Process Theology and Encanto
Introduction: The Power of Becoming
Disney’s Encanto is a beautifully woven story of family, identity, and transformation. At its heart, the film resonates with core themes of process theology, particularly the idea that existence is dynamic, relational, and ever-evolving. The Madrigal family’s struggles and growth reflect the process perspective that life is not about static perfection but about continuous becoming.
Relationality and Interdependence: The Web of Life
Process theology teaches that all things are interconnected and that relationships shape who we are. The Madrigal family exemplifies this truth—each member has a unique gift, but their gifts only find meaning in the context of their relationships. Mirabel, the only Madrigal without a supernatural ability, ultimately reveals the deeper truth that their family’s strength does not come from individual talents but from their love and mutual dependence. This mirrors Whitehead’s vision of reality, in which no entity exists in isolation; rather, everything exists in relation to everything else.
The Trap of Perfection: Abuela and the Fear of Change
Abuela, the family matriarch, represents the tendency to resist change and cling to an idealized past. She believes that the family’s gifts must be preserved in rigid ways, which causes suffering when members feel pressured to conform. Process theology rejects the notion of a fixed, predetermined reality in favor of one that is open to novelty, creativity, and growth. Abuela’s journey is one of learning to release control and trust in the organic unfolding of life, an essential principle in process thought.
Mirabel as the Creative Agent: The Call to Transformation
Mirabel embodies the process theological concept of creativity and divine lure. Without a supernatural gift, she is the one most attuned to the suffering and needs of her family. In process theology, divine power is not coercive but persuasive—gently guiding individuals toward healing and transformation. Mirabel acts as this transformative force, helping her family see that their worth is not in their powers but in their relationships. She is, in effect, an agent of divine creativity, showing that new possibilities always emerge in each moment.
Bruno and the Fear of the Unknown
Bruno’s exile from the family reflects the fear of uncertainty and change. His gift of seeing the future is perceived as a threat, much like how uncertainty is often feared in human life. However, process theology embraces uncertainty as part of the adventure of existence. Rather than viewing the future as something to be feared or controlled, it sees it as an open field of possibilities.
People couldn’t talk about Bruno because he represented uncomfortable truths and disruptions that the family did not want to face. His prophecies often revealed realities that challenged their expectations, leading them to scapegoat him rather than embrace the truth. The avoidance of Bruno mirrors how communities, families, and even religious traditions sometimes suppress voices that bring difficult but necessary revelations. His return signifies a healing process, where the family learns to embrace all aspects of their reality, even the uncomfortable ones. In process thought, avoiding complexity and uncertainty only leads to fragmentation, whereas true wholeness comes from integrating all aspects of experience.
The Cracks in the House: The Breaking and Healing of the World
The cracks in the Madrigal family’s house symbolize the fractures that occur when relationships become rigid and disconnected. In process thought, the world is not static; it is always in flux, requiring care and attentiveness. Healing comes when the family acknowledges their brokenness and embraces change, mirroring the process view that wholeness is not about eliminating struggle but about integrating and growing through it.
Conclusion: Encanto as a Process Story
At its core, Encanto is a process theological narrative about transformation, relationality, and the beauty of an evolving world. It teaches that strength is found in connection, that identity is not fixed but always emerging, and that true power lies in love rather than rigid structures. Like the Madrigal family, we are all invited into the dance of becoming, where each moment presents new possibilities for healing, growth, and creativity