God's Not Dead 2
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to God's Not Dead 2
God's Not Dead 2 (2016) is a Christian drama film that continues the themes of its predecessor, focusing on the perceived challenges to religious freedom in contemporary society. The movie centers on Grace Wesley, a high school history teacher who faces a legal battle after answering a student's question about Jesus by quoting scripture, leading to accusations of violating the separation of church and state. The narrative follows a courtroom drama where Grace is attacked for her Christian beliefs, while an attorney defends her right to express her faith. The film is targeted at an evangelical Christian audience, reinforcing a narrative of Christian persecution and the importance of defending faith in public life. It typically portrays Christian characters as righteous and non-Christian characters, particularly the prosecuting attorney and atheist parents, as overtly hostile. The film generally carries a PG rating for some thematic elements and is often recommended for ages 12 and up due to its intense courtroom drama and themes of persecution that younger children might find difficult to fully grasp. While the movie does not contain explicit violence, sexual content, or strong language, its primary intensity comes from the high-stakes legal battle and the portrayal of an 'us vs. them' conflict regarding religious freedom. It aims to inspire viewers to stand firm in their Christian beliefs amidst perceived societal pressures.
Things to Consider
Anti-Christian Themes
The film itself is explicitly pro-Christian, but it portrays non-Christian characters and institutions as actively hostile towards Christian faith and expression, fostering a 'Christian persecution complex.' This includes depicting antagonists as determined to silence or eliminate Christian influence.
1. Prosecutor Pete Kane, the ACLU attorney, is characterized by critics as the 'personification of evil,' who 'sneer[s] and snicker[s]' while explicitly declaring his intention to 'prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that God is dead.' 2. The atheist parents of student Brooke Thawley are portrayed as uncaring and more distressed by their dead son reading the Bible than by his actual death, reinforcing a stereotype of non-believers lacking empathy and actively opposing faith.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Parental guidance is recommended for children under 12, and the movie is generally suitable for ages 12 and up. The film's PG rating is due to some thematic elements, including a high-stakes courtroom drama and intense themes of perceived Christian persecution that may be better understood by older children and teenagers.
Good to Know
The film received largely negative reviews from mainstream critics, who criticized its unrealistic portrayal of legal cases, its 'Christian persecution complex,' and its one-dimensional depiction of non-Christian characters as 'strawmen' or 'villains.' However, it was well-received by its target faith-based audience. A post-credits scene depicts Pastor Dave's arrest, setting up the sequel 'God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness' and escalating the theme of Christian persecution.
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