{"id":1128,"date":"2024-06-17T14:30:44","date_gmt":"2024-06-17T20:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/?p=1128"},"modified":"2025-04-07T13:34:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T19:34:43","slug":"can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Inside Out 2 Navigate Beliefs, Anxiety And Spirituality?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Image courtesy of \u00a9 2024 Disney\/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

How does Disney approach beliefs? Can an animated movie accurately and thoughtfully portray teenage anxiety? Is there room for faith in any of this? These are some of the questions Patheos<\/a> and Skylight<\/a> dive into while examining\u00a0 Disney and Pixar\u2019s newest animated feature, \u201cInside Out 2<\/a>,\u201d released on June 14.\u00a0 The movie explores the mental wellness of a teenage girl through the introduction of new emotional characters not featured in the original film. The sequel delves into the protagonist\u2019s \u201cBelief System,\u201d which raises the potential for exploring religious and spiritual themes.<\/p>\n

In conjunction with the release of \u201cInside Out 2,\u201d Skylight collaborated with Patheos writers across different faiths to review the film through a faith lens while also paying attention to the film\u2019s unique approach to character emotions, like Anxiety.<\/p>\n

Skylight is a spiritual wellness platform that integrates mental wellness strategies like meditation, yoga, and prayer with spiritual practices.
\nIt aims to aid individuals dealing with anxiety, stress, and other emotional challenges through a spiritual lens. Skylight seeks to raise awareness of how belief systems can play a critical role in managing mental health issues.<\/p>\n

Courtesy of Disney\/Pixar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many of the Patheos reviews are in and it\u2019s evident that the writers perceive the spiritual message of \u201cInside Out 2\u201d as centered around the integration of joy and faith amidst anxiety and turmoil. The writers highlight the importance of finding inner balance and strength through spiritual beliefs, suggesting that connecting with a higher power or faith tradition can provide resilience and guidance during difficult times. This interpretation underscores the film\u2019s exploration of emotions and identity, suggesting that true joy and peace come from aligning one\u2019s beliefs with actions and finding stability in faith-based principles.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the reviews:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Inside Out 2 Strikes An Emotional And Spiritual Balance<\/a><\/h3>\n Evangelical writer Shawn Paul Wood<\/a> notes that the sequel highlights Riley\u2019s personal growth and emotional struggles as she faces significant changes, such as her friends attending different high schools. Through vivid storytelling, the film emphasizes the importance of understanding and balancing complex emotions. He writes that the film underscores the universal journey of finding purpose and stability during adolescence.<\/p>\n From Anxiety To Joy: Inside Out 2 And The Skylight App<\/a><\/h3>\n Progressive Christian writer Gregory Smith<\/a> states that the film offers a smart and spiritual exploration of the inner self, making it engaging for both kids and adults. The movie uses puberty as an allegory for the emotional and psychological upheaval of adolescence, emphasizing the importance of integrating and managing complex emotions. Ultimately, \u201cInside Out 2\u201d encourages self-love and offers a thoughtful look at emotional growth and regulation.<\/p>\n Beliefs Are Anchors For The Soul In Pixar\u2019s \u2018Inside Out 2\u2019<\/a><\/h3>\n Seasoned religious entertainment writer Dwayne Hamby<\/a> observes that \u201cInside Out 2\u201d follows Riley as she navigates puberty, with new emotions like Anxiety and Envy shaping her core belief system. The film, featuring a stellar cast, explores how these emotions interact to form a functional and mentally-stable young girl. As Riley\u2019s belief system shifts from \u201cI am a kind person\u201d to \u201cI\u2019m not good enough,\u201d the film cleverly unpacks the impact of evolving emotions on her mental state. It highlights the importance of maintaining core beliefs for mental wellness, resonating with spiritual and religious undertones.<\/p>\n Inside Out 2 From A Jewish Perspective<\/a><\/h3>\n Jewish columnist Rebecca Wallace Keene<\/a> writes that the movie effectively illustrates ideas about mental and spiritual well-being found in Judaism, making complex concepts accessible to children and teens. It shows Riley\u2019s journey through puberty, with new emotions like Anxiety, Envy, and Boredom affecting her belief system, mirroring Jewish teachings on self-exploration and emotional intelligence. Inside Out 2 encourages viewers to embrace their true selves, highlighting the importance of self-love, emotional control, and the integration of both positive and negative experiences.<\/p>\n Feeling Blue? Look Inside: \u201cInside Out 2\u201d<\/a><\/h3>\n Hindu writer Shweta Goyal<\/a> observed that the film portrays anxiety not as a villain, but as a natural and sometimes helpful emotion, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and managing a range of emotions. It emphasizes how memories and beliefs shape our sense of self and the necessity of integrating both positive and negative experiences for personal growth. She noted that Skylight.org collaborates with Patheos to provide therapeutic support, mindfulness programs, and resources for emotional well-being, aligning with insights from Hindu teachings on managing anxiety and achieving emotional balance.<\/p>\n Inside Out 2 Review- What It Got Right And Wrong<\/a><\/h3>\n The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<\/a> Writer Abby Christianson<\/a> writes that the film effectively depicts Anxiety\u2019s impact but falls short of fully developing Envy and Ennui and providing concrete coping strategies. Riley\u2019s Belief System is explored, but the movie oversimplifies its formation, neglecting the influence of upbringing and innate spirituality. The author recommends the Skylight app for practical tools to manage anxiety and emphasizes the interconnectedness of mental and spiritual wellness.<\/p>\n The Dharma I Learned From Inside Out 2<\/a><\/h3>\n Buddhist writer Daniel Scharpenburg<\/a> notes that our sense of self is dynamic and changes over time, challenging the notion that it is fixed. \u201cInside Out 2\u201d explores this theme by introducing new emotions such as Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui, and Envy, which disrupt Riley\u2019s original emotions and sense of identity. The film illustrates the struggle of adolescence and the Buddhist concept of impermanence, showing that emotions and beliefs are transient. Ultimately, Riley\u2019s journey reflects the importance of accepting change and working with all emotions to maintain a balanced and evolving sense of self.<\/p>\n Inside Out 2: Balancing Anxiety With Joy<\/a><\/h3>\n The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints writer Delisa Hargrove<\/a> writes that \u201cInside Out 2\u201d brings back Riley\u2019s familiar emotions and introduces new ones like Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, and Ennui as she navigates her teenage years. The film delves into the formation of Riley\u2019s belief system, showing how formative memories shape her core beliefs. Riley\u2019s struggle with anxiety is depicted realistically, highlighting the challenges and importance of balancing anxiety with joy. The author finds personal resonance with Riley\u2019s journey and emphasizes the role of faith in overcoming anxiety, recommending the Skylight app for blending spirituality with mental well-being.<\/p>\n Inside Out 2 Review: The Showdown Between Anxiety And Joy<\/a><\/h3>\n Catholic writer Jocelyn Soriano<\/a> writes that the movie explores whether anxiety can serve a purpose over joy as 13-year-old Riley faces the challenges of puberty, including forming new friendships and navigating peer pressure. Anxiety emerges as a dominant force, pushing Riley to excel but ultimately overshadowing her true identity and beliefs. The film highlights the battle between joy and anxiety for control over Riley\u2019s emotions, while also prompting reflection on the absence of religious elements in her journey and the potential impact of spirituality on mental well-being.<\/p>\n The Battle For The Sense Of Self: A Review Of \u201cInside Out 2\u201d<\/a><\/h3>\n Catholic writer Mary Pezzulo<\/a> writes that the movie is successful at both being entertaining and delivering a deeper message. She points out that \u201cInside Out 2<\/em> illustrates the fact that mental health, as well as integrity, don\u2019t come from being able to view yourself as exclusively good.\u201d She appreciates\u00a0how Inside Out 2 acknowledges the deep connection between maintaining integrity and a moral compass with one\u2019s mental well-being.<\/p>\n Inside Out 2: A Muslim Perspective<\/a><\/h3>\n Muslim writer Nadia Ahmed<\/a> writes that the film underscores the importance of all emotions in shaping a balanced belief system and personality. Her article also discusses the role of Islamic practices in mental wellness and notes that the Skylight platform supports spiritual well-being, paralleling the film\u2019s message of emotional management.<\/p>\n Inside Out 2 Parallels Faith Journey, Theological Education<\/a><\/h3>\n Progressive Christian columnist Leah D. Schade<\/a> sees parallels between the process of theological education and the journey of faith. While Shade was not participating in the Skylight<\/a> collaboration she still documented some interesting similarities between the movie\u2019s main character, Riley\u2019s search for self, and students who first enter theological education. \u201cAs seminarians study the Bible and their faith through a critical lens, they experience\u00a0dissonance.\u00a0<\/em>And it can feel like their whole worldview is being deconstructed.\u00a0 Because that\u2019s exactly what\u2019s happening,\u201d writes Schade.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How does Disney approach beliefs? Can an animated movie accurately and thoughtfully portray teenage anxiety? Is there room for faith in any of this? These are some of the questions Patheos and Skylight dive into while examining\u00a0 Disney and Pixar\u2019s newest animated feature, \u201cInside Out 2,\u201d released on June 14.\u00a0 The movie explores the mental […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4641,"featured_media":1149,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-religion-news"],"yoast_head":"\nCan Inside Out 2 Navigate Beliefs, Anxiety And Spirituality?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How does Disney approach beliefs? Can an animated movie accurately and thoughtfully portray teenage anxiety? Is there room for faith in any of this?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can Inside Out 2 Navigate Beliefs, Anxiety And Spirituality?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How does Disney approach beliefs? Can an animated movie accurately and thoughtfully portray teenage anxiety? Is there room for faith in any of this?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Religion News Roundup\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-06-17T20:30:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-07T19:34:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/1490\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-17-at-4.00.33\u202fPM.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"490\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"383\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Travis Henry\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Travis Henry\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/\",\"name\":\"Can Inside Out 2 Navigate Beliefs, Anxiety And Spirituality?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-06-17T20:30:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-07T19:34:43+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/#\/schema\/person\/b12cc2f3c3b9f5e85186443ad5dc4939\"},\"description\":\"How does Disney approach beliefs? Can an animated movie accurately and thoughtfully portray teenage anxiety? Is there room for faith in any of this?\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Can Inside Out 2 Navigate Beliefs, Anxiety And Spirituality?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/\",\"name\":\"Religion News Roundup\",\"description\":\"Exploring religion news, including culture, spirituality, current events, institutions and more.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/#\/schema\/person\/b12cc2f3c3b9f5e85186443ad5dc4939\",\"name\":\"Travis Henry\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d78c65a7279c21d567d5af32ed17f95b?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d78c65a7279c21d567d5af32ed17f95b?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Travis Henry\"},\"description\":\"Travis Henry is the Senior Director of Content for Patheos. With a passion in faith building and religious exploration, Henry is recognized as a leader in both journalism and and managing large-scale content platforms across multiple industries.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/author\/trhenry\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Can Inside Out 2 Navigate Beliefs, Anxiety And Spirituality?","description":"How does Disney approach beliefs? Can an animated movie accurately and thoughtfully portray teenage anxiety? Is there room for faith in any of this?","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Can Inside Out 2 Navigate Beliefs, Anxiety And Spirituality?","og_description":"How does Disney approach beliefs? Can an animated movie accurately and thoughtfully portray teenage anxiety? Is there room for faith in any of this?","og_url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/","og_site_name":"Religion News Roundup","article_published_time":"2024-06-17T20:30:44+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-04-07T19:34:43+00:00","og_image":[{"width":490,"height":383,"url":"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/1490\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-17-at-4.00.33\u202fPM.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Travis Henry","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Travis Henry","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/","name":"Can Inside Out 2 Navigate Beliefs, Anxiety And Spirituality?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-06-17T20:30:44+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-07T19:34:43+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/#\/schema\/person\/b12cc2f3c3b9f5e85186443ad5dc4939"},"description":"How does Disney approach beliefs? Can an animated movie accurately and thoughtfully portray teenage anxiety? Is there room for faith in any of this?","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/2024\/06\/can-inside-out-2-navigate-beliefs-anxiety-and-spirituality\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Can Inside Out 2 Navigate Beliefs, Anxiety And Spirituality?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/","name":"Religion News Roundup","description":"Exploring religion news, including culture, spirituality, current events, institutions and more.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/#\/schema\/person\/b12cc2f3c3b9f5e85186443ad5dc4939","name":"Travis Henry","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d78c65a7279c21d567d5af32ed17f95b?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d78c65a7279c21d567d5af32ed17f95b?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","caption":"Travis Henry"},"description":"Travis Henry is the Senior Director of Content for Patheos. With a passion in faith building and religious exploration, Henry is recognized as a leader in both journalism and and managing large-scale content platforms across multiple industries.","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/author\/trhenry\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4641"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1128\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionnewsroundup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}