Most of us are familiar with the Motion Picture Association's movie ratings. (If you aren't, go here.) The MPA gives viewers guidelines for what is and isn't appropriate viewing based primarily on age.

The ChildCare Action Project (CAP) also rates movies. But they have a very different set of criteria. While somewhat curtained behind a rather innocuous name--who isn't all for ChildCare Action, whatever it may be?--the subtitle of their project makes their mission more clear: "Christian Analysis of American Culture."

CAP Reports are individual reports on movies, basically laundry lists of anything offensive in the movie being reported on. But it begs the question, "offensive to whom?"

Well, God, actually. If CAP is to be believed.

It's true. CAP has six criteria for rating movies, and one of them is indeed "Offense to God." A multitude of [ostensible] evils can be categorized here, including (but certainly not limited to): ghosts, occult references, and any wording, theme or suggestion that [in CAP's view] contradicts Biblical scripture. (Take a look at the reports for Dogma and The Sixth Sense for an idea.)

CAP finds evil lurking in even the most seemingly innocent of movies. For example, Good Boy! offends God by suggesting dogs are superior to man. CAP also cites other movies for "dress to maximize the female form and or skin exposure throughout" (Scooby-Doo) and "Christmas without Jesus or the Cross" (Stepmom).

So, in a world in which many cry out that movies are too violent, too graphic, etc. I ask: do ratings really help? Who should we listen to? We've got a lot of people trying to give us guidelines and tell us what we should and shouldn't watch. Or let our kids watch.

To be honest, I don't pay much attention to ratings. Of any kind. When I see a film trailer, I pretty much get enough of an idea about whether or not I think the movie being previewed is right for me or my family. Of course, one could say that trailers can be deceiving. But then, can't ratings as well?

I'll say this, though. I do like that the MPA has begun listing what has caused a movie to be given a certain rating. "R for violence, language, nudity." I know that if a movie has "gore" I don't want to see it, and I like that they warn me.

Do I need the kind of list CAP makes for each movie? No. And I kind of think it's a shame that people are swayed by such a list. That some people even live by it. It's like they've given up being willing to think for themselves, make their own decisions. Everyone is different, and "appropriateness" is a very personal thing. Ratings guidelines are good. They give potential viewers access to the information they need to make decisions about what to watch. Ratings mandates are bad. They don't allow people to make their own decisions, and in fact attempt to intimidate viewers by hinting that they might be: a bad person, a bad parent, and possibly going to Hell if they watch a certain film.