Jesus Camp

[DanGenck]

Has anyone else watched this documentary? I am watching it on A&E right now. VERY interesting.

Interested to know what others think about it...

[Steno]

haven't watched it myself, but i saw a bit on it on the news a while back. we have a place like that in walla walla - on the sign it says something about creating young zealots to lead the army of jesus or something scary like that.

if that's not creepy fundamentalism, i don't know what is.

[JW]

I find it interesting that you find it creepy that they talk about the "Army of Jesus".

From what I know about Jesus, He is charactarized by love, compassion, self-sacrifice, perserverance, Faith, and strength.

Not sure what is creepy about that, because if (and I know its a big if) these camps are teaching the qualities of Christ, then I pray that more camps like this pop up, because it would be great to have more people like this in the world.

Haven't seen the Documentary, but I am not naive to understand that there are people out their teaching falsely about the word of God. That is why i am spending time and money, to study and learn from some of the Best evangelical Christian Scholars in the world.

As Peter said when Christ asked if the 12 disciples were going to abandon Him, "Lord to whom shall we go, You have the words of eternal life."

Everyone be safe and blessed tonight.

[DanGenck]

The characteristics you list do not make me think "Army". I am confused as to why we should use the phrase "Army of Jesus". That is a direct attempt to politicize religion.

[Jana]

Youtube link to the trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_EKHK1C2IE

Apparently 7 year olds wear camo in Jesus' army. Isn't the whole point of Christianity that Jesus came back as a peaceful revolutionary who hung out with society's outcasts, instead of the conquering warrior that the Jews of the time expected in their Messiah?

"I pledge allegience to the Christian flag..." and Ted Haggard! and raping the earth! and Harry Potter is the devil!

[Jester]

I saw the movie a while back, and there is one line that really stuck with me - " I wanna see them (Christian kids) as radically laying down their lives for the Gospel as they are over in Pakistan and Israel and Palestine and all those different places, you know, because we have... excuse me, but we have the truth!"

It can be tough to watch, since the kids are all so eager to please their parents, and selective editing or not, most of the time is spent telling them how evil everything they think is.

Hilarious and tragic scene with Ted Haggard in there, too, from before his fall from grace.

[Beta]

This shows how messed up kids can be because of what their parents do to them.

Whether it's in sand, snow, or with spiked KoolAid in middle America.

[Zeuslax]

This shows how messed up kids can be because of what their parents do to them.

Whether it's in sand, snow, or with spiked KoolAid in middle America.

Amen to that!

[OAKS]

Jesus vs Jeezus

http://www.thepaincomics.com/weekly050504.htm

[Buc_em_up]

I think it is pretty sick how they make the kids feel guilty for being phonies or fakers to christ by doing things like hanging out with non-christers or thinking bad things then "save" them by washing their hands and helping them to see the light. every normal kid or person for that matter is going to have thoughts like the ones they criticise and it is terrible to make them feel guilty for being human. they even make them cry. its a typical brainwashing ploy if you ask me.

[JW]

right there with you Buc_em_up

[TheBearcatHimself]

I saw the movie a while back, and there is one line that really stuck with me - " I wanna see them (Christian kids) as radically laying down their lives for the Gospel as they are over in Pakistan and Israel and Palestine and all those different places, you know, because we have... excuse me, but we have the truth!"

This is a great quote. It is a very scary ideological shift when large segments of the population begin to think that sacrifice, war, and conflict are all natural and necessary.

It is important to note about this movie that it focuses on Pentecostal Evangelicals, this is a different denomination than most Evangelicals, even those of Ted Haggard. Pentecostals are the ones who believe you can speak in tongues (you can also see some Pentecostaliness in Borat).

While this movie does focus on a tiny population offshoot of Christianity (which I do not believe the movie tries to fully convey to the audience) this movie does bring up VERY important points about dogmatism and separation of church and state. I highly recommend seeing this movie, and if you have time to talk about it with someone you should. Fanatic religious zeal in all forms poses a serious threat to peaceful society.

Another note is that the main character, the pastor lady, I can't remember her name, but she fully supported the creation and wide release of this movie so as to further spread her small denominational offshoot of Pentecostalism. While she does not personally pose a serious threat, many of her words and ideas are reminiscent of the Ayatollah and other dangerous religious leaders.

[Buc_em_up]

The Pastor lady that you talk about has her own web site where she talks about how the produceres used selective editing to skew what she is really trying to do and a bunch of other things like that. I dont think they had to do too much to convince me that what she is doing is pretty f-ed up.

Also, the location where the camp had been held, in Devil's Lake, SD or something stopped leasing her the property after the film came out because there was a lot of vandalism that occured to the building. The owners were just trying to make a buck and vandalism isnt excusable either, but its just interesting.

[Zeuslax]

I'm very scared of anyone that thinks the earth was created 6,000 years ago. No offense to anyone on here!

[Jana]

Conspiracy theories are very popular in this country, and very popular for people who like to see themselves as "under siege" and "victimized", which gets preached from fundamentalist pulpits every sunday. Yeah, it's oppressive here in the US, being a Christian. Such an oppressed minority.