It's sad.

 

[LukenDC]

No, I do not believe that Disney is the antithesis of Christian values, but I have heard that argument before. Those who are anti-Disney cite Gay Days, domestic partner benefits, the hiring of gay staff members, the lack of religiosity in Disney films (e.g. Blue Fairy and not God brings Pinocchio to life), depiction of evolution in the Rites of Spring segment of Fantasia, and hidden phallic symbols in films among other "affronts" to Christianity.

What is magical about Disney is that it can be enjoyed by a diverse array of people, evidenced by the passion expressed on the DIS by Christian fundamentalists, Jews, Muslims, atheists, pagans, and agnostics (my apologies if I left anyone out). As someone said earlier, you can find the devil anywhere just by looking. And let's not forget how Disney has reached out to Christians via the Nights of Joy concerts, candlelight processional, and Narnia.

 

[azgal81]

More room for the rest of us!

 

[Disneyland1084]