CAP Report MAR-0058, THE PREACHER'S WIFE (1996)

ChildCare Action Project:
Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)

Entertainment Media Analysis Report
MAR-0058
The Preacher's Wife (1996)
PG
CAP Score: 92
CAP ID: 0.14

Thomas A. Carder
CAP President

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The PReacher's Wife (1996) CAP Thermometers

The Preacher's Wife (1996) was a good movie...period. Sure, there were a few examples of material contradictory with Christian ethics, but I do not know why it was rated PG. There were no examples of blatant sex, kiss-off arrogance, and graphic violence typical of PG movies. The Wanton Violence/Crime (W) score suffered only due to a crime scene with gunfire and wreckless driving and a husband-wife argument (though not in front of children). The Impunty/Hate⁽¹⁾ (I) score lost a few points due to a lie to hide being perceived as weak, a mother letting her 5 year old son run away from her, some rough language, and a developing unrighteous male-female relationship. The Sex/Homosexuality (S) score dipped a few points due to hints of sexual suggestion by a five year old boy and reference to handling of a woman's posterior. There was no nudity, no one in bed together, no children sneaking out at night to get in bed with a neighbor; each of these being an example of sexual material in other PG movies. There were no examples of Drugs/Alcohol (D) noted. The Offense to God⁽²⁾ (O) score suffered the most, mostly because of the use of God's name in vain (without the four letter expletive) but one example of the preacher questioning the existence of God was noted. And, The Preacher's Wife (1996) was free from examples of Murder/Suicide⁽³⁾ (M).

I cannot understand why this movie was rated PG instead of G, unless the PG rating was due to the spiritual content which proclaimed God as supreme. Or it might be because of the portrayal of angelic assistance just because a human asked God for help, as if to suggest the concept of angelic presence may give youth a complex. Well, let me speak of Herbews 13:2..."Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." [KJV] or "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." [NIV].

Below is the table showing the scoring in each of the Investigation Areas plus the Final Score drawn from the actual CAP Report. In addition, the CAP Influence Density (ID) figure for the movie and the number of examples per hour of unacceptable material in each of the Investigation Areas is provided.

The Preacher's Wife (1996) CAP Scorecard

The Preacher's Wife (1996) CAP Scorecard

In accordance with the comparative baseline data, The Preacher's Wife (1996) was equivalent to PG-rated material only in Offense to God. All other Investigation Areas earned scores equivalent to G-rated material. Thus, The Preacher's Wife (1996) was equivalent to the comparative baseline data corresponding to 17% PG-rated material and 83% G-rated material.

(1) As noted in CAP Special Report-0001, "Investigation Area and Scoring Trend", of the six CAP Investigation Areas, Impunity/Hate was the strongest presence in all four movie classifications. It has a strong revelation about the entertainment media.

(2) The use of the three/four letter word vocabulary without God's name is incorporated into the Impunity/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's name with or without the three/four letter word vocabulary is incorporated into the Offense to God Investigation Area. There is no dupication. As required of the Holy Scriptures, unless God's name is used with reverence to His glory and praise, its use is considered in vain, whether literal or euphemistic.

(3) Only portrayal of successful murder or suicide are incorporated into Murder/Suicide. Presentation of attempts to commit murder or suicide, deaths by police action, and deaths by war are incorporated into Wanton Violence/Crime.

Please remember we believe that if even one of the six Investigation Area scores for a movie is equivalent to the CAP comparative baseline databse scoring range for R, PG-13, or PG material, the entire movie should be regarded as so rated. For example, if only Wanton Violence/Crime earns a score equivalent to R but all other Investigation Areas earn a score equivalent to G, THERE IS R-RATED MATERIAL IN THE MOVIE AND YOUR KIDS WILL SEE IT AND HEAR IT IF THEY WATCH THE MOVIE!

Additional reviews of this movie may be located at "Movie Review Query Engine at Telerama."

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