Not wanting to sound preachy, but a lot of christians forget that Jesus of Nazareth was once an outcast Himself, and he calls for us to love the outcast for He Himself loves the outcast (the prostitutes, the tax collectors, the lepers, the "unclean", and etc)
Well I think the reason they don't know that is because there was a time in history when the Catholic church would not allow common people to have their own copy of the bible. If you wanted to read the bible you had to go to the church to read it there..
@psyOmicron Absolutely right, I NEVER forget that, and this song explains exactly why Aladdin is the diamond in the rough. He's exactly who Esmeralda's singing about and nobody in Agrabah cares at all about him. Only God does, and all he has is his faith alone in Christ alone who's the only one who truly understands and knows him:) He's nothing but a victim in that whole movie and ends up the most blessed, and his NAME even means 'peak of faith', 'pinnacle of faith', 'nobility of faith', EVERYTHING that has to do with having literally nothing but his faith in his savior to save him:) Sadly, I highly doubt anyone at Disney has any real clue about any of this...
I don't know why this song makes me cry every time. The part that gets to me is "I ask for nothing, I can get by" it's just so selfless! I'm agnostic and I can totally relate to this song. The God part can be anything (the Universe, or anything you believe in.) This is a good song for people who have been bullied or feel like they are truly "outcasts"
I’m an atheist, and I sometimes just sit outside talking to the air despite not really believing in anything. I don’t ever think something will happen, but I still do it hoping that, on the off chance there *is* some higher power, it hears my pleas for things to get better. People seem to think that only [insert specific faith/kind-of-lack-there-of] can relate to this song and that atheists can’t, which is silly. Aaannnndddd I’ve been rambling about nothing. Sorry.
It actually exposes the dark sides and dangers of religious extremism which is extremely relevant in today's society, and should be exposed a lot more, but like others have said people would get "offended" and totally misunderstand the point of the masterpiece.
Not everyone is a child of God. God created the world and the things that live in it. He also gave us something called free will so we can choose between good and evil. If you have chosen to sin you are still considering his "creation" But not his child. True children of God choose to do the will of the father. It wouldn't make sense for someone who kills to call themselves a child of God right? Instead they should repent and turn from their wicked ways. THAT is when they can become a child of God
The Lord will always listen to a prayer even from an outcast like her we should all pray to God for guidance and have faith that we never turn away from him
If you want Christians to be better, you should start with yourself. My prayer for you is to live in peace with things that are not of your control. Governments rise and fall in the U.S. based on elections. We are called to participate in a process of selection and abide by the consensus. Our biggest hurdle is living with the results and not abiding by the legitimacy of the election results. We need to abide by the results four years ago, eight years, sixteen years ago, forty years ago, forty four years ago as well as today, what we do today will shape our future for the next four, eight, sixteen, forty, and forty four years.
I love how she says "I thought we all were children of God." Because it's true. And I love selfless she is. She's not praying for herself; she's praying for her people, and all those who are "outcasts">
Huh? I always thought she said that part a little off, like it was challenge or something or she was thinking of hypocritical Christians. Maybe if she said it a little softer it would fit with the rest of this beautiful and humble song.
It has been turned into a stage musical. It is currently playing near where I live with a deaf actor playing Quasimodo. A hearing actor sings for him while he signs. It's super GOOD!!
I was born catholic and I went to a catholic primary school, I was bullied everyday, I came home covered in blood, mud and bruises. I love this song so much, I lost faith in my religion because of the people who were forcing their beliefs on me. I have no idea what to believe but I do believe in this song. And this is my favorite movie.
Believe in kindness. Because, and this is solely me, I want to live a good life simply because I believe that kindness is the only thing that will ever change the world for the better. I do not believe in gods, I do not belong to a religion, and I do not even consider myself an atheist. A person once told that without religion I will live a life of sin. Never believe that. The truly evil only do good out of fear of hell. The truly good do kind acts to better the world, themselves, and someone's day. By doing kind acts, you'll find yourself happier than you ever felt because you understand you didn't do it for any higher power.
dramasweety I have to agree with you. Even though I believe in God and so on, I don't let that affect me. I don't think about a reward when I help someone. I just want to help. People get so caught up on who's right they forget that the bottom line of faith is virtue, selflessness, and a willingness to give up everything for another.
This is one of the most selfless songs. She wants to help her people just like Jesus wanted to help others. As a Christian this song speaks to me. I really wish that everyone could hear this song. It is beautiful. Those government people who claim to be Children of God need to listen to this song. It is a little better today than when this song was made, but not much better. Most don’t find any mercy on Earth. I want people to remember that physical wounds heal, but verbal wounds don’t. Think before you speak. I am happy that this is a song and I wish people a good day and a good life.
" I though we all were the Children of God. " So true, that line. Each and every soul is a loved-beyond-imagination child of God, a child of a king, and deserved to be treated as such. However, life isn't perfect, and a lot of the time, the world and Satan is trying to make us feel otherwise.
YESS I'm a Christian and pansexual, I believe every single person on the planet is loved by God, no matter who they love or who they are or what they believe in. He made us all perfect just the way we are
Please stop teaching people that "everyone is a child of God." When that is further from the truth. A child of God is someone who has truly repented and knows God in their heart. Others who cling to their sin are still his "creation" but they aren't his children. This song isn't exactly Christian so don't expect it to be right.
A lot of Christians where I live forget that Jesus told them to love everyone. EVERYONE. They hate on people for being gay or accuse Pagans of worshiping Satan. The funny thing is that Satan translates from Hebrew into accuser. So every time they accuse someone of worshiping him, they are playing the part of Satan.This song reminds me of this. Jesus perched love of all people (the only thing I can recall him speaking against was divorce). Here, she takes the role of a non-Christian reminding the Christians in the audience (well she is looking for hope herself) that God teaches people love and understanding. Its not out of spite, but sorrow and suffering that she asks God "aren't we all your people?" She knows that the people won't listen, so she pleads with the divine to have mercy on her people. Asking the divine to not be the same as the wealthy and the accepted who hate outcasts like her. Asking God to show the love he perches to her people.This song makes me cry every time....
+Ryyuki Shikiza Where do you live? I wanna go over there and smack some sense into them. (Roman Catholic/Christian, whatever people call me, I don't get all hypocritical preachy on people. Seriously, there are those who only read and follow certain parts of the Bible that they WANNA read and follow.)
Jessica Rabago I live in NY. It's pretty bad up here. There was this guy that I thought was really cute and artsy back in Middle School, but he had to move do to the racism he faced. I was so mad at my classmates. I felt the same amount of disgust our principle did when he read us the note the guy's mother wrote to the school. I just couldn't believe that people could be that rude. Then it just kept going down from there.......
Have any of you seen the Charles Laughton version of Hunchback, from the 30s? This song comes directly from a scene in that film where the other parishioners are praying, "Give me a good home," "Give me good fortune," "Give me..." and the camera cuts to Esmeralda praying, "Take everything I have, but help my people."
True dat, but not having read the Victor Hugo novel from cover to cover as yet, I'm not sure if a similar scene was in the novel or if that scene was made up out of whole cloth for the 1939 movie. (Which, BTW, is one of MANY great Hollywood movies celebrating its diamond anniversary this year.)
I was born Christian but transferred to Atheism, yet I love this song. It speaks volumes to everyone. Not just those who are faithful to churches or their own versions of God. I feel that it's songs like this that can help people get through hard times. Just by hearing the words and all the beautiful tones and harmonies in here is enough to let you know that you're not alone. Whatever you're going through, just know that you can and will overcome it. It might not be tomorrow, or even three months from now, but you will. Just follow your heart and believe in whatever you believe in. Just believe in you.
I think its funny, I'm a Christian and stuff. So, of course, I follow Jesus's example, love everyone like he loved us and all that. And it's always when I trailing off that path when I start getting mean, judgemental, or just plain hateful, that this song finds it's way into my life somehow. It always reminds me of who I am, and how I'm acting. It's not even a Christian song, yet it always helps push me on the right path. This is actually one of the reasons I don't listen when I'm told I should only listen to Christian music because all other music is a bad influence.
I am now a Unitarian. But I find I'm still exactly who I was when I was younger. When I was an atheist, more specifically. My views and personality haven't changed, but my beliefs have. I find that God doesn't care what you do with your life as long as you don't hurt anyone. I feel like that has made me feel at peace with my own religion.
This song has to be my most favourite Disney number of all time, in such a dark and depressing story this one song is quite possibly the lightest moment throughout, the only other one being at the very end. The reason it gets to me so much is because, with such depressing optimism, Esmarelda prays to a god she doesn't believe in, in a way that is far more christian than anyone else featured in the cathedral at that time, she literally States "I ask for nothing, I can get by" while she asks god to look after all of those who are poor, starving, outcasts (literally). At the same time people are praying for wealth and fame etc as if prayer was some kind of process of wish granting. This song alone not only pulls together the complete feeling of hopelessness brought out in all of the main protagonists throughout the movie, but also highlights how relatable the entire situation is, because no matter who you are, everyone has been down on their luck before. Its just such a beautiful song in such a great movie with quite possibly the darkest atmosphere Disney has ever created.
I believe in God, and have no specific religion, I pray and I worship, but I do not go to church, sometimes the evilest people are those who go to church every Sunday.
+Kara McFadden You are so right.. I was raised christian, but while growing up i realised how bad people in church are.. i'm still a believer but i don't go church
+Kara McFadden true true...but...how do we know there is a god? and if there is...why is he watching his people die and doing nothing to stop it? some one plz tell me...
Well, depends on how you look at it. I've asked the same question; Why does he watch us suffer? But then I get awensers such as: When we die, we rejoin him in heaven. And he wants us to know just a little of what Jesus had to go through. Though I'm not sure.
+Rebecca Jones Personally, I like to this of this life as a test, sort of. A test of who we really are. If this world was perfect, what would be the point? The trials we see and experience actually help us; help us to learn and become better. Besides, I personally believe that God is fair, and will reward those for doing good (even if it's not in this life). For there to be good, there has to be evil. Without mistakes, there can't be good choices. For every up, there has to be a down. It's basic science, even; with waves, for example, the peaks are as high as the troughs are low. I like to believe that for every horrible thing that happens, there's something equally good that happens :D
I really like the archdeacon, he is very selfless, he is very kind, his faith is that of pure faith, he lives by this commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself “.
I'm all for dog rights but I can't approach them without being nervous after a rottweiler broke it's leash and attacked my dog and took a chunk out of my hand.
I'm not kicking the dog or anything! I just get panic attacks so I avoid it. My sister has the sweetest rottie ever but she lives out of state, and the ones I keep running into here bark and snarl which makes me nervous.
I love this song.. It is probably one of the most moving songs in the entire movie.. The fact that religion is so scorned nowdays.. and I know so many people who dont like this movie, but its one of the only disney movies that even takes a look a religion... even though I'm not Catholic, I still understand these songs and I find them beautiful and moving.
I saw this movie in theatres with my mother and when this song played I feel goosebumps. In my humble opinion this and Hellfire are the most powerful songs in Disney.
This song always makes me tear up. As a member of the LGBT community I feel so hurt by so many people hating on many people who cannot help who they love or who they are. It saddens me. Like I thought we all were the children of God yet we get hated on for something we cannot help. Never understood it. This song brings me to tears with how beautiful it is. I love this movie so much. It teaches to love no matter what
As a Christian, I understand how you feel. The truth is there's always gonna be hatred in this world. Just ignore them and do your own thing. In the end, we're all sinners, including me. Even Jesus disciples were sinners, Jesus still loves us all. It'll be alright.
God listens to everyone who prays to him. The thing that really bugs me about perceptions of the church is that people assume we are stuck up old fools who only pray for ourselves and hiss and screech at anyone else's ideas. well that may be true in some places( the church is just a group of PEOPLE after all, and to be a person, messing up is inevitable), trust me when I say that I myself am Very VERY interested in the cultures of the world, and incorporating their various cultural oddities into the family. getting back to that whole " the church messes up" thing, we acknowledge the fact that yes, we will sin, and we will mess up and fall. BUT you need to remember that we also acknowledge the fact that all though we eff up, God is ALWAYS there with an outstretched arm, waiting to carry us wherEVER we need to go, and he'd do the same for ANYONE that asks him
I agree with you. I tell people I'm Catholic, and proud to be, and then come all the replies about, "Oh, but the Catholic Church has held so much scandal, bad Popes, corrupt bishops, etc, etc, blah, blah." The Church is full of humans, and all humans are sinners... It's sad that the Church has to be identified for bad people, or stuck up prelates. That's not what the Church's teachings are about. The true teachings of the Catholic Church are beautiful and all about compassion, mercy, and, most of all, love. Ask God for anything you need, and He will answer you, if not now, then some day, in His own good time. His answer may be different than what we expected or wanted, but what God does, He knows what will help us most. He will help. Now or later, He will answer you. So the Catholic Church teaches, so she has ever taught, so she ever shall. +
My absolute favorite Disney song of all time! I just really love the meaning behind the song and how selfless Esmeralda is, and it's really pleasant to listen to, in my opinion. It's really beautiful, and I cry sometimes while listening to it, just because of how this song has such a really good message. ^^
God is good. He is great. He is omnipotent. Omniscient. Omnipresent. King of kings. Lord of lords. Loving Father. Loyal Son. Holy Spirit. Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Best Friend, Mighty Conqueror. Giver of life. Taker of life. Loves what is good. Hates what is evil. Loves everything personally. Hates judicially. Punishes sin. Protects His people. Wants to redeem His people. He is Mighty. He is coming again. I wish I could describe my God.
Kitty Cat Blessed are the Downtrodden and Oppressed, for they shall be called the Children of God, Blessed are the Meek, for they shall surely inherit the Earth.
Kitty Cat Last I checked, there was a passage in the Bible that reads, "Love your neighbor as yourself." There are no exceptions, no limitations, on this verse. And Jesus said to someone that the only commandment more important than that one was to love God with all your heart and soul (paraphrase, Mark 12:30 (?))
David Schilling that, good sir, is precisely the point of the song. 😊 In the end, regardless of origin, faith or lack of faith, or gender, we are all creations of God... Whoever God may be to you or anyone else. We are all children of God, and we are all loved-- even if it doesn't seem like it sometimes.
Oh my freaking Jesus, you all completely missed the point of my original post. Like god forbid I, a gay person, write a comment on the internet without being constantly told how I am a horrible person and a failure. This is WHY God needs to help the outcasts, because CLEARLY NO ONE ELSE WILL.
I'm not christian or stuff; I don't believe in god, no way. But I do agree with this song. For me, it says in the end we are all the same. There is no differnece - tall, small, black, white, gay or not - we are all the same. And I think this song shows this in a perfect way. (I hope there's nobody who feels personally attacked by my comment, it's just my opinion, I don't want to hurt anyone who reads this.)
I’m not religious, and I feel the same way, I just wish other people would understand that, you can’t shove your beliefs down everyone’s throats! And you can’t ridicule, or condemn someone because they’re not like you. It’s awful to see that so many people are like that.
I don’t really believe in god because he’s never really helped me get by and even when I pray he doesn’t really help and people say god hates lgbtq+ and I’m part of the lgbtq+ but if he is there “I thought we were all children of god” and if that’s true he loves me too
Ariel Claussen God may not have answer your prayers when you want to but he always comes at the right time and anyone that says that God hates the LGBTQ is lying because God loves everyone including you! :)
this is so beautiful but hurts a bit because i was raised christian while also being constantly told im going to hell because im queer. this song has sort of a sorrowful comfort for me when i need it.
This song explains exactly why Aladdin is the diamond in the rough. He's exactly who Esmeralda's singing about and nobody in Agrabah cares at all about him. Only God does, and all he has is his faith alone in Christ alone who's the only one who truly understands and knows him:) A poor orphan in the Middle East, in a supposedly Islamic state too where they're SUPPOSED to care for him, he's in no way any kind of 'bad guy' whatsoever...he's nothing but a victim in that whole movie and ends up the most blessed, and his NAME even means 'peak of faith', 'pinnacle of faith', 'nobility of faith', EVERYTHING that has to do with having literally nothing but his faith in his savior to save him:) Sadly, I highly doubt anyone at Disney has any real clue about any of this...
this makes me think of the shooting,of so many lgbt people,i at the time lived with a girl who was there when it happened,and as a lesbian woman,i felt so upset,and i played this song at my appartment,with speakers,and i wrote love is love on one,and the lgbt community will stay strong on the other
I think its a shame sometimes people don't even listen to the lyrics in the first place. There are a lot of song lyrics that have lots of meaning, but to some it just gets brushed aside!
Am I the only one who thinks she sounds a little like pocahontas? Seriously play colors of the wind than play this you'll hear the similarities. Are they played by the same person?
"I thought we all were children of God." That's where I couldn't hold it in any further. So incredibly beautiful and relevant to today's world. I feel like this movie is a class apart from the rest! Why doesn't anybody talk about it?
She is the only one who prayed in that whole church. It’s not about the building or the place. It’s about speaking out about you prayer(your goodwill) your wish for a change and help from god that you try your best asking for help alongside you. When you struggle in something, it’s doesn’t have to be only about you. It can be for when you see the world that you ask and say what you need to say. With bravery that you want this change.
Right now I live in a smalll town in California. Not so popular, but I have treasured memories here. Over the years, I developed a passion for lending a helping out people and even animals who were less fortunate than me. I broke my heart that they had to face a cruel reality.
I'm not Christian. I was raised to be so, by only for a few years. My mother quit raising me as a Christian because she was tired of the drama the comes with it. And I know several people who fuel this drama. They are good people, most of the time, but they are close minded and hate and accuse others when they don't like that religion or sexuality or anything. "Oh your gay? I'll tolerate you, but I don't respect you. You are a sinner and I condemn you." or "Oh your Pagan? You must celebrate Satan and false idols. I condemn you." Guys, come on..... Have we learned nothing....? In the Bible, I can give several instances as to why this is wrong. First instance, the Bible says we should love all and never judge nor assume, for we have no right to judge a person on their sins. Only God, our Lord, can judge a person for he knows the person better than he/she knows themselves and could see the purest of hearts. Another instance is Noah's Ark. This section came about because God hated all the people treating others like they were nothing and such. So He drowned the Earth for 40 days and 40 nights to start fresh and start with hope that the new people wouldn't be as cruel. But he regretted his decision because he had destroyed millions of lives, some completely innocent. This is why he created the rainbow, as a promise never to drown the world again. But as corruption started to spread once more, He sent down his son, Jesus, so he could eventually die for our sins as a sign of forgiveness for whatever we do that isn't righteous. His own son had to die because we've still yet to realize that we need to treat every living thing with respect and that we cannot judge a person for anything. Also, let us not forget how cruelly Jesus was treated by us. Whipped, tortured, even crucified with a crown made of thorns. He suffered so much at our hands because we feel we are being righteous by ridding the corrupt, and yet we are not allowed to rid of the corrupt. Not unless the Lord asks us to. We cannot carry out the Lord's will, for doing so might mean going against His will in the end. We do not have that power, so stop playing god. I'm not a Christian, but even I can see this.
bulldogsbob Did you even read my post? We cannot condemn someone for the way we interpret a sin. Only the Lord Himself can judge a man and tell him he was in the wrong. We cannot, for it is not our Lord's wish to do so. We cannot play God and tell people that they'll go to hell or something because they don't fit our beliefs. It's completely wrong because the Lord made us different for a reason, but he also made us equal as living beings. Pushing people to suicide, outcasting them, telling them they're wrong, sometimes beating them to death, it is not okay. It is exactly what the Lord tried so hard to prevent from the very beginnings of man.
bulldogsbob I was raised Christian but I choose not to be. I have read the Bible. In fact, I had to read it for two hours every night before I went to bed. And taking away from that, the Lord wants us all to get along. Not send people to the grave or into a depression because we don't like what they do, who they are, what music they listen to, etc. As I've stated, he sent his own son down to die for our sins and judgement of others. He also drowned the earth for 40 days and 40 nights to rid of cruelty. And there's many more examples in the actual Bible that follows the same lines. We cannot tell people that God will never forgive them, that the Lord won't let them into Heaven, that they are sinners and are damned to hell, that they should die because it'll make the world a better place, etc. We cannot because the Bible, the Word of God, stresses how this rudeness and cruelty upsets Him, and that kindness to anyone, no matter who they are or what they do, is important, and that only He Himself may judge a person for he sees their very soul and sees whether or not they deserve forgiveness. And let's not forget a normal teaching in the Christian Church, of which I have attended many. A teaching that says to respect others and treat them kindly. Hell, it's in the Ten Commandments! Love thy neighbor!
It's kind of interesting, listening to this song. How it speaks of being an outcast, simply for being different. I think anyone can relate to it's meaning. For me personally, I always felt it was a great song to honor those in the LGBT community.
As a child I hated the hunch back of notre dame, I found it boring & the music was too slow. I listened to Heavens Light/Hellfire in a Disney playlist a while ago & thought it was still rubbish, but a few days later I found myself singing it, so I listened to it again... And again... And again... Skip to today & THBOND Is one of my favourite Disney movies along with its soundtrack
But isn't the point of this song was that she was a gypsy, and was 'outcasted' by the Christians in the movie, and that she wanted help from God even though she wasn't specifically Christian? Forgive me if I'm wrong, I tend to mess things up, since it's been so long since I have seen this
With many people suffering and/or dying from the coronavirus, this is the perfect time to look to God for guidance and protection. I was just thinking about this song just now and I just had to listen to it in honor of anyone who is sick. Truly one of Disney’s very best songs. They just don’t make them like this anymore.
Esmerelda is the best Disney character BC of how selfless and brave and kind she is! She tries to help everyone within her power and cares deeply for her people, her friends, and everyone
As someone who struggles with mental illness, I feel like an outcast a lot, mostly by the Christians who don't want anything to do with that stuff or those who simply don't talk about it. This song makes me cry because I know each and every person, at least one point in their life, has felt like an outcast.
Time for a bit of a rambling, ranting comment! I’m an atheist. It’s partially because I just trust science over practically baseless belief, and partially because my mom completely chased me away from any sort of religion. She and other people tried to push religion onto me, and I didn’t like it much. I see people around me wanting things just for themselves, and I wonder how they can live like that. I look at my situation- yes, it’s not the best, but I can manage. Then I look at everyone who’s suffering and wish that I could do something, anything to help them. I can’t, and in a world like this one it looks like nobody that can actually will. I cry for everyone who’s worse off than I am. I only really fit in among “misfits”, and I’m fine with that. I don’t ask for anything better than what I have, I just ask for the situations of those who are less fortunate to improve. I sometimes sit outside and talk to the air, though I don’t actually believe that anyone/anything can hear my pleas for things on our planet in general to get better. I’m sometimes envious of people with faith, because they all actually have something to give them hope. I try to work towards improving things for others where I can, because the only thing I really believe in is the efforts of people who care being able to *maybe do something.* I know that it’s essentially hopeless, but still I try. I don’t know why I try to help people anymore, but I do nonetheless. To people like my mother, who believe that atheists can’t possibly have morals because we don’t believe in much of anything except for science: Do you really have morals if you’re only good because you’re scared of Hell? Or are the people who actually have morals the ones who do good because they want to see some kind of positive change in the world? Answer me that.
No need to apologize, friend. Even the simple act of putting down our thoughts and feelings into words many times is exactly what we need to do in order to feel expressed. Keep questioning and searching!
A beautiful and emotional song. Obviously (its Hunchback of Notre Dame) there is a religious underlining but its universal and not one faith. I personally was raised Jewish but am now an Atheist and i find this very relatable and points out the flaws of religion in a very unique way and shows that everyone who is "searching for god" is just looking for something greater than themselves
My prayer as well. On Disney's Rascal Songs album this is my top favorite track (01). Right behind that for my favorite tracks is the hilarious Gaston (06) from Beauty And The Beast.
The Nostalgia is strong. When times were simpler. Playing with toys and watching cartoons. Also, watching all the Disney classics including this Masterpiece.
This is a truly remarkable song, and after watching this movie as an adult despite everything that is going on in the world today, I love it even more. I was raised as a Christian in the Roman Catholic Church growing up, but after attending World Religions class in 2008, my eyes have been opened that all religions preach peace and tolerance. God is alive in each of these religions and they teach us many lessons in life. What really breaks my heart in today's society is others forcing their beliefs on others. This song is the true embodiment of all those who suffer injustice every day and their desire for a better life. For all those who practice differing religions, if you feel that all humans are equal despite what makes us different, you are not alone for I am one of you. We shouldn't be judged on what religion we practice, it is the choices and actions we take as people. Let me hear an Amen or equivalent of the word in another religion if you agree.
This movie's soundtrack is a masterpiece. The Bells of Notre Dame gives me goosebump, Out there makes my heart bounce, Hellfire is tortured and I love the contrast between it and Heaven's light, which set Frollo's and Quasimodo's views on their feelings for Esmeralda against each other. And this song melts my heart. It kills me not to have watched the movie yet.
After hearing this, it doesn't surprise me that very often, the only people who'd stand up for indigenous people in a colonial setting would be the missionaries (though not always, of course).
I'm Christian, but I think I'm more of a Deist. And no, I don't think you do have to be Christian to relate to and understand what this song is trying to say.
I loved this song, and movie since my childhood when it came out on VHS tape when I was 8 years old brings me back memories. This song gets me emotional, but listening to it makes everyone feel emotional who have been outcast, and judged remember that God is always there to answer prayers.
This song is always able to move me to tears. I love it so much and even though I'm Wiccan, it does always tug a bit of hope from me. It's such a beautiful, selfless song and the raw emotion in her voice is heart-wrenching.
I just don't get why they didn't make Esmeralda, a Disney princess. I'm so mad. My definition of a Disney princess is "a girl who wears a lovely dress and has amazing intentions, as well as a harmonious singing voice."
