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Serious discussion only
Posted: July 3rd, 2008, 9:59 pm
by pastorables
Please no jokes. I would like serious thoughts and opinions with regards to the Giant Wizard's Hat at Disney Hollywood Studios.
I have been to Disney Parks seven times in 32 years (never to Animal Kingdom), but since my last trip, Disney has erected this monstrous wizard's hat at Hollywood Studios which I truly loathe.
Personally, I am struggling with the icon in relationship to God's word against sorcery, wizardry, and witchcraft, etc. Would this be considered a type of abominable idol?
I would like to visit Disney parks again and take my family in the future, but I'm not sure how to reconcile my feelings about the wizard's hat.
Please share any serious thoughts concerning this matter.
Blessings,
pa

Personally
Posted: July 3rd, 2008, 10:24 pm
by Pastor Gary
There is an element of evil (witchcraft, sorcery, conjuring, etc.) in every Disney cartoon and movie. The Disney formula for plot development is based upon good vs evil, and sometimes I think those lines get blurred too much.
I, personally, won't be boycotting Disney theme parks over a hat that was worn by the Mickey Mouse character in an old cartoon, but I understand your sensitivity to such matters. I don't like shows like "Charmed", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Sabrina, the Teenaged Witch" and the like that glamorize and normalize the occult, yet I can enjoy a movie in which "I see dead people..." is the tag line. Probably an inconsistency on my part.
Posted: July 3rd, 2008, 10:36 pm
by Gerald Creasy
WHAT!
You would get upset by the hat of a Cartoon wizard,
but flaccidly call a person who engages in the "Word of Faith" syncretic blending of the occult and Christianity a brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????
Absolutely Astounding!
Posted: July 4th, 2008, 1:40 am
by ToJJB
I saw a clip a few weeks ago from Disney on why they chose the hat. When they were planning to drop the "MGM" name they needed a symbol for that park. Epcot has the space ball, Magic Kingdom has the Castle, Animal Kingdom has the tree...
Posted: July 4th, 2008, 3:46 am
by KBevangelist
I have to agree with PG on this. With the exception of the "....I see dead people..." movie. I didn't care for it though I saw it.
To me boils down to our own personal convictions.
Where I can't watch horror movies others can, but for me it is too much.
I understand where you are coming from PA.
KB
Posted: July 4th, 2008, 3:46 am
by KBevangelist
I have to agree with PG on this. With the exception of the "....I see dead people..." movie. I didn't care for it though I saw it.
To me boils down to our own personal convictions.
Where I can't watch horror movies others can, but for me it is too much.
I understand where you are coming from PA.
KB
Posted: July 4th, 2008, 4:09 am
by soulsearcher
Who or what created the "wizard's hat" in the first place, as in any article of clothing associated with any activity or profession? People. People design, declare and, to the general sucker-mentality population, dictate fashion. Which has always been hilarious to me. This is "in." Now it's "out." Now this is "in." Don't be caught dead in "this." Hysterical.
My point? It's an article of clothing, and clothing is neither evil or good.
I know. I know. There's the "association" thing. But, again, someBODY, over time, formed the association.
Posted: July 4th, 2008, 4:32 am
by Full Quiver
Since we are talking about convictions and the fact that God condemns witchcraft and sorcery I must ask. Where in the Bible does it say wizards wore hats and this is what they look like?
Books and TV are usually imaginary and like our own imaginations tend to run away with us.
Now I know this is supposed to symbolize a wizards hat but Mickey does wear it in a cartoon and by your own admission you have been an avid supporter of Disney, at least by visiting the park, and have found no reason to boycott yet. Come on, we are talking about a talking rat; if that's not magical in itself I don't know what is. And that brings up the name the Magic Kingdom? How many times did you say you had been there?
Posted: July 4th, 2008, 4:53 am
by PastorDaniel
Each of us have a breaking point somewhere and each of us draw the line somewhere.
I researched the Pokemon stuff one time and now don't want my kids to mess around with the "pocket monsters" that started as pocket idols of pagan Gods. Mainly the Shinto religion of Japan...they created the pocket idols as the multiple forms of Buddha when Buddhism took over.
However, on the flip side, I watched the Wizard of Oz, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and my kids have all seen the Harry Potter series...
So I think it comes down to personal awareness and conviction...I was aware of the foundations of one animation and chose to boycott it....yet I still watch others....that could be just as bad.
I think that the most important thing is to counter all this imagination with the word of God. I know the difference between reality and imagination. My kids know the difference too....we told them the truth about Santa...but that don't stop us from taking them to see him!
We make sure to teach them about God and that He is real and I feel that just as I grew up to know and understand the difference that they will too. But I have to teach them and strict avoidance would not allow me the opportunity to teach them the difference.
Posted: July 4th, 2008, 4:58 am
by pastorables
Full Quiver wrote:
and have found no reason to boycott yet.
Nothing was stated about a boycott? Although, I did boycott Disney for a few years during the time when they seemed to be removing all Christian symbolism from their festivities, i.e., manger scene from Christmas parade, etc. After they started allowing the Night of Joy Christian concert, I released my feelings about the their other decisions (good or bad).
This has more to do with Disney's move toward the occult for me, whether real or perceived. They now have multiple shows on Disney Channel about witches and wizards, likely riding the coattail of Potter fame. I realize that it's business for them, but it's more personal for me - as I attempt to reconcile how much is acceptable in light of scriptural precedence.
pa
Posted: July 4th, 2008, 5:00 am
by Full Quiver
As a kid I had a wild imagination and probably still do. I watched all sorts of cartoons including He-Man, the Smurfs, etc. NEVER did my parents mention the possibility of me getting involved with the occult. They were Baptist, we went to church regularly, and I was taught good manners and morals.
Not until I got involved in CoG circles did I hear such things as stay away from these cartoons, toys, movies, books, etc. or you will become a witch. Believe me I fell in line and started preaching this myself. Now I say well then why did I not get involved with the occult? I'd say because I had good parents. More attention is drawn to the occult through religion than by just allowing a kid to be a kid and imagine.
If I had to guess, more occult members were once part of Pentecostal churches than other churches.
Posted: July 4th, 2008, 5:19 am
by pastorables
Gerald Creasy wrote:WHAT!
You would get upset by the hat of a Cartoon wizard,
but flaccidly call a person who engages in the "Word of Faith" syncretic blending of the occult and Christianity a brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????
Absolutely Astounding!
How did I know you would say something like this?

Was it discernment? Was it revelation?
First of all, the "Word of Faith" topic is not for this thread. Please move it back to it's proper box.
Second, you are going to allow your fascination with "Word of Faith" bite you one day if you don't get victory over this. You have literally went to seed on this. I don't even know if you could respond to a MacUser VW thread without sounding the trumpet against the infidels?!
Gerald, I have brothers in Christ who have jerked jewelry off of people, I have brothers in Christ who do slots, I have brothers in Christ who smoke, I have brothers in Christ who watch R-rated movies, and, yes, I have brothers in Christ who believe "Word of Faith". Only God can see the heart, I can only receive the outward testimony of those who profess Christ as Savior.
Now back to the regularly scheduled thread.
Happy 4th of July, Gerald.
pa
Posted: July 4th, 2008, 12:27 pm
by oletimer
pastorables Posted:
Please no jokes. I would like serious thoughts and opinions with regards to the Giant Wizard's Hat at Disney Hollywood Studios.
I have been to Disney Parks seven times in 32 years (never to Animal Kingdom), but since my last trip, Disney has erected this monstrous wizard's hat at Hollywood Studios which I truly loathe.
Personally, I am struggling with the icon in relationship to God's word against sorcery, wizardry, and witchcraft, etc. Would this be considered a type of abominable idol?
I would like to visit Disney parks again and take my family in the future, but I'm not sure how to reconcile my feelings about the wizard's hat.
PA I feel you have reason to worrry about this. If you will notise that on the hat is the symbol of "witch craft". To some this doesn't mean much, but to other of us it along with the great turn toward gays and gay rights, I think that you have right to be worried.
1Th 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Our children don't all ways have the abillity to discern what is good and what is evil and how they relate to each other. Having been around for a while now, I have been able to see the effects of a lot of these seemly harmless things of the past. I don't think that there is any way to keep all the evil influence out of our lives, but at least we can draw some lines.
My two cents
Posted: July 4th, 2008, 1:20 pm
by Gerald Creasy
pastorables wrote:How did I know you would say something like this?

Was it discernment? Was it revelation?

First of all, the "Word of Faith" topic is not for this thread. Please move it back to it's proper box.
It IS in it's proper box: Witchcraft and wizardry.
You chase after celluloid symbols. I show you the reality of your every day world of Pentecosalism.
Get you a copy of The Dictionary of Pentecostalism and Charismatics.
Of course, then, someone in Mississipi would have to actually READ A BOOK!!!!!
It's much easier just to pretend there's no problem and idioticly chase after cartoon wizards isnt it???
Jesus likes witchcraft when they say HE DIED to promote it, but not when it's dressed in a hat with stars.
One tool
Posted: July 4th, 2008, 1:31 pm
by Pastor Gary
Gerald Creasy wrote:It IS in it's proper box: Witchcraft and wizardry.
You chase after celluloid symbols. I show you the reality of your every day world of Pentecosalism.
"To a man who only owns a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." The world is much more complex than every road leading back to Lakeland.