Thursday, July 08, 2004
R Ratings
I found this piece by Orson Scott Card on the web today.
It's kind of refreshing for a prominent Mormon writer to come out with a piece like that, because I think it's something that the LDS people need to hear. Although I don't watch R-rated movies (and also many PG-13 movies) for various reasons, I certainly agree that there is, and should not be any specific commandment against R-rated movies.
Here's why (besides OSC's reasons). First of all, I can't believe that the Lord's opinion of whether you have committed a sin or not depends on 12 yahoos in California. Whether the MPAA votes for R or PG-13 (which is a very subjective matter) can not be the determining factor in whether a person has to repent or not.
Secondly, if that truly were the Lord's standard (R is sinful, PG-13 and below is not), how does that commandment apply to the world outside the United States? The MPAA rating system is only in effect here. I have a Canadian friend who once emailed me after seeing "Gladiator" in Ottawa. She said, "Is that rated R in the U.S.? Cause it was pretty violent." How could she know if the movie is sinful or not, if she doesn't live in the U.S.?
It's kind of refreshing for a prominent Mormon writer to come out with a piece like that, because I think it's something that the LDS people need to hear. Although I don't watch R-rated movies (and also many PG-13 movies) for various reasons, I certainly agree that there is, and should not be any specific commandment against R-rated movies.
Here's why (besides OSC's reasons). First of all, I can't believe that the Lord's opinion of whether you have committed a sin or not depends on 12 yahoos in California. Whether the MPAA votes for R or PG-13 (which is a very subjective matter) can not be the determining factor in whether a person has to repent or not.
Secondly, if that truly were the Lord's standard (R is sinful, PG-13 and below is not), how does that commandment apply to the world outside the United States? The MPAA rating system is only in effect here. I have a Canadian friend who once emailed me after seeing "Gladiator" in Ottawa. She said, "Is that rated R in the U.S.? Cause it was pretty violent." How could she know if the movie is sinful or not, if she doesn't live in the U.S.?
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