Question for Christian Disney parents

[kaesmommy]

My husband is a Minister and there is no way that these questions are not completely answerable in a positive way. God does not say we cannot believe in magic. Magic through a child's eyes is completely different than an adult attempting to perform witchcraft magic. Explain that Disney is a place that makes their imaginations come to life. There is nothing wrong with that. As to the second question, it is as simple as explaining that while you are visiting a special place your child can wish all he or she wants but as always, prayers come first.

 

[iwrbnd]

My husband is a Minister and there is no way that these questions are not completely answerable in a positive way. God does not say we cannot believe in magic. Magic through a child's eyes is completely different than an adult attempting to perform witchcraft magic. Explain that Disney is a place that makes their imaginations come to life. There is nothing wrong with that. As to the second question, it is as simple as explaining that while you are visiting a special place your child can wish all he or she wants but as always, prayers come first.

Okay, first off, I'm so glad your husband is a minister and not a monster like I first read! And second, thanks for that answer. It's nice to hear from a "professional" too! I thought about asking our pastor but he's so busy and he may not be sensitive to the whole Disney thing! Thanks, again!

 

[DisneyDoc5]

Okay, first off, I'm so glad your husband is a minister and not a monster like I first read! And second, thanks for that answer. It's nice to hear from a "professional" too! I thought about asking our pastor but he's so busy and he may not be sensitive to the whole Disney thing! Thanks, again!

I think this is a perfect thing to talk to your pastor about, he/she would probably welcome the conversation! They have to hear so much 'heavy' stuff, this would be fun to talk about! Plus, if it's on your heart, that what pastors are there for (amongst many others things - what a calling!)

 

[BelleRocks]

I believe the answer to both questions would be to explain to your children that God is real and Disney 'magic' is just for fun. Praying to and having a relationship with God is real and wishing apon a star is for fun!

I agree with this. Disney "magic" is more actually "imagination". When my daugthter used to ask about something being "real" or not, I explained to her that some things are only "real" in our imagination. That didn't seem to spoil it for her.

 

[crisi]

5. POLITICS/RELIGION: Because of the large number of complaints of personal attacks related to these subjects and inability for many people to keep a civilized conversation when discussing these hot-button topics, politics and religion will no longer be appropriate topics on our forums. Political or religion based posts or threads will be removed, and repeated violations of this rule can result in an infraction.

 

[iwrbnd]

5. POLITICS/RELIGION: Because of the large number of complaints of personal attacks related to these subjects and inability for many people to keep a civilized conversation when discussing these hot-button topics, politics and religion will no longer be appropriate topics on our forums. Political or religion based posts or threads will be removed, and repeated violations of this rule can result in an infraction.

Oops, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to break a rule!

 

[EKW]

Most major Christian authors don't have any problem with "magic" in that they correlate it with miracles. I haven't seen anything in any Disney movies that I find to be offensive.

Here's the deal: my kids live in a world where stories are going to be based on the oldest stories we have: myths, which are filled with magic. I think it's totally okay to say, "This isn't what we believe, but it isn't leading us away from what we believe, so it's okay."

That said, I didn't see Princess and the Frog. (My boys refused, lol...a first.)

As to wishing on a star...no, not okay. We've talked about how we don't believe that wishing makes things come true, nor that "fate" is what guides our lives. My boys understand that not everyone is Christian, and that a lot of what passes for entertainment has to accessible by people of all faiths, and people of no faith. So, while that sort of thing is not something we believe in, it is something secular that we acknowledge as being a belief of others.

 

[AubsCheerMom]

Okay, I'm the biggest Disney lover out there and a Christian. My kids ask me these questions and I don't know how to answer them!

1. God says we're not supposed to believe in magic so why do we believe in the magic of Disney?

2. Should we wish upon a star or pray to God?

What would you say?

The magic of disney is a fun experience with imagination that leaves butterflies in your tummy. It's all in how you explain it. But I personally probably wouldn't let them believe something that doesn't exist. As far aso some of the sorcery/evil stuff in there, I tell my kids, yes, there are bad things like that in the word. That's why it's important for us to stay close to Jesus so we can pray for those who choose to do bad things.

As far as wishing or praying, God made the stars, and many eschatologists(sp?) believe that the heavens are in the stars direction, so maybe you can explain it like stars help send our prayers to heaven, so we should just pray to God and hope the stars help it along the way. That's how I would handle it...

 

[FlightlessDuck]

What would you say?

"It's just a movie"

 

[bwilcox]

5. POLITICS/RELIGION: Because of the large number of complaints of personal attacks related to these subjects and inability for many people to keep a civilized conversation when discussing these hot-button topics, politics and religion will no longer be appropriate topics on our forums. Political or religion based posts or threads will be removed, and repeated violations of this rule can result in an infraction.

So far I have seen no personal attacks. Only "civilized conversation!"

 

[JUJU814]

So far I have seen no personal attacks. Only "civilized conversation!"

Which actually, I was thinking, is soooo refreshing!! Especially for this topic!

 

[crisi]

So far I have seen no personal attacks. Only "civilized conversation!"

I think telling people that they are or are not Christian based on what YOU believe that to be is the most offensive thing I see done around here and completely out of line.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

I am always in awe of how intricate our human spirit is created, how different we all are..how God is the one that created us to play, imagine, have fun, "make believe" and enjoy life to the fullest. When I have a "magical" day at Disney..or any day...it's because my God has made it so.

I cannot wait till this Thursday when I get on the "Magical Express" with my 6yo dd and tell her that when we pass the WDW sign, we're entering a world of magical make believe and all the characters will come to life" blah blah blah. When I watch Wishes and Jimminy Cricket talks about wishing on a star and I stand there and see the wonder in my child's eyes, and have a tear rolling down my cheek, and look back at my child, I see the miracle God gave me and all the blessings He sends.[/QUOTE]



I CRIED JUST READING YOUR POST!!!!!

 

[sk!mom]

Okay, I'm the biggest Disney lover out there and a Christian. My kids ask me these questions and I don't know how to answer them!

1. God says we're not supposed to believe in magic so why do we believe in the magic of Disney?

2. Should we wish upon a star or pray to God?

What would you say?

How old are your kids? Are you serious?

I have two children who have been raised as Christian church goers. These things have never been an issue. We love Disney, Harry Potter, Twilight. Are you a fundamental or evangelical Christian? We aren't, maybe that's the difference.


As for answers...

1. You do know that "Disney magic" isn't real magic, right? It's computer generated- no wands involved.

If you're uncomfortable with your kids believing it's magic then explain it. Honestly my children are extremely intelligent, high achieving students, and DD13 was always quite mature and I think they always knew that "Disney magic" was make believe. They never questioned.

2. If your children truly ask this one then you may need to rethink the quality of their Christian education. Seriously does anyone over age 3 or 4 think that you can really wish upon a star? or that the wish made when blowing out candles or breaking a wishbone is a sure thing?

My children just always understood that "wishing" is fun and just a wish- not a prayer.

 

[iwrbnd]

How old are your kids? Are you serious?

I have two children who have been raised as Christian church goers. These things have never been an issue. We love Disney, Harry Potter, Twilight. Are you a fundamental or evangelical Christian? We aren't, maybe that's the difference.


As for answers...

1. You do know that "Disney magic" isn't real magic, right? It's computer generated- no wands involved.

If you're uncomfortable with your kids believing it's magic then explain it. Honestly my children are extremely intelligent, high achieving students, and DD13 was always quite mature and I think they always knew that "Disney magic" was make believe. They never questioned.

2. If your children truly ask this one then you may need to rethink the quality of their Christian education. Seriously does anyone over age 3 or 4 think that you can really wish upon a star? or that the wish made when blowing out candles or breaking a wishbone is a sure thing?

My children just always understood that "wishing" is fun and just a wish- not a prayer.

No, I'm not the one who is worried about these things. If you read my posts you'll see it was my kids who ask this. I never even thought of it! Kids these days!

 

[okeydokey]

I think telling people that they are or are not Christian based on what YOU believe that to be is the most offensive thing I see done around here and completely out of line.

I agree.

 

[luvsJack]

How old are your kids? Are you serious?

I have two children who have been raised as Christian church goers. These things have never been an issue. We love Disney, Harry Potter, Twilight. Are you a fundamental or evangelical Christian? We aren't, maybe that's the difference.


As for answers...

1. You do know that "Disney magic" isn't real magic, right? It's computer generated- no wands involved.

If you're uncomfortable with your kids believing it's magic then explain it. Honestly my children are extremely intelligent, high achieving students, and DD13 was always quite mature and I think they always knew that "Disney magic" was make believe. They never questioned.

2. If your children truly ask this one then you may need to rethink the quality of their Christian education. Seriously does anyone over age 3 or 4 think that you can really wish upon a star? or that the wish made when blowing out candles or breaking a wishbone is a sure thing?

My children just always understood that "wishing" is fun and just a wish- not a prayer.

HEY! I believe it! Well, its fun to hope that its true anyway.

There are some of our religion that think anything that includes "magic" of any kind is wrong. I don't. As has been said the magic in Disney is all about imagination and entering WDW is entering a world of imagination.

I have really never thought of wishing upon a star as being a replacement for a prayer. It has never entered my mind. To me a wish you make on a star is more of a dream (like wishing for a prince to come, kind of thing), but a prayer is for saying thank you for blessings or asking for a family member to be healed. I don't ask God to make my dreams to come true, but for guidance on which direction to take in life; so I just never thought of comparing the two.

 

[strawberrygirl]

Since this is a Christian thread...can I ask for opinions on another question my daughter asked me??

We were discussing Easter and how God raised Jesus from the dead etc. Well, my daughter, who just turned 4, asked me this: If God can raise Jesus from the dead, then why can't he bring back Aztec (our dog who died 2 yrs ago) to life? I tried to answer her, and I didn't come up with anything that satisfied her and that was on her level. So, I go ask our Clergy whose mouth drops open and then he thinks about it for a sec and says to tell her that Our dog is up in Heaven with Jesus. So, again, the topic comes up this morning and I tell her what I was told (I did think of that one but didn't use it) and she says to me "how does he know that"? My husband just looked at me and we left the question alone. How does a 4 yr old think of this???????? She is a smart girl and my sister in law thinks she will be Prime Minister one day and I think this debate proves she might

Thanks

 

[Bridge203618]

Since this is a Christian thread...can I ask for opinions on another question my daughter asked me??

We were discussing Easter and how God raised Jesus from the dead etc. Well, my daughter, who just turned 4, asked me this: If God can raise Jesus from the dead, then why can't he bring back Aztec (our dog who died 2 yrs ago) to life? I tried to answer her, and I didn't come up with anything that satisfied her and that was on her level. So, I go ask our Clergy whose mouth drops open and then he thinks about it for a sec and says to tell her that Our dog is up in Heaven with Jesus. So, again, the topic comes up this morning and I tell her what I was told (I did think of that one but didn't use it) and she says to me "how does he know that"? My husband just looked at me and we left the question alone. How does a 4 yr old think of this???????? She is a smart girl and my sister in law thinks she will be Prime Minister one day and I think this debate proves she might

Thanks

Aren't kids the best? I would say that Jesus wanted Aztec to be with him to watch over her with him. Once people/animals are done on earth they go to heaven to be with Jesus. We don't always know why, but Jesus knows. Maybe there is someone in heaven that needed a dog

I have a 3 1/2 year old that always asked me the darndest things. She talks about death in a positive way which is good i guess but I don't know what to say. She asked me one day how he (Jesus) could pick me up and take me to heaven. I think in her eyes, she gets picked up but adults don't so how can Jesus do it? She also asked me if she could smell Jesus? She is a little obsessed with smells (like lotion/shampoo). She did also ask me if Mimi (grandma) would miss her when she goes to heaven (my daughter) to which I explained that she won't be going to heaven till she is very old and mimi would be waiting for her. She said ok mimi will be waiting for me when I go to heaven with you... At one point she also thought people/animals went to heaven and then came back later...

 

[mom2faith]

I did not read all of the posts, and did not want to get involved in a debate, but I think there is one other perspective on the "magic" issue.

I think "magic" can have two definations: one as a verb and one as an adjective.

For example - the magic your a referring to in the Bible is the verb - where an ACT OF MAGIC is performed.

Disney's "magic" is more and adjective or a feeling (ex: "It was Magical")

I personally believe there are various ways to define magic and perhaps your child can understand that. Make sense??