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Anderson introduces each discussion with a relevant Scripture passage before going into a description of each film's story and the life lessons that can be extracted from it, usually embellished with relevant anecdotes from real life.

Snow White: An allegory of Genesis?

For example, Anderson sees parallels between Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, where the evil queen offers Snow White a seductive "wishing apple" (that's really poisonous), and Genesis 3:1-7, where the serpent tempts Eve with a piece of fruit. But just as love's first kiss provides the antidote for Snow White, God's love expressed through Christ's sacrifice can do the same for mankind.

Anderson's other explorations are equally illuminating. Peter Pan's shadow is equated with the influence each of us can have on the people around us, Bambi illustrates the beauty and fragility of creation, and Dumbo's huge ears show that what we may first regard as a handicap can be a gift from God.

Each of Anderson's chapters closes with some questions for family discussion after watching the film.

In many ways, The Gospel According to Disney offers a similar approach, although with a more analytical eye rather than spiritual. Pinsky outlines the stories in detail, then points out the moral and theological themes that can be found in each.

Pinsky also explores the background of Walt Disney, whose opinions about organized religion were influenced by an authoritarian father, along with Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg, who were responsible for the Disney renaissance that began with 1989's The Little Mermaid. He even touches on Christians' clash with Disney in a chapter titled "The Baptist Boycott."

Because the early Disney films had such a strong moral element, there aren't many touchy issues to be dealt with. Pinsky does get fairly critical of the portrayal of American Indians in Peter Pan (even suggesting he would "fast forward through the whole repulsive village sequence"), and points out some controversy with perceived African-American stereotypes seen in the black crows in Dumbo.

Hinduism in The Lion King?

However, the later material does get more problematic, particularly for Christian viewers, from the overtly occult elements in The Black Cauldron to the more subtle, Hindu-influenced "circle of life" philosophy of The Lion King. And then to top it all off, along came 1995's Pocahontas, which found spirits in the trees and was criticized for ignoring the fact that the Native American heroine later converted to Christianity.

So what are we to do with Disney? Like all entertainment, it usually comes down to making wise choices, and these books can help in that process—whether or not to see them in the first place, what to look for if you do view them, and things to noodle on after the fact.

Of course, one could take the old AFA route and avoid them entirely, although personally I share Anderson's belief, particularly with respect to the early Disney features. There is some classic storytelling in these old films, with ample opportunities to extract biblical truths while being entertained.

Mark Perry, a freelance writer and editor from Naperville, Illinois, is the former editor of PREVIEW Family Movie and TV Review, a newsletter that reviews entertainment from a Christian perspective.

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