The Religion of The Lion King

[DGFone]

This is something that got my attention. It is quite obvious that The Lion King has several allusions to real human religions, especially Christianity. But at the same time, in the movie, we are told of The Great Kings of The Past, and Mufasa even makes an appearance after he had died. But other than Mufasa's appearance, which can be argued as all being in Simba's mind, there is no definite proof of spirituality other than stories, much like in the real world.

And yet, in the Lion King, no mention is ever made of any singular "God" type of deity. All we get are the Great Kings, and no one else. But due to fan-fiction (which is by no means canon), most of us are most likely familiar with Aheiu - which is the unofficial "God" of the Lion King universe.

So what do you guys think is the actual 'religion' of the lions in The Lion King and are there actual supernatural elements in it, and what are they if there are any?

[Woeler]

Religion as we know it has had a great influence on TLK. I have actually done a fair bit of research on that before.

-Baptism
In the beginning Simba is born and Rafiki performs some kind of ritual. All the animals are gathered around pride rock. He then proceeds to crack the gourd and smears a line of the substance across Simba’s forehead. This is then followed by sprinkling dust over Simba. When Rafiki holds Simba up in the air. Hes is presenting him to the kingdom as a new life.

These are similar to both baptism in Christianity and baptism in West-African ceremonies. In Christianity water is placed on the head to wash away sins and signifies the new life in Christ.

In West-African ceremonies, when a child is baptized it is a great happening. A lot of people gather round as the grandfather presents the child to the crowd.

-Biblical references

Simba thinks he killed his father and therefor flees out of the Pridelands in shame. This event is similar to Moses fleeing the desert after killing an Egyptian. After that Moses was taken in by the family of Jethro. The same happened to Simba as he is taken in by Timon and Pumbaa.

When Simba returns to Priderock (tallest rock in the area) He fights Scar, throwing him off a cliff. He dies. Simba saved the animals from chaos, starvation, and extinction. This is similar to the savior requesting humanity by conquering Satan.

-Death

When Simba isn upset and runs away from Timon and Pumbaa, Mufasa appears in the sky telling Simba to go back and take his place in the circle of life. This is a clear reference to the afterlife and death family members watching over you.

back to your questions

The afterlife is a belief. However, Simba has seen his death father appear in the sky and this would confirm his believes, simply destroying the term belief, because now he knows. He knows there is an afterlife because his father appeared in the sky after he died.

The main point is that Mufasa lives in Simba, not that he lives in the sky or some kind of paradise.
''To live in hearts we leave behind, is not to die''
That is the main point, and I also think that is what they believe back there at PrideRock.

I have never heard about this ''Aheiu'' figure. To me it's pretty clear that they believe in the great kings of the past, and more importantly: they believe in each other.

[SlayerOfLight]

even though several TLK characters might resemble biblical figures, I say the TLK ''religion'' is more based on paganism and spiritism like nature-worship and the fact that simba makes contact with his dead father. and how the ''kings of the past'' are watching over prideland, so there is no heaven and hell unlike in relegion/christianity. Also according to the bible, God forbids things like nature-worship and contacting the dead, which simba did. so except a few characters and maybe the storyline, there isn't much reference to christianity in TLK but rather things which are an abomination to both christianty and the bible.

of course am not saying I hate TLK. otherwise I wouldn't be on this forum, but I'm just telling the truth that TLK has much more in common with paganism, new-age and spiritism then christianity.

[BlitzRogue]

There are certainly references to various forms of real life religions in The Lion King, but as for the characters themselves, I don't think they really *have* "a religion". They practice ritual baptism for their newborns (the one's who will eventually inherit the throne anyway), but aside from that, any spirituality for them is purely demonstrated in the way they live and think, rather than the things they *practice*. And that is not at all indicative of the way organized religion works in this day and age; though many do seem to be trying to lean more towards actual lifestyle changes, they are still all plagued with the dogma that's become so heavily associated with practicing particular religions.

So, is there a spiritual aspect to TLK? Absolutely. They all believe *heavily* in an afterlife of sorts (watching over their friends and family from "the stars" [whether literally or metaphorically, we don't know]), and most of them seem to model their lives after this belief. But aside from the baptism there isn't much of an actual religion.

[Regulus]

The main point is that Mufasa lives in Simba, not that he lives in the sky or some kind of paradise.

This. There are religious aspects, but the main idea is unrelated.

[cleargreenwater]

I think any resemblence of an particular organized religion in TLK stems mostly from the fact that it is a modern myth, and that AS a myth it echoes the social traditions and exemplifies the values of the culture that creates it, more than anything succinct in the story itself. The question of how much of what religion any one person is going to perceive in Lion King is like looking at the Grail Legend--with so little in it actually pinned down and explained, what each viewer gets is going to depend on the culture that created it, the culture of the time in which it's viewed (which we are all subject to & is different even now than it was in the 90s,) and their own personal reference framework of allegories that is going to inform their understanding of it. I know both very-Christians and very-Pagans who both adore this movie.


On the topic beyond that, I really like BlitzRogue's post.

[TheLionPrince]

I doubt the lions in The Lion King universe practice a single religion, but I can tell you that the story itself and the basis of the "Circle of Life" is inspired by several religions.

As an add-on to Woeler's list of the film's Biblical references:

• Woeler mentioned the film's allusion to the story of Moses, but I would add on that both Moses and Simba fall in love during their self-exile. Also, producer Don Hahn mentioned on "the Story Origins" bonus featurette on the 2003 Platinum Edition that it was inspiring to the writers that Moses gains wisdom from God through the Burning Bush, which inspired Simba gaining wisdom from his father's ghostly visitation. Finally, both Moses and Simba return to their homeland to defeat the evil Pharoah/Scar, and free their oppressed people.
  
  
• Also, Hahn mentioned the writers received inspiration from the Joseph stories, as Joseph is unrecognized by his brothers after not seeing them in several years, which is identical to Sarabi unrecognizing her grown-up son at first.
  
  
• Mufasa gives his life to save Simba is similiar to Jesus giving his life to redeem mankind.
  
  
• Rafiki tells Simba that "he [Mufasa] lives in you," which is an allusion to Jesus living in the heart of his believers.

More Biblical allusions can also be found on this article, The Spirit Behind The Lion King


TLK also contained spirituality as the dead Mufasa communicates with his living son for a short precedented amount of time. Also, the soul of Mufasa continues to live on even at the end of Simba's Pride despite that he is physically dead. A loose spin-off of spiritualism is spiritism, which is the belief of the survival of a soul after death. In the film, Mufasa says, "And remember those Kings will always be there to guide you, and so will I." So, Mufasa knows that he will live on as a spirit with the Great Kings of the Past after he physically dies.

Finally, the "Circle of Life" leans more toward pagan religions such as nature worship. In the film, Mufasa says, "Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you will need to understand that balance and respect all creatures from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope" and "When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelopes eat the grass so we are connected in the great Circle of Life." So, in other words, respect every animal (and even the dirt) in the Pride Lands because all of us create unity of nature with each other.

Not to mention, Rafiki is portrayed as a wacky, but intellectual shaman, so he would practice shamanism.

[BlitzRogue]

A lot of good information there, TheLionPrince.

One thing I would take issue with though is the "connection" between TLK and the story of Joseph. I mean, not recognizing a person you haven't seen since they were very young, who pops up long after they've matured? That's just what happens when you haven't seen someone since they were a child; there's no particular connection to the Bible story.

[KingKivuli]

OK sorry guys but this is getting locked. It is against the rules to post and talk about religion in any way you all know this when we announced it so please stop