Walt Disney is as much a mentality and a consciousness as he is either a human being or a series of accomplishments. He is a state of mind to all of us, even those who hate Walt Disney. Even if they don’t want to live inside the Walt Disney state of mind, they do, because it’s so pervasive in our culture—Neil Gabler

In the twentieth century, no man did more to shape the values of family culture for good or evil than Walt Disney. As a motivator, innovator, and filmmaker, his efforts impacted millions across the globe through his movies, theme parks, and television shows. Disney taught Americans how to think about a family vacation. His work helped to define the literary and cultural sensibilities of a generation of American children and introduced enduring and iconic expressions of childhood that remain with us to this day.

But Disney’s great weakness was this: Even at his best, his morality was not linked to a defined transcendent standard; his worldview was syncretistic, being a mixture of Christian moralism and mythic paganism.

Despite his far-reaching influence, Christians have not thoroughly evaluated the worldview and accomplishments of Walt Disney from a biblical perspective. And until recent decades, the Disney logo was synonymous with family values. The consequence of this myopic acceptance of Disney has led many parents to blindly expose their children to a diversity of problematic messages, from the sensuality and pantheism of Pocahontas to the immodesty and rebellion of the Little Mermaid.

Now Disney: A Christian Critique provides parents and independent filmmakers with a theological critique of Disney’s legacy and includes the most important lessons to be learned from Walt’s victories and failures. Presented first at Vision Forum Ministries’ Christian Filmmakers Academy, this groundbreaking symposium is a critical tool for anyone seeking to disciple their children in biblical cultural analysis.

Evaluating the Disney Legacy

These messages examine the Disney philosophy of filmmaking, the history of the Disney empire, and the impact of Disney’s many innovations on film and culture. Also included is an analysis of the philosophical and theological perspectives often presented in Disney’s children classics, both for good and for evil.

Examples of Good

• Walt Disney’s personal emphasis on the family as a basic unit of society.
• Appreciation for science, investigation, exploration, and innovation.
• Cultivation of virtues of heroic boyhood.
• Gratitude for the American legacy of freedom.

Examples of Bad

• Moralism without sound theological foundation.
• The “cutification” of witchcraft and evil.
• Reliance on pagan myth and fantasy, rather than biblical icons and worldview.
• Promotion of Darwinian evolutionism.

The timing of this series could not be better!

Disney’s pro-homosexual policies, their promotion of disturbing anti-family, R-rated films through Touchstone Pictures, and their move away from the historic values of their founder have led to boycotts and general concern with the direction of the company.

Now, more than ever, Christian leaders, parents,and filmmakers need a biblical grid with which to interpret Walt Disney, his legacy ,and the latest moves to integrate Disney into American Christian culture.

Walt Disney: A Christian Critique may be the most thought-provoking audio series you hear all year. It explains that the true story of Disney is a testimony to the culture-changing potential which can be realized by men who believe in moral values and who have a commitment to innovation and creativity. But this story is also a testimony to the limitations of storytelling apart from the presuppositions of Jesus Christ and Holy Scripture: moralism and sentiment can only go so far. In the end, an undefined and inconsistent theological grid is unsustainable. Its very success will become its undoing. This is the true legacy of Disney.