If there is one thing which "Jesus Camp" reveals, it is the extent to which some adults will rob children of a normal childhood in order to foster their own politico-religious agenda. The children in this film are not being inculcated with moral and spiritual values; they are being manipulated into quasi-religious hysteria. In the name of a warped sense of religiosity the adults in this film are deliberately creating cadres of Christianist yes men. This isn't faith; it's hypnosis.
I do not doubt the good intentions of parents who indoctrinate their children from an early age with principles of religion; after all, the Catholic Church has encouraged this for centuries, and there are wonderful religious schools of all types which provide a strong moral and ethical education to our children. Giving children a foundation of values is invaluable. However, the religio-political cultism demonstrated in this film is beyond the pale. I can guarantee you that if those parents in the film had been born Muslim rather than Christian they would be at the forefront of such practices as stoning and clitoral circumcision. If that's what their particular Good Book calls for, they are all for it. It sure saves thinking for oneself. At the very least, those who survive this kind of cultist indoctrination may turn out to be psychologically disturbed or emotionally impaired. The children of "Jesus Camp" are the kinds of people who wind up as bigots, informers, and lovers of authoritarianism, and who join the myriad of "holier-than-thou" types who already populate American so-called Christianity. These children may never be able to think for themselves. If they do eventually see through this well-intentioned nonsense, they can wind up as the kind of obnoxious hypocrites which they themselves would be quick to condemn.
What an astounding coincidence, then, that one of those very kinds of people shows up for quite a while towards the end of film. Ted Haggard, Evangelical pastor and newly confessed drug-buyer and patron of "male-massage", is seen counseling a young boy on how to play upon his youth in order to spread the Word. You can already see the young boy fawning over his adult admirers and saying whatever he thinks will please them and bring him a measure of recognition. That's the insidious thing about the "Jesus Camp", the kids really want to please their adult trainers. As for Haggard, in the spirit of Christian love and forgiveness he's already been kicked out of his Church. No turn-the-other-cheek Amish among that bunch. Can't have a guy like Haggard hanging around - especially now that he's been found out. As for the adults who encourage slavish indoctrination of their children, I think they would have been more comfortable in 1930's Spain, Italy, or Germany. Each of those countries had its cadre of young, true believers, too.
one warning if your in a good mood or you just ate don't watch. but if you want the hair on the back of your neck stand up, and your blood pressure to spike I highly recommend it.
This is the reason I don't go to church if I want my kid brainwashed I can do that at home with better story than the bible what opium addict came up with that , it truly is the greatest bull shit story ever told
the religious right wants to break down the wall between church and state but they don't understand that wall is the only thing keeping us from becoming like the middle east. the video link worked just fine for me youtube was probably fixing something when you were trying to view the video, but let me know if it doesn't work for you.
oh my god! (or should I change that to oh my not god? haha) I almost cried watching this. these pour kids. Why do they have to raise there kids so closed mindedly? I love how hipocritical christians are. they say jesus loves everyone but then tell most people are going to hell. I find it funny how the government still trys to push religion on us but they are still angry. They stoped most of gay marrage, they try to force us to pretty much pray to god in the pledge of aligence (which i don't stand up for) and it's even on our money. Thanks for posting this. oh and the last three videos don't work.
I wish someone would have warned me, I was in a pretty good mood before I watched it and after I can't began to describe how pissed of I was. that's a great ideal watch it on Sunday to see what your missing out on.
you can read my past posts by going to my archive, I rarely take posts down. :)
im in an extremely good mood today so ill watch this on sunday....on the day i dont go to church because its all a bunch of crap.....leave this post on as long as possible..please :)
