Jesus Camp
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Movie Reviews of Jesus Camp
Movie Review: Delusional
Summary: 5 Stars
All organized religion is essentially about power and control. In this disturbing documentary about the Pentecostal youth movement, control and power are there for all the see with disturbing results. It is apparent early on in the film that Pastor Becky Fischers' preaching is not meant to be for the glorification of God, but rather for the glorification of her own ego. A telling scene that demonstrates this is where Ms. Fischer asks the kids about how good her hair and her nails look right before a sermon. Several reviewers on this website in particular feel that Fischer in sincere in her belief, but after watching a scene like that, it is hard to fathom why one could think that. Earlier in the film, Fischer says that Muslim youth in Palestine are being trained to become soldiers in the army of God and are being taught how to strap bombs across their waists. I guess Ms. Fischer's vision then is that these same children in her camp will be blowing themselves up at Planned Parenthood and Abortion Clinics throughout the country. What a profound vision of a Christian worldview of faith, love and charity.
However, this documentary does not alarm me as it has done most critics of this film, because most of these children will realize sooner rather then later that they were being unjustly manipulated. Those children now will possibly look back on this film in 2016 and laugh and realize the extent of these adults influence over them. Ted Haggard alone has probably done more to discredit this movement with his admission of dalliances with gay male prostitutes, and that's in 2006. Several people have a difficult time understanding that these people are not given toleration in America. Well, toleration should be granted to all beliefs in America, but not to systems that manipulate children and encourage them to be soldiers of God in the mold of Islamic jihadists. Those kinds of beliefs should be invalidated for what they are: dangerous, false and ultimately delusional.
Movie Review: Great Depiction of Irrational Authority
Summary: 5 Stars
Jesus Camp chronicles the experiences of several children and their interactions with the cancer that is evangelical Christianity. The viewer sees how these children are indoctrinated into accepting the religious and political attitudes of the Christian right. For instance, the children are taught to believe that abortion is evil and that global warming is simply made up. Such examples are indicative of what Erich Fromm calls authoritarian ethics, which is characterized by the individual's weakness and dependence on an irrational authority (in this case, the Church and its respective agents), whose power, because it supposedly transcends man, cannot be criticized.
As you watch the documentary, you realize that no critical discussion of religion or politics takes place. These children do no investigate the darker passages of the Bible that condone rape, kidnapping, murder, and genocide (see Judges 21:10-24, Deuteronomy 22:28-29, and 1 Samuel 15:2-3, for instance) and thus do not understand that the Bible is not the literal word of God but rather that of His fallible disciples. The narrow focus on social issues such as abortion acts as a smoke screen -- evangelical Christianity has few answers for society's pressing problems like creating more middle-class jobs and providing more families with healthcare. Put simply, it is much easier to denounce pornography, abortion, homosexuality, etc. than it is to formulate a cogent plan to, say, save Social Security and Medicare.
At times, the editorializing of Mike Papantonio's radio show seems unnecessary because the documentary's points are well established. It would have been more interesting to conduct a deeper investigation into the lives of the children (Levi, Rachael, and Tory) to see if they change their viewpoints as they mature into adults. Doing so, however, would take years. Nonetheless, Jesus Camp is a great documentary, and I recommended it to all of my friends.
Movie Review: Sneaking admiration for radical Islam?
Summary: 5 Stars
The other reviews of JCamp have called out the contents very well, need not be repeated by me.
I was struck by how much Becky and the others seemed to admire the pedagogical style and educational totalism of radical Islam. I guess all totalitarian movements are alike.
It was also interesting how religious commitment is so very strictly tied to emotional and physical expressiveness. Crying, reeling, writhing, screaming, babbling - anything physically emotive seems to be very much admired, while silent prayer (or God forbid, meditation), even in a religious context, would seem to be condemned as the way of a "dead church". They want your EMOTIONS involved, and that can only be proven to them via your BODY histrionics. Physical hysterics are the coin of the realm to the people in this video, and rightly so, as all that freaking out tends to block rational thought.
I suppose the North Korean cult of Kim Jung Il and Kim Il Sung isn't much different in methods and goals.
Some of the kids were great. It is interesting that the camp attendee Levi, was apparently evident to BOTH the preacher people AND the documentary makers as a potential telegenic star of some kind, whether a Marjoe Gortner or what we don't yet know. It will be interesting to see.
Levi has the distinction of offering the best spontaneous line in the film, at the very end, when he and his fanatic lil friend Rachel are out on the street in DC, targeting sinners for salvation by handing out pamphlets to passers by.
Rachel asks Levi:
"Is it possible these people think we are SELLING something??"
He replies:
"Some of them probably think so."
Rachel retorts rhetorically:
"But we are just KIDS! What could WE possibly be SELLING??"
Levi doesn't skip a beat:
"Whatever is in our hands."
Movie Review: Extremism In Our Back Yards
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me start off by saying that I am a Christian. I have studied different religions for years. Every religion has its downfalls, and every religion has its positive influences. That said, I found "Jesus Camp" highly disturbing in a sense that in today's world of being warned about Islamic extremism, we almost fail to recognize the breeding of Christian extremism.
Becky Fischer is an Evangelical Christian children's pastor - a highly charismatic and brilliant woman, who in my opinion uses her brilliance to create fear and hatred. Again in my opinion, anyone creating fear and hatred in a deliberate manner is a destructive force. Just because that force is a Christian one does not make the message right. If Becky Fischer were a Muslim or a Jew, and had the same strength of her message, she would be on top intelligence lists as a threat to international security.
It saddened me to see children being brainwashed into believing that everything outside of Evangelism is influenced by Satan. It saddened me even more to see these same children assume the militant stance of holy warriors. To paraphrase pastor Fischer, Muslims are creating their holy warriors and so should we. Two wrongs do not make a right.
I really liked that the documentary had no narration from the film makers, who left the final decision to be made by the viewers, based on the footage presented. You know a topic is powerful when a film with no narration leaves you speechless and deep in thought, as it left me. Extremism is extremism, whether Islamic, Christian, Jewish or otherwise. Extremism never brought any free thought forth, nor has it ever created freedom. As much as we should beware extremism and fundamentalism from other nations, we should truly look into our own first. We may be surprised as to how similar we can be to those we accuse of intolerance.
Movie Review: Yikes!!!! Harsh preaching to kids; harsh liberal slant to movie
Summary: 5 Stars
The beginning of the film shows camouflaged children performing some sort of dance- possibly a mix of exorcism and praise. It's creepy, the way the kids are dressed. They are dressed for war. But, they're kids.
"But, they're kids!!!" was all I kept saying throughout this movie. Will they ever know any other type of Christianity??? (Rachael talks about "dead churches". The kind where people sing a few hymns, listen to a sermon, etc. "God doesn't like to visit those churches", claims the 9 year old.)
Will they ever learn about science??? (Twelve year old Levi just loves his DVD on creationism. And yes, we get to watch a bit of that awful nonsense with Levi.)
What about the CHILDREN who speak in tongues, burst into tears over their sins (like talking dirty at school), writhe in "ecstasy" on the floor, and believe Satan has entered their hearts? What about TWELVE YEAR OLD Levi who preaches a sermon about Satan interfering in their lives?
There is too much emphasis on Satan for these kids. I sensed very little positive messages in Jesus Camp. It's wonderful that parents are raising their kids in the faith. It's also wonderful that ten year old Tori rejects Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. If only parents were as involved as Rachael's, Levi's, and Tori's. (It was great to see Rachael and Levi have some old-fashioned fun at the bowling alley!!)
I would like to see a documentary without the leftist bias. Notice the only supposedly sound mindset was the liberal Christian radio host! How about a moderate Christian? While the doumentary is thought-provoking, it also might be cobbled together with things taken out of context. After all, "they're kids!!!" This means the directors should not make it so things can be taken out of context.
Still, the movie is highly recommended.