Is Disneyland like a Christian Utopia or a New Jerusalem?

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IwishIknew

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This might be a good question for the Philosophical Forum, but I thought I’d ask this forum first.
From a religious standpoint: I know Disneyland is “god-less” and one could argue that there is too much emphasis on "magic’ and wishing on a star rather than a personal God who was made manifest to us through the Person of Jesus Christ. It also does not emphasize the cross we must carry every day to follow Jesus. God is not discussed and is left out of the picture. So in a religious sense, it is not like a Christian Utopia or a New Jerusalem at all.

However, in a tangible, metaphorical sense, one could argue that it reflects many of the qualities of a Christian Utopia or New Jerusalem. And it would be a simple mental jump for one to replace Walt Disney and his characters and stories with God, the saints and stories to understand what a Christian Utopia or a New Jerusalem would be like for the following reasons:
  1. There are gates and it costs to get in. You have to work in the real world with all it’s pains to gain entry. You have to also prioritize it above other things to purchase tickets - though tickets are available for all who want to come. If you don’t like children or childlike things you won’t choose to go to Disneyland.
  2. Once in, you are warmly welcomed with music, flowers and Disney Celebrities (aka Heavenly Celebrities).
  3. Unbecoming behavior (aka sinful behavior) is not allowed as part of the Culture of Disneyland and when it occurs, you can see it is out of character, out of place.
  4. It is all about “Saving Mr. Banks” - just as Mary Poppins’ purpose was. I used to think it was all about the children, but realized it is more about pulling Parents temporarily out of the tremendous burdens, anxieties and stresses of the world that weigh us down and letting us re-discover childhood through our children in a way that feels real - since most of us have lost the innate ability to lose ourselves in childhood play and childhood toys. There is a sort of chasm that separates us from being childlike - yet Jesus says being childlike (not childish) is necessary for entry into Heaven.
  5. In general the staff there are very loving and kind - I’ve seen and heard many stories of above and beyond kindness that far exceeds what would be called for in the rest of our world.
  6. Much of Disneyland is focused on stories of the triumph of good vs. evil (evil as defined through simple villainy and not as complexly subtle and undermining as we see in the world).
  7. If an adult allows it to happen (and does not get too distracted with the many people, the heat, the long lines for rides) - one will just feel very good being there - soaking in the music, the fun foods, the aromas, the sights and of course - the children discovering so many things.
I’m not sure a Christian religious “Disneyland” would work in this era - that might be interesting to discuss as well.

Any thoughts out there? Just opening this up for discussion. I’m not seeking a right/wrong answer - just your thoughts…
 
Except the Disneylands are owned and are operated by ant-Christian big-business leadership, quite the opposite of the original great Walt Disney.
 
The food is awful though, and plays havoc with my bowels.
 
AKalnoky said:
Except the Disneylands are owned and are operated by ant-Christian big-business leadership, quite the opposite of the original great Walt Disney.
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And the Disney organization is “anti-Christian” because…?
 
AKalnoky said:
Except the Disneylands are owned and are operated by ant-Christian big-business leadership, quite the opposite of the original great Walt Disney.
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A good topic for another thread: the evils of corporatism. Anyone a Lego Movie fan?

For this thread - any insights on Disneyland itself? Is it special? Could a future world ruled by Christ look and feel like Disneyland? (Maybe this is how I should have phased the Original Post)…
 
IMHO, hating on Disney theme parks as being “godless” is being a total killjoy, catering to a stereotype of Catholics as sour, bitter puritans.

I think Disney should run the world. Their theme parks have brought happiness to literally millions of people. The parks are spotless bastions of simple happiness. They make you so happy…

…as they take your last dollar. 😃 Seriously, We will leave aside the expense – but the fact remains that Disney IMHO wins despite cost.

Also, the cost is directly or indirectly tied to their stock price, which has gone straight up for years. In other words – Disney has made the terrible “mistake” of repeatedly making a profit for their owners AKA the shareholders. Owning a large amount of Disney stock is like having a printing press for money in your basement. Or are we going to trash people who think the evil corporatist empire AKA capitalism should be replaced with something really godless, namely, communism?
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
And the Disney organization is “anti-Christian” because…?
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Well, as a start, there have been boycotts by Baptists and Catholics on account of very problematic film content (by Miramax) and promotion of sexual expression by homosexuals at theme-park events such as “Gay Days”.

Of course, Disney has also faced protests from environmentalists (over the abandoned destination, “Treasure Island”), human rights advocates (over working conditions at factories producing Disney merchandise), feminists (over the “princess-pushing” which sets up a false self-image in young girls that concentrates too much on looks and clothing), and so on. When you present yourself as some kind of ideal, you’re going to get howls every time you set a foot wrong. As for Disney, though, even Roy Disney, a relative, has had some very serious issues with what the company has done in the name of founder Walt Disney.

A Christian theme park? Wow, that is a nice idea begging to be complained into oblivion. If you think the “Happiest Place on Earth” finds it impossible to please everybody, just trying being “The New Jerusalem.”

“Eye has not seen…” and there is a reason for that. Heaven is free of editorial whining from the peanut gallery, because it actually IS designed by God for the eternal bliss of those who have been perfected according to the wisdom of God. Let the rest of us into it in our current unwashed state, let us paint it with all of our immature ideas about eternal bliss, and it wouldn’t seem like Heaven. Trust me on that one! 😃
 
IwishIknew said:
This might be a good question for the Philosophical Forum, but I thought I’d ask this forum first.
From a religious standpoint: I know Disneyland is “god-less” and one could argue that there is too much emphasis on "magic’ and wishing on a star rather than a personal God who was made manifest to us through the Person of Jesus Christ. It also does not emphasize the cross we must carry every day to follow Jesus. God is not discussed and is left out of the picture. So in a religious sense, it is not like a Christian Utopia or a New Jerusalem at all.

However, in a tangible, metaphorical sense, one could argue that it reflects many of the qualities of a Christian Utopia or New Jerusalem. And it would be a simple mental jump for one to replace Walt Disney and his characters and stories with God, the saints and stories to understand what a Christian Utopia or a New Jerusalem would be like for the following reasons:
  1. There are gates and it costs to get in. You have to work in the real world with all it’s pains to gain entry. You have to also prioritize it above other things to purchase tickets - though tickets are available for all who want to come. If you don’t like children or childlike things you won’t choose to go to Disneyland.
  2. Once in, you are warmly welcomed with music, flowers and Disney Celebrities (aka Heavenly Celebrities).
  3. Unbecoming behavior (aka sinful behavior) is not allowed as part of the Culture of Disneyland and when it occurs, you can see it is out of character, out of place.
  4. It is all about “Saving Mr. Banks” - just as Mary Poppins’ purpose was. I used to think it was all about the children, but realized it is more about pulling Parents temporarily out of the tremendous burdens, anxieties and stresses of the world that weigh us down and letting us re-discover childhood through our children in a way that feels real - since most of us have lost the innate ability to lose ourselves in childhood play and childhood toys. There is a sort of chasm that separates us from being childlike - yet Jesus says being childlike (not childish) is necessary for entry into Heaven.
  5. In general the staff there are very loving and kind - I’ve seen and heard many stories of above and beyond kindness that far exceeds what would be called for in the rest of our world.
  6. Much of Disneyland is focused on stories of the triumph of good vs. evil (evil as defined through simple villainy and not as complexly subtle and undermining as we see in the world).
  7. If an adult allows it to happen (and does not get too distracted with the many people, the heat, the long lines for rides) - one will just feel very good being there - soaking in the music, the fun foods, the aromas, the sights and of course - the children discovering so many things.
I’m not sure a Christian religious “Disneyland” would work in this era - that might be interesting to discuss as well.

Any thoughts out there? Just opening this up for discussion. I’m not seeking a right/wrong answer - just your thoughts…
Click to expand...
Most of those points could be said about a strip club… Just sayin, your allegory seems like it is really reaching…
 
Disneyland is not all sweetness and light.

I knew a woman who was fired from her job there for wearing lipstick. Back then female employees who were not working as characters (such as Cinderella) were not allowed to wear any make-up whatsoever.

I once used an E ticket to go on “It’s a Small World,” only to discover that the sound was off during the entire ride. I asked for a refund and was told “Tough.”

I have been in line for an hour to go on a ride, only to have it break down before it was my turn. I have also been stuck on rides when they did break down. (I was stuck on Monsanto’s “Adventure Thru Inner Space” for several minutes right at the point where the giant eye is roving back and forth, looking at you through the microscope. Creepy. This ride is now gone and “Star Tours” is there instead.)

While I usually enjoy a day at Disneyland, I would hardly compare it to a utopia of any sort.
 
Havard said:
Do they have anything healthy these days? I only seem to recall burgers, pizza, and the like.
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Last year at Disney world, we were able to eat pretty well, at the fast service places, salads, sandwiches, yogurts etc.

Disney also permits outside food, so I had crackers and granola bars for my children as well.
 
Hoosier_Daddy said:
Most of those points could be said about a strip club… Just sayin, your allegory seems like it is really reaching…
Click to expand...
I think one can also argue that Disney is a very elaborate shrine to a mouse. They even have processions to “venerate” the mouse.

Really, Disney is a nice theme park, pretty clean, pretty well organized, nice souvenirs, great firework shows.

Some people like it, some people hate it. 🤷
 
I don’t want to nitpick but which Disneyland are we talking about? California? Tokyo? Paris? Hong Kong? (Been to that one by the way. :p)

Could we be talking about the biggest one of all? Because really, I’m not sure if a “New Jerusalem” would have a haunted mansion or a ride that paid tribute to freedom-loving, rum-drinking scallywags who picked up crews in Tortuga in order to raid, pillage, plunder, and otherwise pilfer their weasley black guts out.

(For the record though, I would go to Disney World for the sole purpose of riding the second one. “Yo ho, yo ho… dudun, dudun, duduuun…” :love::love::love:)
 
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Havard said:
Do they have anything healthy these days? I only seem to recall burgers, pizza, and the like.
Click to expand...
Last time I went the park was just littered with identical fastfood places. I think there was one place which served fish, however.
 
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