Many of our readers, it seems, would disagree with him. Letters have come in recently arguing that R-rated films should never be seen by Christian viewers because of violence, nudity, and foul language. Some have said that abstinence from such films is called for in order to protect our hearts and minds. Others have insisted that, while such content is not for everyone, discerning believers can attend these films if they exercise their conscience and pay attention to why a film employs such strong stuff.

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And none of these contain as much violence as Saving Private Ryan or Schindler's List, films that pay tribute to courage and self-sacrifice while exposing the horrors of war—films so "honorable" that many people argue they should be shown to children. (If Ryan does arrive on television uncut, then undoubtedly many children will see the death, dismemberment, and other grisly consequences of war.)

Are some of these films okay for us to watch, while others are immoral? How do you distinguish between "appropriate" and "inappropriate" violence? Or are there, rather, appropriate and inappropriate audiences? Is any violence—whether it's in The Lion King or Private Ryan—a healthy sight for children? What does the Bible say about this? Should other "violent" acts—betrayal, verbal cruelty, lying, cheating, etc.—carry an R-rating?

Write to me with your own perspective on this. Next week we will share responses in part three of our Film Forum ...