The Muppets represent something unique: irreverent but not cynical, childlike without being childish, playful at all costs (except that of others), sincerely self-effacing, hopeful but never saccharine. Sound a little like the fruit of the Spirit?
An Episcopal minister believes Christians can use their faith as a lens for finding higher meaning in Muppet characters and Pixar movies.
David Zahl, a minister at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, Va., published a Nov. 21 op-ed piece in Christianity Today titled "The Gospel According to Jim Henson." The article looks at how the Muppets franchise reinforces basic tenets of Christian belief via humor and affirmation.
"The Muppets represent something unique: irreverent but not cynical, childlike without being childish, playful at all costs (except that of others), sincerely self-effacing, hopeful but never saccharine. Sound a little like the fruit of the Spirit? … The Muppets may not be explicitly Christian, but one would be hard-pressed to find another system that affords the same life-affirming hilarity in the face of human striving and sin."
Earlier this year Zahl and Todd Brewer co-authored "The Gospel According to Pixar," a 76-page study guide for families and church groups. In the book's introduction the authors state, "We see (Pixar) films as much more than children's fare; we see them as the closest thing to modern-day folk tales. And like many great folk tales, Pixar uses monsters, fish, toys and other fantastical creatures to touch winsomely on universal and, therefore, Gospel-related themes. … Our aim is simply to identify where the stories themselves resonate with, and illustrate, a Christian understanding of life."
On Nov. 11-12, Zahl headlined a "Gospel According to Pixar" conference at the Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. The Baptist Standard covered the event.
"(Zahl) suggested … Christ's followers should learn to use art, movies and other cultural expressions to reach people who have built up walls to the proclamation of the gospel from the pulpit. 'Art and story have the power to penetrate those defenses,' Zahl said. 'Art and story also can be avenues for reaching Christians in areas where they don't even know they need to be reached.' "
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