Where Disney Gets It Wrong: The Disney Gospel

Follow me down memory lane for just a moment. You are siting in front of your TV/VCR box with the rabbit ears reaching high into the radio waves. Your mom just popped in that black rectangle of endless entertainment (assuming your rewind button works). You’re sitting there criss-cross applesauce in a clothes hamper on the brown shag-carpeted floor, waiting for the fun to begin (que the inspirational tunes of Disney magic). You begin to hear that little Cricket sing his number, “When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are, anything your heart desires will come to you.” Ahhhh, sounds so right doesn’t it? So hopeful. So true. And then you watch it 57 more times before your next birthday and you’re now on your way to becoming a believer in what is often referred to as “The Disney Gospel”. You know, those feel-good, inspirational, moving lines that sound so…virtuous. Here are just a few to help jog your memory:

1. “When You Wish Upon a Star” (Pinocchio) - Dreams can open the door to anything.

2. “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” (Cinderella) - Your heart’s desires matter most.

3. "Part of Your World"(The Little Mermaid) - Forbidden freedom is better than obedience.

4. “I Am Moana”(Moana) - Your identity is based on yourself and your ancestors.

5. “Let it Go” (Frozen) - Let go of fear and embrace your true self.

6. "Almost There" (Princess and the Frog) - Striving and achievement is the ultimate joy.

7. “Be True to Your Heart” (Mulan) - Follow your inner compass to find happiness.

   
   

As you can see, almost all Disney movies have a spectacular lineup of uplifting and heart-warming melodies that reflect its core teachings. Being raised on Disney, I know all the songs, all the words, a lot of the movie lines word for word, and if Disney karaoke was an Olympic sport, I think I could win the gold! Disney has a magical way of producing incredible musical arrangements that sink deep into the soul. However, not only do these melodies have infectious staying-power, but they also reflect an optimistic, self-focused worldview that contrasts sharply with the Bible’s call to depend on God. Above we see a list of virtues that are introduced to us at a very young age. As we get older, we begin to adopt these teachings as truth simply because they sound good and society values them. They become a kind of “gospel” to us. This "Disney Gospel" promises transformation through self-reliance, positive thinking, and good behavior. By contrast, the Bible teaches that salvation and true transformation come only from God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not from human striving or wish-fulfillment.

There is no denying that Disney movies showcase plenty of encouraging life lessons - values like courage, kindness, and the importance of family, but how can lessons that sound so similar to religious teaching be so far from scripture? Well, the answer lies in the question. Disney is like a religion. Religion is really just the following of certain moral standards with the application of human effort, focusing on outward practices, rituals, and traditions. When you consider the intensity of devotion people show to everything it produces, Disney could be interpreted as functioning much like a religion. It has its own pilgrimages (fans visiting the park like it’s a sacred space). It has its own rituals (collecting memorabilia and participating in annual parades or “Disneybounding”). Disney movies have an overall shared mythology with character stories that are passed down from generation to generation. It has its own symbols that are instantly recognizable (Mickey ears, Cinderella’s castle, the Disney font). It has its own following of fans that gather in person (conventions) or in online groups or fan clubs that create a sense of community or “fellowship”. Obviously, Disney cannot be named as a formal religion because it lacks a deity, a sacred text, and a claim to ultimate truth. However, religion or not, we cannot ignore the fact that Disney teachings are adopted by millions as a kind of “gospel”, and the sad reality is that a great number of those millions are sitting in churches every Sunday.

This post is just the beginning of a deeper look at how Disney’s stories, songs, and values stack up against the truth of God’s Word. This series will aim to explore how Disney’s beloved stories and songs mirror - but also contradict - the Word of God, and to help readers discern the worldview behind the magic. We will dig further into the ways Disney’s messages subtly contradict Scripture and why discernment is so crucial for followers of Jesus. I want to encourage my fellow believers to know Scripture so well that they can instantly recognize when a popular message, no matter how nostalgic, runs counter to God’s truth.

Stay humble, stay hungry, and keep choosing the Good Portion.