Inside Out & Bible-based Perspectives on Emotions & Growth

Two of the most successful and family-friendly movies in recent years are Inside Out and the sequel, the aptly named Inside Out 2. Released by Pixar (the animation studio that produced the much-beloved Toy Story and Cars franchises), the movies creatively portray the complex world of emotions inside the mind of a pre-teen girl named Riley. The first film, released in 2015, depicts five core emotions—Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger—as animated characters playing unique roles in managing Riley's daily life. These emotions vie for control of Riley's mind and actions after her family moves to a new city, prompting many conflicts and requiring numerous adjustments.

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Inside Out 2, the 2024 long-awaited sequel, delved deeper into Riley's adolescence and added four new characters depicting Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui, reflecting the increasingly complex personality of a teenager. The movie explored how the new emotions interact with the original ones, and focused on the challenges of growing up and adapting to new life stages such as high school.

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What Do the Inside Out Movies Teach?

The developers of the first Inside Out movie consulted several respected mental health practitioners: psychologist Lisa Damour (author of multiple books on teens' emotional development) and "emotion scientist" Dacher Keltner (psychology professor at UC Berkeley and director of the Greater Good Science Center) among them--and it showed. Many neuroscientists and mental health practitioners hailed the short animated films as accurate and useful depictions of human emotion. Often mentioned among the films’ accomplishments:

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Emotional Health

The Inside Out films emphasize the importance of all emotions, even those traditionally viewed as negative. For example, they depict sadness as crucial for empathy, understanding, and recovery from loss. They show emotional health as not just about happiness but about balance. Inside Out 2 expands on the portrayal, showing that anxiety and other complex emotions are part of the process of maturation, teaching viewers about emotional regulation and the acceptance of one's full emotional spectrum.

Personality Development

The films illustrate personality through "islands" in Riley's mind, representing core aspects of her identity like family, friendship, and hockey. As Riley grows, these islands evolve or change, mirroring how real-life personality traits develop, adapt, or sometimes dissolve over time. This narrative is vital for understanding personal growth, showing that change, while sometimes painful, is not only normal but essential.

Family Transitions

Both movies tackle family transitions and the challenges they present. Inside Out dealt with the stress of moving and the emotional impact on family dynamics. Inside Out 2 explored further transitions relating to entering high school and developing identity issues. Riley's story provides a lens through which to view the ups and downs of family life, highlighting communication and emotional support as key elements.

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Do the Movies Align with the Bible's Teachings?

While Inside Out's animated depictions of emotions are, of course, fanciful, and neither movie shows faith in God as a factor in Riley's life, the films do align with many of the Bible's teachings. For example, the Bible speaks extensively about emotions, urging empathetic responses to life's ups and downs in verses such as Romans 12:15: "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" (NIV). The films also present a hopeful message about the possibility and process of personal growth, even showing that sincere repentance can heal emotional and relational wounds.

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Are the Movies "Inside Out" and "Inside Out 2" Helpful for Christian Families?

As much as the Inside Out films affirmed many in the mental health arena, they can also be a helpful resource for biblically-minded Christian parents and families in such ways as the following:

Facilitate Discussions

Riley's story provides a platform for Christian families to discuss emotions in a way that aligns with biblical principles of empathy, joy, and sorrow. One Christian counselor from Ohio even used Inside Out plushies to help children she counseled define and express their emotions, leading to much helpful progress.

Teach Values

The Inside Out movies naturally touch on themes like forgiveness, love, and the importance of community (such as can be found in healthy churches), which can be underscored and expanded upon in family and church discussions.

Encourage Spiritual Growth

In addition to exploring the complexity of human emotions, the Inside Out films can be valuable as parents, teachers, and others help kids explore how faith can help in navigating life's emotional landscapes. For example, families can discuss, "Would Riley's struggles have been different if she had faith in God? If she'd had some knowledge of the Bible? If she could have turned to God in prayer?"

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Inside Out and Inside Out 2 not only entertain but also educate on emotional literacy, personal development, and navigating life's transitions. And, while they say nothing about the life of faith, their content can resonate with Christian values and teachings and provide tools for Christian families looking to discuss complex emotional and spiritual themes in a relatable, engaging format.

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eDiscover a Safe Emotional and Spiritual Environment

Just as the Inside Out movies have prompted helpful discussions about emotions and family dynamics, the world of TruPlay Games can go even further. The TruPlay app provides a safe, high-quality entertainment environment featuring games, videos, and digital comics offering Bible stories, Christian themes and values, and countless hours of engaging fun for children, youth, and adults. It is a Christian resource for all ages, but especially for children, sometimes referred to as “the Netflix of Christian mobile games for children.” And it's intentionally structured to avoid the dangers of other platforms.

TruPlay employs a subscription-based model, which allows children and adults to play, read, and have fun in an environment with no in-app purchases, no ads, and no in-app texting or chats. This means, of course, that kids can't spend money, buy "loot," click to go to outside and unknown sites, and "chat" with possible predators.

TruPlay's website (TruPlayGames.com) clearly details the app's offerings, and free downloads and trials are available in both the Apple App Store and GooglePlay. Explore the following links to unlock a safer gaming experience for your kids:

https://www.truplaygames.com/games-more

https://www.truplaygames.com/user-registration

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