Did you know that books like Harry Potter, Capitães da Areia and even To Kill a Mockingbird have been banned in schools to “protect” children? Curiously, the Bible – which contains stories of massacres, rape, cruel punishments and hate speech – is freely distributed in children’s versions, decorated with stickers and cute illustrations.
In my research, I explored this question, and in this post, I invite you to reflect: what if the Bible were evaluated using the same criteria applied to films, series, and ordinary books? Would it receive a 14+, 16+ or even 18+ rating?
The answer, it seems, is yes.
Why does this matter?
The Bible is taught from an early age in churches, Sunday schools, some secular schools and homes as a source of moral values. But many of its stories are violent, sexist or exclusionary. Yet, because it’s a “sacred” text, very few people ever question its content – even when it’s directed at children.
This is not an attack on faith. It’s a call to defend children’s right to safe, ethical and emotionally healthy education – without fear or guilt. If we protect kids from certain movies or games, why not also protect them from heavy content disguised as divine lessons?
What do we find in the Bible?
Here are some real examples of verses that, according to international age rating systems (like those of Brazil, the UK, France, Germany and others), would be considered inappropriate for minors:
- God commands the killing of all men in a city, allowing soldiers to keep only the virgins (Numbers 31).
- A father offers his daughters to be raped by a mob (Genesis 19).
- Women must be silent in churches and obey their husbands (1 Corinthians 14).
- Death penalty for homosexuality (Leviticus 20).
- A prophet curses children, and bears maul them to death (2 Kings 2).
- “Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks” (Psalm 137).
Yes, all of this is in the Bible. And yes, all of this is read in worship services, Sunday school and family gatherings – often without any critical explanation or emotional guidance.
And what about children’s versions?
Even in “Bibles for children,” the core content remains – just softened with cute language and sparkly illustrations. But stories like the flood (in which all humans die by drowning) become coloring pages with smiling animals on a boat. That’s not innocent. It’s a way to normalize violence as the will of God.
This early indoctrination teaches children that questioning is wrong, that obedience matters more than thinking, that their bodies are sinful, that desire is dangerous, and that there’s a god watching everything – ready to punish. The result? Fear, guilt and repression. This has a name: Religious Trauma Syndrome. And the effects can last a lifetime.
Censorship or protection?
Many people confuse age classification with censorship. But they’re not the same. Censorship forbids. Classification protects. It informs what is appropriate for each age group, helps parents and educators, and safeguards children’s emotional well-being.
If the Bible were treated like any other book, many parts would require age restrictions. And that doesn’t diminish its cultural or religious value. On the contrary: it shows that it’s a powerful text that must be read with care, responsibility and, most importantly, adult mediation.
Notice the inconsistency
Films, games and series that portray violence, sex or suffering are all subject to age classification. But when we switch from screen to page, suddenly everything seems “harmless.” The Bible, the Qur’an, the Bhagavad Gita – all circulate freely among children, without any content warnings.
Yet the Bible has enormous symbolic power. It shapes laws, customs, family roles, and ideas of justice and punishment. Still, when it’s taught to children, there’s rarely room for interpretation or critical thought. It’s presented as absolute truth. Children don’t learn to think. They learn to obey.
While books and films are evaluated by educators, psychologists and authorities, the Bible bypasses these filters – even when adapted into films, where it does receive age ratings for intense scenes.
See the paradox: the same content that is considered sensitive in cinema (like wars, executions, divine punishments and suicides) is handed to children as a colorful illustrated book – with no warnings. And that’s because, behind the “sacred immunity,” there’s still a taboo: criticizing religious texts is seen as offensive.
But should protecting faith come before protecting children?
If a film about Noah or Jesus can be rated 14+ or 18+, why does the written Bible – with the same stories – escape that rule?
Conclusion: Every Faith Comes with Responsibility
This is not about banning the Bible, but about removing its “immunity shield.” If protecting children is truly a priority, then sacred texts must also be held accountable. What we teach children early on shapes how they see the world, others, and themselves. And that includes how we interpret violence, authority, obedience and difference.
If ordinary books are evaluated before reaching children’s hands, why should the Bible be any different?
Ah, yes – in the article, I proposed age ratings for certain passages of the Bible. It was just a starting point. A provocation to reflect. And you? How would you classify those passages?
Download or Read more here:
BATISTA, D. J. (2025). Bible 18+: When Art Is Censored but Children’s Bibles Promote Genocide, Prejudice and Perversion. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16608992