Disney and Apologetics: Exploring the Moral Power and Theological Significance of Disney Stories

Disney and Apologetics: Exploring the Moral Power and Theological Significance of Disney Stories

Disney is a force of formative power in contemporary pop culture, which underscores the worth of engaging it apologetically. Walt Disney became a pioneer in twentieth-century musical animation and animated features, and an exemplar for using a nonsectarian canon of narratives in order to argue, subtly, for an objective moral truth and goodness that will overcome all evil, and the beauty of a kingdom inhabited by virtuous characters. Pop-culture narratives (like Disney films) possess a power to make abstract ideas more accessible. We do not so easily feel propositions, and so we do not necessarily feel the force of an abstract argument. A good story, on the other hand, like good music (and Disney gives us both), has more direct power to move us. This duology—two works in one—considers how Disney stories are enfolded by Christian moral theology. The first book explores how Disney can serve as an effective aid in cultural apologetics and moral dialogue. The second work, an edited volume featuring a number of scholars from differing backgrounds, investigates the power of imaginative storytelling, explores Disney's live-action animation and musical allure through the lens of aesthetics apologetics, and approaches a number of popular Disney narratives in order to draw out the moral and theological significance of these beloved Disney tales. “Enter into a serious examination of the whimsical worlds created by the kingdom of Disney through the eyes of those inhabiting a Kingdom centered in another world—the Kingdom of Christ. You will discover why Disney’s moral logic of good and evil, darkness and light, move us toward affirming goodness and justice.” — Annalee Ward , Director of the Wendt Center for Character Education and author of Mouse Morality: the Rhetoric of Disney Animated Films Disney as Doorway to Apologetic Dialogue is “a valuable resource to show how Disney films provide not only illuminating insights and inspiration for our children and our congregations; they also serve as bridges for the gospel in a world of people longing to find their true identity and true home and to see fulfilled their deepest desires to ‘live happily ever after.’” — Paul Copan , Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University (Florida), and author of The Gospel in the Marketplace of Ideas and Is God a Vindictive Bully? Disney & the Moral Imagination “strikes just the right balance between academic and popular, scholarly and accessible.... It has much of value to say on the nature and power of music, virtue, beauty, imagination, and hope. " — Louis Markos , Professor in English and Scholar in Residence, Houston Christian University; author of On the Shoulders of Hobbits and The Myth Made Fact "More sense needs to be made of the relationship between the world making we have all been enchanted by in Disney and the Christian faith. For a century now, Disney has invited us into stories that have shaped our worldviews, our hearts, and our imaginations. Much of what we've come to know of truth, goodness, and beauty, both culturally and personally, we've known through Disney's animated world-making. Yet, it could be argued that Christian believers have not thought deeply enough about Disney's importance in crafting conversations about these virtues. In Disney as Doorway to Apologetic Dialogue , Scarbrough and Sawyer have revealed just what depths there are to plunge. Scarbrough and Sawyer do a beautiful job of theologically and apologetically walking us through Disney's spiritually latent worlds, showing us glimpses, in fantastic castles, princesses, and beasts, of a very real Kingdom." —Corey Latta , Vice President of Academics at Visible Music College and author of numerous articles, poems, and three books, including, "Election and Unity in Paul's Epistle to the Romans," Functioning Fantasies: Theology, Ideology, and Social Conception in the Works of C.S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien," C. S. Lewis and the Art of Writing , and When the Eternal Can Be Met: A Bergsonian Theology of Time in the Works of C. S. Lewis "As a parent of four school-age children who have grown up with Disney, this fascinating book [ Disney as Doorway to Apologetic Dialogue ] helped me more deeply appreciate the themes of virtue, justice, love, and sacrifice that permeate the Disney canon. Good stories move us because they point to a greater story. This volume is an excellent way to start conversations about our longing for a perfect kingdom, for true beauty, and for the ultimate conquest of good over evil." —Neil Shenvi , Author of Why Believe? A Reasoned Approach to Christianity " Disney as Doorway to Apologetic Dialogue is a great example of cultural apologetics done well. We need more deep-dive theological analyses of Hollywood—resources that go beyond superficial readings and model substantive, layered engagement with an eye toward common grace engagement rather than critical dismissal. This s