The Gospel According to Disney: Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

The Gospel According to Disney: Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust
In this follow-up to his best-selling The Gospel According to The Simpsons: The Spiritual Life of the World's Most Animated Family, religion journalist Mark Pinsky explores the role that the animated features of The Walt Disney Company have played in the moral and spiritual development of generations of children. Pinsky explores the religious, moral, and theological themes in 31 of the most popular Disney films, including Snow White, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and the Lion King, and discovers what he calls the Disney Gospel: faith that good will prevail, trust in yourself and your friends, and a little bit of something magical. Pinsky also looks at recent Disney developments, including the 1990s boycott of Disney by the Southern Baptist Convention, the impact of the theme parks on American culture, and the role that CEO Michael Eisner has played in the resurgence of the company since the mid-1980s.
Customer Review: DO NOT BE DECEIVED! GOD IS NOT MOCKED!
I have not read this book. As far as Disney I cannot comment on the man, but only the actions and ideologies his company puts forth. The Disney Company seems to be deeply rooted in the theme of magic. Disneyland is referred to as the magical kingdom. Many of Disney's films and cartoons include magical representations such as casting of spells, divination, witchcraft and sorcery. A lot of times these representations are presented as "good" which is a lie. There is no such thing as good/white magic, even the Book of Satan testifies that there is not a difference between white and black magic. READ DEUTERONOMY 18:9-14!!! These things are detestable in the sight of God. Can Christians find entertainment or enjoyment in things that God considers an abomination? To the spiritually weak or unbeliever, at the very least these films and parks desensitize you and prepare you to more openly accept things within this realm that you normally would not have. The more you see something the more you get use to it and the less wrong you may find it. Do not be deceived! Another example are Pirates, as in the Pirates of the Caribbean, which in reality are thieves and drunkards, also an abomination in the sight of God, for we know that neither of them have a place in the kingdom of heaven. Are these the things we want to glorify or shine a good light upon? Are we confusing our children or giving them a misrepresentation of right and wrong, good and evil?
Customer Review: Informative, but not Insightful
Pinsky starts off on an upbeat note, successfully discussing religious topics found in early Disney films, but as the book progresses through the company's animation history, Pinsky looses most of his analysis and commentary in favor of summarization. I felt that Pinsky did a good job explaining the premise of the post-Disney era films (beginning in the 80s and through the 90s - his insight picks up again in the 2000s) he lacked the spiritual commentary I was looking for, the commentary the book's subtitle "Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust," advertises. Overall, I would suggest this book as a good read, but there are probably more informative books out there for research purposes or more thought-provoking discussion.