Is thus one of those movies.....

Is this one of these topic threads that slams a decent movie under the guise of asking questions, just because the storyline is Christ-honoring? Because that's sure what it looks like.

And IKDG giving "bad advice" is merely your personal opinion, not a statement-of-fact. You didn't even say what advice the book gave; much less why it was bad (in your estimation).

It's a cult movie where a guy who was a sexual predator in the past is now a predator of a different sort, beating down a poor woman who honestly just wants to be a good person by telling her she's basically a whore for wanting something along the lines of fun in a relationship. He brow-beats and emotionally abuses her to the point where everything he says suddenly becomes Gospel, right down to her being perfectly fine with the fact that their first date is basically him asking very invasive questions, including how much experience he has with children. Basically, the movie says that the only way to fix dating being only for sex is by having dating be only for marriage, right down to him proposing marriage at the end because, seriously, he suddenly wants a child. No consideration for her feelings, no attempts to talk through any common interests, just him making sure she fits his criteria of the 'perfect wife'.

Hell, the guy's only 'flaw' in the movie is having to deal with people less 'perfect' than him and getting frustrated that they aren't as Jesus as he is. The advice and message of this movie is HORRIBLE. It tells women to shut up and learn how to raise a child and not try and do anything that might result in learning anything about the guy unless he allows it first. Women are meant to adhere to a very strict regimen, installed by the church, and if they DARE to break from it, they aren't worthy partners and should be shunned. Hell, the guy even breaks up a bachelor party he was invited to (apparently not knowing what the hell a bachelor party IS) because the guy getting married shouldn't have anything resembling fun on the last night before marriage. After all, 'old-fashioned' apparently means Nazi-esque.

And that's basically what it comes down to: this film is all about forcing a viewpoint on the audience in the most pretentious, overt, and preachy way possible. You can't date unless you plan to marry. You can't be alone with a woman because you'll be tempted to do something HORRIBLE like be ATTRACTED to her or some crap. You shouldn't kiss before marriage because that might lead to sex and the ONLY time you should have sex is after you're married and even then, ONLY to have children. And if the woman dares to question your viewpoints and suggest that maybe you should have fun and just enjoy your time together, shun her until she begs forgiveness.

Now, before people go harping on my criticisms of this condescending, immoral piece of crap, I'm a Christian. I believe in God. I understand the viewpoints and morals of Christians, while also admitting that the stringent 'rules' laid down in the Bible are pretty much a product of different times and don't hold much sway anymore, especially when followed with the Nazi-esque form that the jagoff in this film does. The film flat out tells you that if you have sex before marriage, you're a leering, rapey, immoral demon who is going to hell unless you immediately repent and swear off women FOREVER. Of course, I thought the Bible showed that Jesus made friends with people like this and claimed we should love our neighbor and that God loves everyone, but that might get in the way of the incredibly creepy message this film is trying to put out.

This is a loathsome film and serves only to make Christians look worse and the idea of a moral-stance on dating look like something Hitler came up with in his spare time. I'm not even kidding. This film SUCKS.

I don't think there is anything more incredibly annoying when people ask questions that they already know the answers to. You sound like a lawyer speaking in front of a jury for the very first time *shudder*... enough.

Is this one of those puritanical stories that omit "old fashioned" customs such as assigned marriages, pre-marriage 'bundling' of 2 lovers to guarantee sexual compatibility, and stoning of women who chose to divorce their husbands? If so, count me in to this barbaric way of whitewashing true history!!! :-)

P.S. For those that don't know, 'bundling' was pre-marital sex:
http://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/Holiday07/court.cfm

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If I had it to do all over again (I'm in my mid-60s), I would do it this way. Yes, that includes kissing. In the past couple of years, watching all the junk on TV, jumping into bed immediately after meeting ('cuz I'm in love!), having sex up against a wall, in restrooms, etc., I've just seen too much of the bad side. People "break up" and before the other person has a chance to reflect, they're in bed with someone else. It was never meant to be that way. Sex is not dating, it's not entertainment and it's certainly not the way to pass the time. Now I fully understand what the intent of sex is (to truly become one, after you've made a life-time commitment). Without waiting for the right person and the right time (after marriage), what is there to keep the marriage together? Nothing. On the other hand, if you patiently wait for the right person, learning what it is you want via dating, then have the commitment and then give yourself, then you really have something and it's worth fighting for. There's depth and real love.