Christian Morality and Relationships – The Lion King Essay Example

save Simba. They demonstrate their belief in righteousness by not abandoning Simba, “Hey, Timon. It's just a little lion. Look at him. He's so cute, and all alone! Can we keep him? ... Of course” (The Lion King 1994). It is evident that the teaching of Jesus of ‘welcome the stranger’ and the Beatitudes about righteousness, influence Timon and Pumbaa’s moral decision to save Simba.

As a result of saving Simba, Timon and Pumbaa decide to fight alongside him to reclaim the Pride Lands and this is clearly influenced by the teachings of the Church and Cardinal values. The Church teachings concern ‘safeguarding peace’ and states how peace is protecting and respecting the goods of persons and peoples. The antagonist Scar, who became the ruler of the Pride Lands, disturbed the ’Circle of Life’ which caused the peaceful kingdom to become desolate. Timon and Pumbaa decide to fight side by side with Simba to restore peace to the Pride Lands and bring Scar’s tyranny to an end.

This clearly reflects the Church teaching, ‘protecting the goods of persons and peoples’. They desire to protect Simba’s kingdom and to return the animals and the land back to its peaceful beginnings, “We're going to fight” (The Lion King 1994). Furthermore, the Cardinal virtue of fortitude influences their decision to fight for reclamation over the Pride Lands. Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good (Church Teachings).

It strengthens the resolve as followed in Psalms, "The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation "(Psalms 118: 14). Timon and Pumbaa use

their strength, powered by their belief in Simba, to pursuit good and fight alongside him, “Well, Simba, if it’s important to you, we’re with you to the end” (The Lion King 1994). It is clear that the teachings of the Church about protecting peace and the Cardinal virtue of fortitude, influence Timon and Pumbaa’s moral decision to fight for the Pride Lands and for Simba.

Therefore, moral decision making in The Lion King is clearly influenced by the teachings of Jesus, Christian and Cardinal values and the teachings of the Church. Timon and Pumbaa’s decision to save and fight for others is influenced by Jesus’ ‘welcome the stranger’ teaching, the Beatitudes about righteousness, the Church’s teaching of peace and the Cardinal value of fortitude. It is clear that Christian teachings and values influence moral decision making by providing an ethical code of conduct to follow, “Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something” (Henry David Thoreau).