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spirituality as influenced by Disney

Posted by Miko on March 1st, 2007 at 6:49 pm · 6 Comments

While listening to random iTunes, God Help the Outcasts from the Hunchback of Notre Dame came on. Profound words from The Mouse:

I don’t know if you can hear me
Or if you’re even there.
I don’t know if you would listen to a[n outcast]’s prayer.
Yes, I know I’m just an outcast, I shouldn’t speak to you.
Still, I see your face and wonder,
“Were you once an outcast, too?”
[other voices praying:]
I ask for wealth
I ask for fame
I ask for glory to shine on my name
I ask love I can possess
I ask for god & his angels to bless me
[first voice again:]
I ask for nothing, I can get by.
But I know so many less lucky than I.
Please help […] the poor & down trod;
I thought we all were the children of God.

This

God help the outcasts, hungry from birth:
Show them the mercy they don’t find on earth.
[…] God help the outcasts, or nobody will…

always makes me cry

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Tags: Media and Design

6 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Miko // Mar 2, 2007 at 9:49 am

    Personally, I’m a recovering theist. Due to the fact that I was raised believing in a deity, I find it impossible to become a real atheist. I also understand the comfort that comes with believeing that there’s something more. I’ve had experiences that can definately be defined as mystical, so I believe that there’s something else but I don’t believe that YHWH has a personal stake in my soul. In fact, wait, I’ve already explained this… I also don’t believe that anyone has or can have all the answers and firmly refuse to listen to anyone who so claims.

  • 2 John // Mar 2, 2007 at 10:43 am

    Martin, I’m Miko’s fellow rambler here at Mind on Fire. I don’t believe in God. I have several reasons for maintaining a focus on religion:

    • To encourage conversation between theists, nontheists, and those who are in transition.
    • Many of us have had difficult, painful personal experiences with religion. Talking about it is therapy, and puts us in a position to overcome any anger we might feel.
    • Atheists and believers tend to have very negative, stereotyped images of each other. I’m to add some nuance and empathy and depth to these misguided perceptions.
    • I’m a religious studies scholar. Religion is fascinating to me, in all of its diversity and power.

    I hope that enlightens you. :)

  • 3 Elise // Mar 2, 2007 at 10:46 am

    Oh, man, I probably haven’t seen Disney’s Hunchback since…1997? A decade ago? I think I’ll add it to the Netflix list, I remember liking it back in the 8th grade. Yes, for those of you who were married with children by 1997, I was in the eight grade…..;-)

    I love the contrast of the wealthy people praying for more money, more fame, more “stuff” - very different from a prayer to help the outcasts.

    As I side note, I love the lyrics from Prince of Egypt, too.

  • 4 Miko // Mar 2, 2007 at 4:59 pm

    1997…yeah that’s prolly the last time I saw it, too. Lessee, I was…a Sophmore/Junior in HS. wow. That was 10 years ago I’m so old!!!!!!

    *runs for cover* ;)

  • 5 Jonathan // Mar 2, 2007 at 8:00 pm

    This sounds like a cool movie. I’ve never see it! Somehow or another, a memory of a similar song in Les Mis comes back to haunt me in these lyrics…

  • 6 Miko // Mar 3, 2007 at 4:28 pm

    Also, I just saw Dogma which, if you haven’t seen it, is a great flick (I’ve got it on DVD for ppl near by who want to borrow). There’s a lot of swearing, but there’s also a lot of profound statements about religion & faith. Bethany’s discussion of faith with “Barry” in the train always gets me.

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