Laurie Gerber: Compete, Pout, Martyr and Shout
Catholic Abbot Says Disney Indoctrinates Kids
Filed under: Opinions
What organization can you think of that uses tales of good and evil to teach children moral lessons, while at the same time convincing they need that organization in their lives? What group tries to convince people that they need this group in their lives to be "a good and happy family"? What concern is also fabulously wealthy and rakes in insane amounts of money from its customers? According to the Abbot of Worth in England, it's not the Catholic Church but the Disney Corporation.He claims that Disney is "exploiting spirituality" in order to turn a profit and says that we are in danger of losing our souls due to consumerism. "The message behind every movie and book, behind every theme park and T-shirt is that our children's world needs Disney," he says. The idea is that "they will be happier if they live the full Disney experience."
I don't doubt that Disney wants to keep kids and families coming back for more and that they are using colorful and engaging stories, products, and attractions to do so, but it also seems to me they are following a business model that's a couple thousand years old. And I'm sure it's no coincidence that the esteemed Abbot has a new book coming out, Finding Happiness, in which he suggests people would do well to live more simply.
So what do you think -- is Disney "exploiting spirituality" or just copying what works?
| Not at all -- they're just trying to make a buck. | |
|---|---|
| They're not doing anything that hasn't been done for thousands of years. | |
| Yes, but if that's what the people want, it's okay. | |
| Completely -- they should be shut down. |
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 8)
12-07-2008 @ 5:27PM
DK said...Disney has replaced God with fantasy. "Wishing upon a star" will get you nowhere. The best thing you can do for your children and yourself is turn off the TV, put the money you spend on cable/dish into the bank, and then spend real quality time with the children, letting them use their own imaginations. You'll also have time to tell them about the God who made the star they have been wishing upon all these years and getting nowhere.
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12-07-2008 @ 5:28PM
Kate said...What a bitterheart this man is. I feel sad for him. Sad that he has no imagination, has serious trust issues, and is pissing the days away harassing Disney Co.,when he should be concerned about other hardships going on in the world today. "Tink" about that buddy boy!
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12-07-2008 @ 5:33PM
don stack said...I wonder if Disney has had anywhere near the number of child molesters the Catholic Church has...
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12-07-2008 @ 5:45PM
RickAdams said...Someone is concerned about how much power Disney has?
I'm more concerned about how much power the Catholic church has, and how they abuse it.
At least Disney has certain laws and regulations it must abide by. The Catholic church is free of laws and regulations. And it gets away with things that no corporation ever could.
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12-07-2008 @ 5:46PM
Sandy said...Oh, for heaven's sake. Is this all that this man has to do - sit around and trash Disney? He needs to get a real job.
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12-07-2008 @ 5:51PM
andie said...What everybody has to realize is that one man--unless it is the pope--cannot speak for the entire Church. this abbot is voicing his own opinion, not that of the Church in its entirety.
Secondly, I would like point out the huge error in calling what happened a few years ago simply a child molestation scandal. It was a homosexuality scandal, nearly all victims of the abuse were males in their teens. besides that, be careful not to assume that this was a widespread problem-- less than 1% of all Catholic priests in the entire world were involved. Does this make it any less despicable?
No, of course not. It was incredibly vile and wrong on every level, but it was not nearly as large an issue as the media made it.
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12-07-2008 @ 5:52PM
RickAdams said...The good Abbott says that people would do well to live more simply.
Well, on that point we agree. I've simplified my life by eliminating all of the complications and encumbrances created by Catholicism. And he's right -- I'm now living very well!
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12-07-2008 @ 6:01PM
Ray gillespie said...What hippocrits... Of all the brainwashing and indoctrination that goes on in the church, you have the nerve,or whatever to say anything about anyone .
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12-07-2008 @ 5:57PM
RickAdams said...Catholic popes once engaged in orgies and employed prostitutes at church-sponsored functions (it's a well-documented historical fact). It has a lot of problems with sexuality -- nonetheless, it tries to claim that it is moral and wants to dictate how others should behave, even though its own record -- involving more than one pope -- is shameful. Such hypocrisy.
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12-07-2008 @ 6:03PM
john said...Disney is in business to make money by selling movies and trinkets. That's the American way.
Religion is the biggest con in human history with the slickest marketing scheme: eternal life after we die...for a mere ten percent of your income. Those hucksters get rich, and we rot. Fear of death is the reason people are suckered into supporting the various churches on the pain of going to a furnace for all eternity if they don't believe the BS that churches sell.
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12-07-2008 @ 6:02PM
Katie said...Walt Disney was an Atheist. Smart guy.
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12-07-2008 @ 6:04PM
Ant said...It's kind of hard to listen to a man telling us not to lose our souls to consumerism when you can almost bank on the fact that his ties to the church will guarantee his book a spot on the NY Times bestseller list. Being a member of a family of Catholics, I chose to attend a non- denominational church. The "pay to play" attitude along with the hypocrisy, and not to mention the agree with me or go to ^%$7 mentality of KJ and many members of Catholicism has turned many away, including myself. Attendance in the church has dropped, and and will continue to do so, until the administrators of the church realize that they are servants of God, not His policy writers..
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12-07-2008 @ 6:37PM
Vicki said...Watch the movie "Joshua" with Tony Goldwyn, and even you, the Abbot of Worth in England. Let the people draw their own conclusions, and yes, make their own mistakes, about their lives. You're just someone else jumping on the bandwagon, putting in their 2 cents, telling us what we should and shouldn't do. Isn't that why our ancestors left England, so we have the freedom to choose?
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12-07-2008 @ 6:09PM
Joe P. said...Wake Up America, its okay to have sex with little boys according to the church, but God forbid the children have fun at disney???
Give more money to the church, so they can buy more gold and jewels, and pay law suits.
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12-07-2008 @ 6:13PM
Jack Adler said...G-D created Man, Man created evil, man alone is reponsible for his treatment of others, Religion is to preach Faith not hate.
The best guide on how we should live our lives, is "The Golden Rule"
MUTUAL RESPECT IS THE KEY TO THE SURVIVAL OF HUMANITY !!!!!!!
www.jackadler.com
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12-07-2008 @ 6:16PM
laxauntsc said...You know there are more people going to disney because man made relgions have become antiquated and have not kept up with society and not for nothing the richest NON PROFIT organziation happens to be the CHURCH out of all of them where would you rather us go maybe we should go to that money making amusment park that Jim and Tammy built or rather than spend the money on our families for the little time we have now a days to enjoy our children and thier innocent youth we should give it to one of the many money hungry televangilist to bash one of the last surviving companies that incorperates family values because the church is not making enough of our money is crap and did not this person write a book to do what MAKE MONEY Hmmmm kind of makes you think don't it??? why don't you take your hipocritical BULLS**T and stick in your offering basket I would rather go to disney then go to church at least at one place I will not be sexually abused and morally molested don't get me wrong they are both places where you will experience the memory of a life time only one I will not need life long counseling from
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12-07-2008 @ 6:19PM
americaisthedevil said...i agree the catholic church needs to change but so do jews and gay people should just go away. all three groups especially in america are immoral, money worshipping and ruining the world. all three groups are mean as hell. gay people should start their own country and stay away from straights . christimas commercials start on halloween night in the usa now. the jews do that. they own all the tv stations. it is sick gay people wear santa hats. it is sick christians never stop all the commercialism and give up the stupid xmas trees and presents. christians are greedy to. america is ruining the universe and most americans are going to go to hell. mr disney did a good thing but now a jew owns disney. bad move. he lets gays have mock weddings there in front of kids. that is wrong. the world would be better with out america and its immature people.
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12-07-2008 @ 6:33PM
anglhart said...Are you for real? Do you honestly believe the crap you are putting out there? Typical religious uptight idiot. Blame all the problems of the world on the Jews and Gays. Do not put it on the person or people that it belongs with. This is the United States of America all are welcome, and all should have equal rights and if you do not like it, go somewhere else where your uptight stupid religious ways will be welcome........that is if you can find a place that will welcome you. See thats the big difference, everyone is welcome here, even people like you
12-07-2008 @ 6:48PM
Taylor said...You make me sick. What a disgusting excuse for a human being. Try learning a little tolerance... maybe then people would actually like you. Oh, and do you even know what Jews believe? Jesus was Jewish. Muhammad was related to Abraham. All three religions are intertwined and share many similarities. Oh, and not all Jews are rich. In fact, the only reasons why they are typically in high paying jobs is because during the Spanish Inquisition, Jews weren't allowed to own land. So they took jobs as doctors and bankers, even though back then those positions didn't pay very well. They founded family businesses and their children took on the same professions as their parents.
And gay people? Excuse me, but they are people with feelings. The way you address them makes them sound like animals, which just shows how moronic you are. You want people to respect your beliefs and your lifestyle, so why can't you allow others the same treatment? What have any gay people done to you to make you into such an asshole? Or are you going by the thousands of years old Bible, which was written by MEN, who obviously had their own opinions?
If you think America is so bad, then tell me, why are you on America Online? Do you exist solely to bash others? That seems like a pretty pitiful existence to me.
12-07-2008 @ 6:16PM
none of our bizniz said...laura mateya,
I think your comment makes a lot of sense, really. Disney does seem to have a lot of "power" over the children in this country. But that is because we as parents give it to them. I understand your point about disney making Americanized characters in foreign locals, but instead of asking a business to raise our children with cultural movies that may or may not be beyond their comprehension depending on their age, why dont we, the parents handle the task? I never got mad because Tom Cruise didnt actually teach me how to drive in days of thunder.
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