Jesus Camp
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Movie Reviews of Jesus Camp
Movie Review: Just what I was looking for...
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this movie by doing an internet search on "Christian brainwashing". Some of my family has moved to the Kansas City area to join with the International House of Prayer (IHOP)located there, as "missionaries". When it was stated that they now have their two year old daughter praying for "up to a half hour" and that at one year old she would kiss the computer with a photo of Jesus on the screen, my gut instinct was that this was nothing more than the brainwashing of a child.
As a former Pentecostal who became involved in my 20s, I understand and sympathize with those involved with the "Prophetic Movement" who think they are only doing what is ultimately the right thing to do. It was something I chose for myself, as it has been for those in my family who have gone to Kansas City to join with the "prophets". But as a few others here have also related, since I was not indoctrinated as a child with this religion, it was just as easy to break free when facts became known.
Becky states in the documentary "I have to think that this is only the tip of the iceberg". Do some research on the Kansas City Prophets and IHOP KC (of whom Lou Engle featured in the "abortion sermon" is a part of) to see how big the iceberg really is and how far-reaching this movement actually goes. Look for the interconnections of various international ministries such as those who now own the former PTL headquarters Heritage USA - Morningstar Ministries. This stuff is not confined to the "flyover" states.
I hit the jackpot with "Jesus Camp". Thanks to all the other reviewers who also see this as religious abuse and brainwashing of our most vulnerable citizens - children. Makes me sick to think that a relative of mine might be the next "Rachael", indoctrinated by those who know so little about the history of Christianity itself and what they are really involved with.
It's a very short leap from a war in the spiritual to war in the physical, illustrated very nicely in the movie by the fact that the parents of these children are themselves in the military and would love for Armageddon to happen today. That is ultimately what this is really all about, the preparation of children for the real end of the world as we know it and hastening its beginning.
Movie Review: "Reclaiming America For Christ" ~ The Culture War Has Begun
Summary: 5 Stars
I was raised in the Evangelical Christian church (Four Square Pentecostal) from birth until the age of sixteen and I attended similar summer camps as a child. I would say, speaking from first-hand, personal experience that Evangelical Christianity and the evangelistic techniques as portrayed in the film `Jesus Camp' provide a valid, true to life glimpse into this rapidly growing spiritual mindset and how it plays out in the religious education of their children. I left that movement quite a few years ago and have strongly felt disagreements with many of its beliefs and practices, so I was probably on some subconscious level expecting and maybe even hoping for a highly disturbing expose. Whether that's what I actually wanted or not, I must honestly say this film doesn't provide that anticipated result.
The film is an honest depiction of a massive movement sweeping across the American landscape. Its impact will be felt spiritually, domestically and yes, politically for generations to come. Is it indoctrination? Yes, but what isn't? Should they be faulted, shunned or feared just because they've found a way to do it better than other persuasions have? If the films primary intent was to shock and upset the non-evangelical Christian than I would say it has failed in its mission.* At least in my case it has. However if its purpose was to present an honest look at a growing cultural phenomenon then it has indeed succeeded.
* I couldn't help but notice while reading the credits that this documentary happens to be "A Loki Films Production." Loki is a devious Norse deity comparable to the Christian Devil. Coicidence?
P.S.: An important things to remember about random statements and their meaning:
- When an evangelical Christian speaks about; "Those who would give up their lives for Jesus" or "Laying down their lives for the gospel" there is no reason for the non-believer to run and hide. Such verbal expressions have absolutely nothing in common with Jihadist rhetoric. There is no strapping on of explosives or hints of suicide bombers suggested here. To make such inferences shows a clear lack of knowledge and understanding of Christian terminology being exercised by those who do.
Movie Review: Children in the Hands of an Angry God
Summary: 5 Stars
At the risk of going overboard, I can say that Jesus Camp had more of an impact on me than almost any other film that I have watched. I saw it for the first time in 2007 and I watched it again last night. The film amazes and appalls in its depiction of the ways that the Christian Right indoctrinates its children.
Jesus Camp is about three children who attend the Kids on Fire camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota, during summer 2005. The organizers of the camp inform the kids that they can change the world by spreading the evangelical message. The kids are also warned, however, that the Devil targets the young and that they are likely to burn in hell if they don't heed God's message. The camp's director particularly condemns children who watch and read Harry Potter because you "don't make heroes out of warlocks." The speeches lead a number of the kids to cry on camera.
The adults involved in Kids on Fire make no bones about indoctrinating their kids. One adult says, with no sense of irony, that the Palestinians do a much better job of indoctrinating their children. The same woman says "I don't feel any child gets anything by choice." An unforgettable scene involves the adults bringing in a cardboard cutout of George W. Bush and instructing the kids to pray for him. After the prayers, an anti-abortion activist comes in with some plastic fetuses that are supposed to show the size of a human fetus at different stages of development.
I felt for the children in the film. All of them are earnest and attempt to do the right thing. One thing that I have noticed about the evangelicals in my area is that they send their children out to proselytize and solicit funds, while the parents seldom engage in such activities.
The most striking aspect of the film, to me, is how little we hear about forgiveness and God's love for humanity; in my upbringing (in the Episcopal Church), these two points were the center of the Christian doctrine.
I highly recommend Jesus Camp to anyone interested in the role of religion in the U.S. Whatever your beliefs, you will be left with a lot of food for thought.
Movie Review: Interesting and disturbing.
Summary: 5 Stars
Here's an interesting and well-done documentary film. It involves the evangelical Christian movement and focuses on a summer religion-based camp for children and the adults associated with it. The movie is called "Jesus Camp."
The film is very well done in that directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady maintain a somewhat distant neutrality toword their subject. They report, and report well, but don't judge. Judgement is left to the viewer and might vary quite considerably. What are your own religeous beliefs? Are you an evangelical Christian? Maybe you'll think the film is terrific. Are you an agnostic or of another religion? Maybe you'll be appalled or find it deeply disturbing. Personally, I ended up feeling somewhat sorry for the children as they underwent their indoctrination and imitated their teachers and tried so hard to please the adults. I underwent a bit of this myself and it took a long time to finally break away. I found most of the adults in the film to be appalling. To me, the entire evangelical movement is interesting, but disturbing. That's how I'd rate the movie: interesting and disturbing. It's worthy of it's Academy Award nomination.
It's a fascinating and sometimes alarming study. My keen attention was held throughout the entire viewing. It was both interesting and appalling at the same time. The film even includes Ted Haggard, the disgraced president of the National Association of Evangelicals. Haggard later resigned following accusations of drug use and sexual misconduct.
Most of the film involves a teacher, Becky Fischer, as she enlists kids in "God's Army" at a camp in rural North Dakota. I found it painful to watch her and other adults indoctrinating the eager young minds. Even more troubling were a lot of the home-schooled children who believed that the Bible was science. A "liberal-Christian" radio talk-show host provided a concerned commentary on the evangelical movement. I found the whole scene to be creepy, but very interesting and well presented. It's an engaging movie, well worth viewing more than once.
Gary Peterson
Movie Review: Brilliant and Frightening - A Must See!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not religious, but I was raised in a Pentecostal church (in California) and never witnessed anything even remotely similar to the disturbing activities portrayed in this fascinating film. Politics were never, ever discussed and any preacher advising the congregation on how to vote would have been met with a mutiny! No one ever spoke in tongues; in fact, I never even heard that term until I was an adult and no longer attending church. I did attend a church summer camp once when I was twelve, but it was an ordinary camp where we hiked, swam, did crafts, played sports, and never heard God mentioned other than at a brief prayer in the evenings before a relaxing campfire; participation was not required and there was no religious indoctrination. We attended public schools and I grew up in a household that did not take itself too seriously, often making jokes that would have made Pastor Becky's spiky hair stand even more on end. We were allowed to listen to any music of our own choosing and participate in "secular" activities such as hanging out with non-religious friends and going to the movies. All in all, our parents sought to instill in us good values in a very healthy and free environment.
That said, I do believe there is a small faction of fanatics who are exactly like the people in this film and I am glad that it can be used as an educational film on how you should NOT brainwash your children. I got chills when, as the breakfast blessing was being said, they had to throw in a reference to abortion. At the prayer where they were thanking God for their food! Why was that necessary? If anything, I'd lose my appetite after listening to that. Another nauseating scene was where the little girl talked about someday becoming a manicurist when she grows up, simply so that she can preach to women as they sit there trapped while their nails are being done. Just...wow. I highly recommend this film and feel sorry for the children featured who are going to have a hard time as they grow up and attempt to integrate into the real world.