God woke me this morning. He fueled a fire in me. Next weekend the book touted as the quickest book to 1 million sales releases as a movie. In the midst of commercials indicating the love story, I worry too many moms and their teens will see this movie. Obviously, too many have already read the book.
I have 3 children at home (ages 16, 15 & 8). As a mom, may I give you 3 reasons why I won’t read the book or see the movie:
1. My son is 16 years old. This movie is rated R, meaning my son can easily see this movie without any parental permission. On the movie’s website they proudly promote their erotic genre, yet were not given the typical NC-17 or X rating that such films typically receive. Early reports share that 20 minutes of the film contain sex scenes, making this movie the most sex-filled movie in the last decade. Worst yet, the sex is violent and perpetrated by a handsome young man. Those images and perspective would have a lasting impression, which could ultimately ruin his ability to care for and love his future bride the way his father cares for and loves me.
2. My daughter is 15 years old. While you may think she couldn’t gain access to an R rated film, you would be wrong. A reviewer clocks the lead actress with saying “holy” 147 times in the book. That equates to once every 3.5 pages. Yet, the one One that remains Holy is God, Himself. There is nothing holy about being physically hurt during sex. I would never wish my daughter to derive arousal from pain. This book and movie not only demoralize what God intended for sex, it devalues God’s value in our lives.
3. My youngest daughter is 8 years old. She may be too young to see the movie by herself, but she has seen the commercial and has asked some questions. In Vitro my little one was exposed to drugs and alcohol by her biological mother. For 8 years, I have watched the toll that has taken on my little girl as she has struggled to meet physical milestones and more recently educational milestones. According to statistics, the lead female character drinks between 6.7 – 7.3 units of alcohol every day for the 25 day span of the book (the maximum suggested intake is 2-3 units/day). While I should hope it would give pause to everyone that reads the book or watches the movie, let me state it clearly, this character must drink to desensitize herself from the pain and/or several reviewers state she would be hospitalized due to the amount of alcohol intake.
I promised you 3, but I couldn’t end without the most important reason for NOT reading this book or seeing this movie: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8.
One last note to every mom who has already read the book. Please do not read this post thinking I judge you. I do not. We live in a sexually saturated culture, but God’s grace is abundant. I pray you will seek God’s guidance in “whatever” you do, think, read and watch. We all need to. God loves you Momma!!
Ali Bragdon 