In Moralistic Therapeutic Relation Theism (MTRT) Christianity becomes not a religion about Jesus and the scripture, but how God can help us feel content with our lives. Rob Minkoff’s and Roger Allers’s, The Lion King, clearly shows the characteristics of MTRT with Simba being the average Christian. MTRT can be broken down into three categories, being moralistic, the sole desire to be comfortable, and having a relationship with the heavenly father. All three characteristics can be seen and analyzed throughout the whole film.
The moralistic thought comes into place in The Lion King when Simba’s father dies. Scar and Simba have the same goal in life: to be the King of the Jungle. Scar breaks the first rule of being a moral being. He is obnoxious.
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Moral Therapeutic Deism is narcissistic because who comes first is the individual, not Jesus. The ultimate goal for a teenager and similarly for Simba is to be successful and feel amazing. Simba feels bad because he has let everyone down. He wants everyone to like him.
A relational God in theory sounds wonderful. A teenagers we are taught the God will always be by our side especially through the dark times. what we have not realized is, we have put God into a safe distance only calling on Him when needed. In The Lion King Simba only speaks to his heavenly father when he needs him the most. And just like many teenagers in America he hears what he wants to hear the most. In MTRT God is a Divine Butler, calling only when we need him and a Cosmic Therapist, making us feel good, so we can be a moral person.
Although MTRT makes us good “citizens” of the world it does not make us good Christians. Like said before MTRT is a narcissistic religion. The god that is prayed to is not the one who created the heavens and the earth, but a god that has been made up. So, in reality prayers are being sent to oneself, as seen with Simba. He found his father when Rafiki told him to look into himself. Christianity is based first on Jesus the Messiah and second scripture. MTRT is based first on yourself and second on the judgements of others. Simba did not need Rafiki and Nala to help get his goal. He could have reflected and heard his father. Because