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.
Concerns
Anti-Christian Themes
HighThe 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.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumExplicit searches for LGBTQ content within 'God's Not Dead 2' did not identify any LGBTQ characters, themes, or representation. However, critical analyses and broader contextual discussions surrounding the movie's theme of 'religious liberty' indirectly touch upon issues related to LGBTQ rights and services, implying a connection to the socio-political landscape where such debates occur. The film's subplot about Pastor Dave's sermons being subpoenaed was reportedly inspired by a real-life event involving a lesbian mayor.
1. While no LGBTQ characters are depicted or mentioned within the film's plot, a Salon critic, Silpa Kovvali, suggested that the film's invented persecution cases avoid 'portraying one of the multitudes of victimless crimes for which Christians throughout the country are presumably being prosecuted? Perhaps because employees demanding contraceptive coverage or gay couples service might be more sympathetic than fiendish ACLU lawyers?' 2. The subplot where Pastor Dave's sermons are subpoenaed by the government (setting up a sequel) was inspired by a real-life action by the 'lesbian mayor of Houston,' who ordered pastors to provide copies of sermons related to efforts to overturn an LGBTQ anti-discrimination law.
Violence
MediumThe film contains very mild instances of physical violence, primarily a brief physical altercation, alongside intense thematic and verbal confrontations within the courtroom drama. There is also a non-violent health emergency and an arrest scene.
1. Martin Yip, a Christian convert, is slapped across the face by his father during a heated discussion about his newfound faith. 2. Pastor Dave collapses in the courtroom due to appendicitis, requiring emergency surgery. While not an act of aggression, it introduces a moment of physical distress and urgency.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe film's intensity primarily stems from its thematic elements, particularly the high-stakes courtroom drama and the pervasive theme of Christian persecution. This creates a consistently tense and unsettling atmosphere for its target audience rather than through horror or jump scares.
1. Reviewers note the film is 'filled with a sense of paranoiac persecution and seething resentment' towards secular institutions and those perceived as anti-Christian, creating a consistently tense atmosphere. 2. The prosecuting attorney, Pete Kane, explicitly states his goal to 'prove once and for all that God is dead,' framing the legal battle as an existential threat to faith, which can be intense for viewers who share the film's perspective.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumDisrespect and rebellion are central to the plot, primarily framed heroically within the film's Christian narrative as characters defy secular authority to uphold their faith. Non-Christian characters also exhibit disrespect towards religious beliefs.
1. High school teacher Grace Wesley actively disobeys the school board's directive to apologize for quoting Jesus in class, steadfastly refusing to retract her statements despite threats to her career, stating, 'I would rather stand with God and be judged by the world, than stand with the world and be judged by God.' 2. Martin Yip faces significant disrespect and a physical slap from his father, who disapproves of and chastises him for his Christian conversion, reflecting a familial rebellion against traditional values.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowRomantic and sexual content is minimal, limited to implied relationships or very mild suggestive visuals, with no explicit scenes, suggestive language, or implied sexual activity.
1. Reviews note the presence of 'a couple of low-cut tops' worn by characters. 2. Dove.org lists 'Mild cleavage; girl in short skirt' under its 'Nudity' concern, indicating minor visual elements rather than explicit sexual content.
Profanity
LowThe film contains very infrequent and mild instances of coarse language, primarily limited to common derogatory terms rather than strong expletives.
1. Dove.org specifically lists 'Idiot-1; Loser-1' as the only instances of language. 2. A review from Plugged In also mentions a confrontation between two students where 'idiot' and 'loser' are used as put-downs.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThe film largely avoids themes of witchcraft or the occult, aligning with its Christian themes. A singular, minor reference to a character being described as a 'psychic' is noted, but it is not elaborated upon as a plot point or active supernatural element.
1. Dove.org's review mentions, under 'Other' noteworthy elements, that 'a woman is said to be a psychic.' This is a brief reference without depiction of actual psychic abilities or occult practices. 2. No other instances of magic, rituals, demons, or overt supernatural occurrences are mentioned in available reviews or summaries.
Substance Use
LowThere is no depicted substance use within the film. Reviews explicitly state an absence of drug or alcohol content, with only a minor, passing reference to such substances being prohibited in a formal setting.
1. Plugged In explicitly states, 'None [drug & alcohol content], other than a reference to such things being prohibited in the courtroom.' 2. Dove.org's detailed rating breakdown also lists 'Drugs: None.'
Other Notes
Target Demographic
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.
Additional Notes
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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