News Jesus Camp: A Movie That Will Make You Cry

[robertm]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3929535037535102662&q=Jesus+camp&ei=BKNISJTaL5yO4wLp4bigDA&hl=en"

I know there has been a lot of buzz around this movie already, however I thought I would share with you here...

Anything that can make a grown man cry is worth watching...

 

[Evo]

I'm moving this to politics.

I don't want anyone offended, so let me know if you are upset and explain why. I'm still watching all of it, it's a long documentary.

Any discussions should be restricted to the mix of religion and politics, the impact on Science, impacts on what our schools can teach. I will not allow conversations critisizing anyone's personal beliefs or disparaging religions.

 

[_Mayday_]

Can you give us a little sample of what it is about?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

"I want to see them [children] as radically laying down their lives for the gospel..."

"George Bush has brought credibility to the Christian faith"

"We've got to stand up and take back the land"

"I was saved when I was five. I wanted more from life"

I can't stand any more for now.

 

[robertm]

Sure, sorry I know it's long, and I'm almost put this in politics but I wasn't sure thanks Evo.

This is a documentary about an Evangelical Christian Bible camp for young kids. It unbiasedly shows the happenings at this camp and doesn't attempt to push any certain view. What is so sad is that by doing this the film shows how incredibly ------ these people are. In one scene they actually bring out a life-size cardboard cutout of Pres. Bush and made the children gather around it and and touch his feet like they were worshiping him. They dress the boy's up in army gear and give them fake guns and make them do a 'war dance' just like some radical Muslim's do with their kindergarteners.

But the worst part about this, the part that made me cry, is this very young incredibly intelligent boy who is trying so hard to 'feel the holy spirit' like all the other kids but can't (b/c the kids are obviously faking) and he is so torn and devastated because he believes that he is some sort of anti-Christ who is going straight to hell. AND NO ONE HELPS HIM. Not a single person can answer his heartfelt and sincere questions.

This is truly a very sad and terrifying and disgusting show case of what religion can become...

 

[Cyrus]

How do people get to be so igornant?

HAHAHAHHAH! THE LADY SAID TO THE KIDS "We have too many christian grown ups that are FAT AND LAZY!" ~7:00

Talk about the Pot calling the kettle black! Shes out of her f'in mind.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

How do people get to be so igornant?

They went to Jesus camp?

HAHAHAHHAH! THE LADY SAID TO THE KIDS "We have too many christian grown ups that are FAT AND LAZY!"

Talk about the Pot calling the kettle black!

I thought the same thing!

 

[waht]

There is probably many more camps like these scattered all over the states. These kids are send there by their parents who influence them with these ----- values.

 

[Cyrus]

They went to Jesus camp?



I thought the same thing!

This woman talking to her son is as nuts as a KKK member! YIKES!

 

[seycyrus]

There is probably many more camps like these scattered all over the states. These kids are send there by their parents who influence them with these wicked values.

No, there are NOT many more scattered ALL over.

It's an aberration and a terrible one. Don't use it to stereotype.

 

[Evo]

HAHAHAHHAH! THE LADY SAID TO THE KIDS "We have too many christian grown ups that are FAT AND LAZY!" ~7:00

That was rather funny, considering she must weigh over 300 pounds.

 

[AhmedEzz]

Extremism on every side...I think that's a valuable lesson for everyone who believes the one-sided media. Imagine what would you feel if someone tried to say that most Christians or
Americans are that ignorant and radical...ridiculous right? that's how I feel when I talk to some people who are heavily influenced by the media.

 

[Cyrus]

That was rather funny, considering she must weigh over 300 pounds.

How's this not child abuse? Can those kids minds even be salvaged after this?

 

[seycyrus]

Extremism on every side...I think that's a valuable lesson for everyone who believes the one-sided media. Imagine what would you feel if someone tried to say that most Christians or
Americans are that ignorant and radical...ridiculous right? that's how I feel when I talk to some people who are heavily influenced by the media.

Hi Ahmed.

I've had many discussions with muslims during my coffeshop excursions, so I understand that the radical views we see expressed by some are not representative of muslims as a whole.

The problem many people including myself have is that we do not see a public Muslim movement to censor and/or restrict the crazy beliefs of radical muslims.

 

[DT_tokamak]

How's this not child abuse? Can those kids minds even be salvaged after this?

Yeah, but it'll be tough for a lot of them. Beyond what damage is done already, what makes me really sad is they'll likely have to endure misteachings for many more years before they're in a position to think for themselves. And then the struggle will begin and that will probably take several more years.

 

[Evo]

Yeah, but it'll be tough for a lot of them. Beyond what damage is done already, what makes me really sad is they'll likely have to endure misteachings for many more years before they're in a position to think for themselves. And then the struggle will begin and that will probably take several more years.

The saddest part is that 75% of these kids are home schooled so that contact with normal people with normal viewpoints aren't even an option.

 

[Moonbear]

This is a documentary about an Evangelical Christian Bible camp for young kids. It unbiasedly shows the happenings at this camp and doesn't attempt to push any certain view.

I haven't watched any of it yet, but how do you know it's not biased or staged? There has been a trend for "shockumentaries" for a while now and I would hardly consider them unbiased or even accurate, so before I take the time to watch (since everyone is commenting on the length), I need more convincing that there's a reason to watch this or a reason to think the worst of the worst examples weren't staged or cherry-picked to make it seem worse than reality.

 

[Cyrus]

I haven't watched any of it yet, but how do you know it's not biased or staged? There has been a trend for "shockumentaries" for a while now and I would hardly consider them unbiased or even accurate, so before I take the time to watch (since everyone is commenting on the length), I need more convincing that there's a reason to watch this or a reason to think the worst of the worst examples weren't staged or cherry-picked to make it seem worse than reality.

Mmmmmmm yeah, you have to see it. It speaks for itself. Its very disturbing.

 

[robertm]

I haven't watched any of it yet, but how do you know it's not biased or staged? There has been a trend for "shockumentaries" for a while now and I would hardly consider them unbiased or even accurate, so before I take the time to watch (since everyone is commenting on the length), I need more convincing that there's a reason to watch this or a reason to think the worst of the worst examples weren't staged or cherry-picked to make it seem worse than reality.

It has parts where there is some commentary but the majority of the film is straight footage of the 'normal' life in the camp. I assure you none of this is staged, these crazy would be doing they same exact things whether or not there was a camera there. That is the unbiased, and the horrible, part.

 

[lisab]

My daughter just ordered this film on Netflix - we'll watch it tonight. All this discussion (about the film, not the other stuff) has whet my appetite!

 

[seycyrus]

Ok, I'm watching it and some parts of it are even worse than I imagined. it's the little things that bother me mostly, the one lady raising her kids hands for them for example.

The thing is, some parts of the message are relevant, if they were not being used in this setting.

P.S. When the fat lady talks about "Fat lazy Christians", she *is* intentionally referring to herself. She is telling the kids that it is up to them to change the world, that the previous generation failed.

 

[GeorginaS]

It has parts where there is some commentary but the majority of the film is straight footage of the 'normal' life in the camp. I assure you none of this is staged, these crazy would be doing they same exact things whether or not there was a camera there. That is the unbiased, and the horrible, part.

I haven't watched the film yet either, so I'll reserve any direct comment, but I echo Moonbear's concerns, robertm. Lack of commentary notwithstanding, how can you "assure" us that "none of this is staged"? How are you able to deliver those assurances? How do you know, for certain, that specific bits of footage haven't been spliced together in such a way as to deliver maximum and/or biased effect?

 

[seycyrus]

I haven't watched the film yet either, so I'll reserve any direct comment, but I echo Moonbear's concerns, robertm. Lack of commentary notwithstanding, how can you "assure" us that "none of this is staged"? How are you able to deliver those assurances? How do you know, for certain, that specific bits of footage haven't been spliced together in such a way as to deliver maximum and/or biased effect?

The troubling footage is continuous, not segmented.

After 7 pages of google hits I could not find a singe hit that suggested that it was faked.

 

[robertm]

Hhhhmmmm... I guess I can't assure, that maybe was the wrong language. However by watching individual scenes that simply show exactly what the people are saying, doing, and HAVE BEEN saying and doing you can come to a conclusion about the camp independent of what the producer's intentions were.

A few links so you can decide for yourself without watching:

Here is the movie site:
http://www.jesuscampthemovie.com/"

A short wiki page on Becky Fisher, who runs the "Kids on Fire" camp featured in the movie:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becky_Fischer"

Kids on Fire was shut down do to negative reactions from this documetary. This is Fisher's new ministry:
http://www.kidsinministry.com/"

There are certain scenes in the movie witch cannot be portrayed in a biased manner, the simple fact is that regardless of what context, the people in the movie said and did the things they said and did. I urge you to watch the film and see for yourself. I cannot imagine that you will still disagree.

The picture of that poor little boy crying because he can not feel the holy spirit, is far more than enough for me to condemn these people. Their faith was literally tearing that boy's psyche apart, I can never forgive anyone for doing such an injustice to an innocent child.

 

[seycyrus]

This documentary would have been just as effective at exposing this lunacy without having to resort to the blatant political smear.

Show me some footage of some prominent republican's kids attending these camps before you start throwing down needless voiceovers.

 

[robertm]

Agreed seycyrus, one really should just skip the commentary sections and watch the camp footage, it speaks for itself.

 

[mcknia07]

I watched a few, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing...

 

[phyzmatix]

Poor kids...

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Extremism on every side...I think that's a valuable lesson for everyone who believes the one-sided media. Imagine what would you feel if someone tried to say that most Christians or Americans are that ignorant and radical...ridiculous right? that's how I feel when I talk to some people who are heavily influenced by the media.

Many Americans understand that. And I think that a great deal of progress has been made in educating the public about Islam. And to his credit, even Bush stated that we are in war with radicals and not everyone in or from the Middle East.

The real problem that we have in this regard are our own religious radicals. Unfortunately they have had far too much political influence in recent years. But hopefully that has run its course; we will put the nuts back in the can, and we can all start to move beyond this as a global community.

 

[jostpuur]

Anyone knowing facts about the how things are progressing? Is this extreme Christianity growing or not?

 

[Evo]

Anyone knowing facts about the how things are progressing? Is this extreme Christianity growing or not?

There does seem to have been in increase in the past few years. It's hard to put a number to them as they don't tend to list themselves as fanatics.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I have seen a number of stories that show that many fundamentalist groups have rejected their extremist ministers and brought in people who have a more traditional message. One guy who had a church following of thousands is now holding meetings at a Motel 6 or the like. The congregation asked him to leave after I think nearly twenty years.

Not long ago I posted one of those stories somewhere around here...

 

[Moonbear]

The troubling footage is continuous, not segmented.

That could just be very good video editing.

After 7 pages of google hits I could not find a singe hit that suggested that it was faked.

That just means the people watching are buying the claims, not that they are real.

Sorry, I just have to be skeptical anymore. There are just too many things out claiming to be documentaries that really aren't to just assume I can trust any of them at face value. I already know there are religious fanatics, so what could this add that makes it worth watching, or what gives it credence that it's not just another anti-religion or political statement. Just from what people are posting here, it sounds highly biased, so I don't understand the claims that it is unbiased. There are plenty of Christian summer camps and youth camps and retreats that would NEVER consider anything so bizarre as kissing the feet of a Bush cut-out figure, so what is the significance of a documentary portraying an odd one that does if not to bias people against religion?

 

[robertm]

Moonbear, I care not what the original purpose of the documentary was, when I saw the footage of that poor young boy crying his heart out b/c he thought he was the anti-christ that was plenty. I ask you how you would propose faking that?

If you don't want to watch the movie then don't, and maybe it is biased and it does certainly pose a political standpoint.

However, negating all the politics, the images and the things that literally come out of these peoples mouths are very powerful and very sad.

 

[jostpuur]

In the document one guy explained that he is a God believing person, and believes that there is a "special place" (he was talking about Hell) for those (the camp instructors) who mess with our children. The over all atmosphere didn't seem anti-religious to me.

In one scene a little girl criticizes ordinary churches for not being fanatic enough, claiming that the God is not present in boring churches like that.

 

[Strilanc]

That could just be very good video editing.
That just means the people watching are buying the claims, not that they are real.

Sorry, I just have to be skeptical anymore. There are just too many things out claiming to be documentaries that really aren't to just assume I can trust any of them at face value. I already know there are religious fanatics, so what could this add that makes it worth watching, or what gives it credence that it's not just another anti-religion or political statement. Just from what people are posting here, it sounds highly biased, so I don't understand the claims that it is unbiased. There are plenty of Christian summer camps and youth camps and retreats that would NEVER consider anything so bizarre as kissing the feet of a Bush cut-out figure, so what is the significance of a documentary portraying an odd one that does if not to bias people against religion?

I don't think the movie is making a statement about Christian's or Christian camps in general. It's just about one really messed up camp.

Even if the scenes have been cherry picked and the rest of camp time was spent normally, I would still consider the camp messed up. I think that's what people are referring to when they talk about 'not biased'.

 

[Evo]

First, I have attended one of these Evangelical prayer meetings. I went with an old High School friend that had been "born again" and wanted me to see how great it was. It was the biggest eye opener I've ever seen. Scary. No religion was discussed, what was discussed was their agenda that night was demanding the cancellation of tv shows that they objected to. They handed out letter templates and told everyone to use them as a basis for their letters and write as many as they could and sign different names, then bring them back the following week where volunteers would drive them to different areas to be mailed so that they wouldn't look too obvious. The pastor said that the broadcasting stations market research said that every 1 person that took the effort to write represented 10,000 others.

The only "prayer" in the prayer meeting was at the end when everyone was asked to close their eyes and "envison a dollar amount, of at least 20% of their annual income, or higher" and that is the amount that god wants them to donate to the church. And to remember that this is how you're going to get rich, for God has promised that ye shall reap more than ye shall sow, he guaranteed them profits of over 10 times what they gave to the church.

I work' with a Young Earth Creationist Fundamentalist like the people shown in this documentary. It's very real. Several people I work' with go to churches where they speak in tongues.

 

[robertm]

Really the way that they destroy science is almost as bad as what they do to the kids... No one who believes in a young Earth theory just can not see logic. I think they are really hurting these kids critical thinking skills by telling them how it is instead of just helping them think about it themselves. They are training them to accept evidence with no logical backing. That does not bode well for their futures...

 

[Gokul43201]

That just means the people watching are buying the claims, not that they are real.

That would also include the Oscar Academy. I imagine they did a reasonable vetting before nominating the thing for Best Documentary last year.

And what do you mean by "real"? Do you think the camp itself was faked or do you think it was just misrepresented?

1. The camp is very real: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003365311_jesuscamp08.html

The summer camp featured in the documentary "Jesus Camp," which includes scenes with disgraced preacher Ted Haggard, will shut down for at least several years because of negative reaction sparked by the film, according to the camp's director.

2. The documentary is mostly a fair depiction, with a couple scattered signs of bias. (see the wiki). The extent of the objection appears to be about three specific shots in the movie, which can as well be excised without changing the picture.

The pastor of Jesus Camp also runs a huge, growing organization called Kids in Ministry.
http://www.kidsinministry.com/

Some of their "learning kits" are quite crazy: http://www.kidsinministry.com/onlineresources/bloodvisualkit.php

And the child Evangelism movement itself is growing quite rapidly. There have been articles about them that I can dig up. But here's an interesting tidbit:http://www.christianpost.com/articl...bes_Give_Rise_to_Grade_School_Evangelists.htm

Children as young as nine years of age can now more effectively evangelize their friends thanks to the makers of the famous Evangecube and the evangelistic organization founded by the late televangelist Dr. D. James Kennedy.

 

[kyleb]

That could just be very good video editing.

...

That just means the people watching are buying the claims, not that they are real.

Kinda like footage of the moon landings?

Seriously, I respect rational scepticism, but what is the point of casting doubt on a film you haven't even bothered to watch?

 

[Moonbear]

Moonbear, I care not what the original purpose of the documentary was, when I saw the footage of that poor young boy crying his heart out b/c he thought he was the anti-christ that was plenty. I ask you how you would propose faking that?

Little kids can act and cry like any other actor. And there are a lot of parents who emotionally abuse their children in other ways as well. You'd have to live in a bubble not to know there are truly horrible parents in the world, and yes, plenty of them show up to church every Sunday and act the part of good Christians, but it doesn't mean the two are necessarily related. It's more revealing of the individuals in this group being particularly bad parents, and if the intention was to expose this single group as a group who is emotionally abusing children, great, call in the authorities and have them deal with it, just like some of those "boot camps" for troubled kids have been exposed for child neglect and abuse. But if it's meant to slur religious camps in general, then it's just another film intended to fester prejudices.

I've attended some prayer meeting type things that people have invited me to, mostly out of curiosity, and I know people who have gone on religious retreats and told me about their experiences, and most of it is about the same as you'd expect of some goofy support group, where they do silly things like go around in a circle and tell each other something good about the person next to them or the person across from them, or they have to share one good thing that happened to them that week. If you've ever watched the sit-com Dharma and Greg and seen the goofy hippie group things they do, it's a lot like that. It seems pretty lame, but isn't anything harmful, and if a child had issues with self-confidence, might even help. There is nothing political, nothing pressuring anyone to "feel the spirit" if they don't, mostly just going around affirming one another with positive things (it seemed to me that this was the main draw of the group, that a lot of these people had self-esteem problems and the feeling of belonging to a group that helped boost their confidence by welcoming everyone and saying nice things about them for an hour a week or however often they met is what kept them going back...it looked like a group therapy session). Nothing at all like what folks are describing of this one group.

 

[robertm]

Becky Fisher, the lady that ran the camp and is now running 'Kids In Ministry', states herself that the film is a good estimate of what the camp is all about. She also encourages all to watch it despite the negative feedback. Her and the producers of the film remained in close contact throughout the process and she approves of everything that the film shows. So that puts to rest your fears of a hoax or actors or showcasing.

NOTHING good could ever come from the kind of thinking that the evangelical movement promotes. It is only one small step from extremism.

Also this one group is not small, nor is it alone. This is not a tasteless slur or smear of religion and the propose of my post was not to do so. Regardless of what I personally may feel about all religions, my problems with what is shown is on a local scale with these individuals. If anyone makes a broad opinion of an enormous organization based on a single documentary then they are obviously not very intelligent. Read a little about the producers yourself and I think you will find that their purposes were far from a smear.

If you are still interested the JUST WATCH IT and see for your self. If you feel like you would be wasting your time then don't. But you can not expect to have a real opinion of it without even seeing it!

I consider myself to be fairly intelligent and I think I do not fall prey to emotional trappings so easily. After seeing the film, and I have seen many religious documentaries, I choose to post this one because I thought it not a tasteless smear but a very evocative case study.

Again, the film is a case study and DISREGARDING what the intentions of the film may have been, it shows in my opinion terrible crimes. After watching you still disagree, then great! More discussion!

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Note also the militant overtones. This "warriors for Christ" theme is consistent with perhaps the most ironic aspect of the modern extremist-christian cult movement - a lust for war. See the link at the link below. It is most enlightening. Note the drumbeat for war - Warriors for Christ!
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=189445

This is an incredibly dangerous cult movement that may or may not be dying.

But I do think that blaming this sort of thing on all religion is like blaming science for Hitler and his superior race. There are many devout Christians who are shocked and appalled by this stuff.

 

[robertm]

It is refreshing to see a person of the Christian faith who does not support evangelism. Thank you for not giving up your intelligence for the sake of a belief.

It makes since that there would be many christians apposed to this kind of radicalism. I guess I have a cynical view of Christianity as I grew up in the Southeast US and have had very few good encounters with religion.

My own mother threw me out of the house for a few days when she found out that I was an atheist...

 

[Hurkyl]

It is refreshing to see a person of the Christian faith who does not support evangelism.

I think you may have confused (Christian) evangelism with the various examples stupidity we see in this thread.

 

[Cyrus]

Note also the militant overtones. This "warriors for Christ" theme is consistent with perhaps the most ironic aspect of the modern extremist-christian cult movement - a lust for war. See the link at the link below. It is most enlightening. Note the drumbeat for war - Warriors for Christ!
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=189445

This is an incredibly dangerous cult movement that may or may not be dying.

But I do think that blaming this sort of thing on all religion is like blaming science for Hitler and his superior race. There are many devout Christians who are shocked and appalled by this stuff.

Dont you mean, shocked and awed?

 

[Evo]

Note also the militant overtones. This "warriors for Christ" theme is consistent with perhaps the most ironic aspect of the modern extremist-christian cult movement - a lust for war. See the link at the link below. It is most enlightening. Note the drumbeat for war - Warriors for Christ!
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=189445

This is an incredibly dangerous cult movement that may or may not be dying.

But I do think that blaming this sort of thing on all religion is like blaming science for Hitler and his superior race. There are many devout Christians who are shocked and appalled by this stuff.

Agreed, these people are an extreme fringe, but a growing fringe.

 

[Hurkyl]

Moonbear, I care not what the original purpose of the documentary was, when I saw the footage of that poor young boy crying his heart out b/c he thought he was the anti-christ that was plenty.
...
However, negating all the politics, the images and the things that literally come out of these peoples mouths are very powerful and very sad.

That's called propaganda. What you describe is an appeal to emotion -- the intent is to provoke a strong emotional response that shuts down your capability to reason through what you are hearing. You provide a textbook example of swallowing it hook, line, and sinker.

 

[robertm]

No I do know the difference. My opinion of both differ very little. I.e. one is a small step from the other

 

[robertm]

That's called propaganda. What you describe is an appeal to emotion -- the intent is to provoke a strong emotional response that shuts down your capability to reason through what you are hearing. You provide a textbook example of swallowing it hook, line, and sinker.

That boy was not crying to trick me. He was crying because he was hurt. Just because I feel an emotion response does not mean that I swallowed any bait...

Not to mention I do not base my opinions of the evangelical church solely on one source. I have had a long history of dealing with christians of this sort.