Taking Disney Captive to Christ – No. 1
Note: We introduced the Taking Disney Captive to Christ series back in June to help transform and elevate Disney “magic” through the higher thoughts and values of God’s wisdom.
According to the official website, “Main Street, U.S.A. is the gateway to Disneyland Park. Stroll down the street where turn-of-the-century architecture and transportation recreate the quintessential small town of Middle America in the early 1900’s. Welcome to Main Street, U.S.A. – home, sweet home in the park!”If quintessential means “representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class” (Merriam-Webster), and if the average Midwestern downtown has at least one church, and if Main Street, U.S.A. was inspired by Walt’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri where there were two churches on Main Street when Walt lived there, then the Thinking Christian Woman just has to ask,
Walt Disney grew up in church. His father, Elias Disney – a deacon in the St. Paul Congregational Church in Chicago – named his fourth, and youngest, son after the family minister, Walter Parr. There is evidence to conclude that Walt never intended to exclude God from Disneyland. In a live broadcast seen around the world on opening day in 1955, Walt asked his nephew, Reverend Glenn D. Puder, to lead in a prayer of dedication.
“I have known Walt Disney for many years, and have long been aware of the spiritual motivation in the heart of this man who has dreamed Disneyland into being….beyond the creeds that would divide us, let us unite in a silent prayer, that this, and every worthy endeavor, may prosper at God’s hand. Let us bow in prayer.”
Then-governor of California, Goodwin J. Knight, followed and said, in part, “Mr. and Mrs. Disney, reverend clergy, and my fellow Americans. Today is a wonderful day and all America is proud as we open Disneyland….all built by American labor and American capital under the belief that this is a God-fearing and a God-loving country.”
It is possible that Walt wanted to be as inclusive as possible by generally avoiding the emblems and trappings of organized religion in the park. And, to be fair, there’s no school, library or post office on Main Street U.S.A. either, but that doesn’t mean Walt was against learning, reading and letter writing!
Walt’s daughter, Sharon Disney Lund, once said, “He was a very religious man, but he didn’t believe you had to go to church to be religious….He respected every religion.” Diane Disney Miller added, “He definitely believed in God – very definitely. But I think he’d had it [with organized religion] as a child. He never went to church.”
There may be no church building on Disney’s Main Street, U.S.A., but the Thinking Christian Woman knows that the church of the living God is not a building made with human hands – WE are His church. Every time a believer walks down Main Street, U.S.A., or anywhere else, God’s church is present there!And even though there is no church building on Main Street U.S.A, there IS an actual church in Disneyland, and we will show you where! Stay tuned to The Thinking Christian Woman for a future installment of Taking Disney Captive to Christ!
© 2011 Melody K. Anderson
All Rights Reserved
14 Responses to “Where’s the church on Main Street, U.S.A.?”
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Larry and I enjoyed this latest blog installment! It’s great that you’re taking a natural love for all things Disney and glorifying our Father at the same time. Looking forward to the picture of a church at Disneyland.
“the church of the living God is not a building made with human hands – WE are His church.”
Fascinating article! The happiest place on earth is in God’s presence. God’s presence is definitely there in that there park, rather profusely.
Thanks for the comments!
Another interesting note on the topic, if it’s true, according to Snopes.com Haunted Mansion trivia:
“An early DL park concept featured a church on Main Street USA surrounded by a graveyard leading up to a haunted house.”
http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=100;t=000181;p=0
Much appreciated for the information and share!
Thank you William. I hope you will visit again. You might consider subscribing by email or RSS to be sure you receive future Disney-related articles.
Searching for this for some time now – i guess luck is far more advanced than search engines 🙂
Glad you found us! Was there anything in particular you were searching for? Do you have any suggestions for how we could make this site more “findable”? Thank you again for visiting, and please come again!
When I open up your Rss feed it appears to be a ton of nonsense, is the problem on my part?
This is the first we have heard of an RSS feed problem. We will look into it. Thank you.
Could you message me with any hints about how you made this website look this good, I would appreciate it!
The majority of the look of this site is thanks to the Suffusion theme in WordPress.
Cool
hi. i enjoy reading your blog Where’s the church on Main Street, U.S.A.? » The Thinking Christian Woman and will shurely make a link to https://thinkingchristianwoman.com/2011/08/wheres-the-church-on-main-street-u-s-a.html on my site.
Awsome website! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am taking your feeds also