A Hollywood view of Christian mis-education

Saved! is the first Hollywood movie to focus on private religious education and is therefore a significant milestone in popular culture. The movie is critical of the school along the very dimensions of concern to Brighouse (2006): undermining personal autonomy, fostering social divisiveness, and promoting anti-democratic values. This article is a close reading of the film's illiberal representation of Christian education, including a discussion of whether liberalism may legitimately require traditional schools to privilege autonomy over obedience. The reading focuses on the issues the film highlights (and avoids): gender identity, sexual freedom, and abortion. Finally, the film is placed within the genre of anti-private school films, which valorize individualism over loyalty to group norms.