 Synopsis:
There have been a
number of documentaries on religion, but none so
powerful as Jesus Camp. Jesus Camp follows
the lives of several young children as they
prepare to attend a summer camp for evangelical
Christians. There isn't a commentary
telling you how to feel about what you're seeing
and there doesn't need to be. The power of
the subjects in the film is absorbing enough.
The Freak's Rating: A : I don't come from an
extremely conservative home, but I was taught
that there are a two things you aren't supposed
to discuss with family and friends...religion
and politics. During the 2004 Presidential
election and throughout the first 4 years of
George W Bush's presidency, these taboo subjects
were intertwined in the oval office. This
country's President claimed to be a devout
Christian. I remember at a new member
orientation, senior members of our church
saying, "If you're a Christian, it seems easy to
decide which way you'll vote". I couldn't
believe this and it nearly made me reconsider my
church home. I vote both directions, but I
feel there are Christians on both sides of the
isle so I took offense.
Jen & I are pleased to
call Christ Community Church our home. It
is a wonderful church in which we feel we truly
grow in our faith. When I heard there was
a powerful documentary on people who called
themselves evangelicals, I took a strong
interest.
The sadness that comes
from this film is that the messages these people
are trying to teach aren't 100% bad.
However, these are some extremely misinformed
leaders. The Bible teaches that pastors
and people of authority should be near perfect
in action. Now that is a lot of pressure
and I wouldn't expect perfection, but I would
expect accurate representation of the scripture.
This film showcases these uneducated leaders and
shows you the devastating influence they can
have on a child's life.
I believe there is a
special place in hell for those who exploit
children. Those who say there is bias,
take note that Becky Fischer, who administers
the camp, gave her approval on the final cut of
this film. To take a child, so innocent
and pure in thought and manipulate them into
your way of thinking is to rob them of their
childhood. In this film, you'll see
children burst into tears while praying for
"righteous" Supreme Court justices to be
elected, hold models of aborted fetuses praying
for an end to abortion, speak in tongues on
command, participate in anti-abortion rallies in
the nation's capital, and pray at the feet of a
cardboard standee of President Bush, praising
him in his good work and wishing him well acting
as "a hand of God".
Hearing
a twelve year old say that he was saved at 5
years old because he "wanted more out of life"
makes me want to shake him and his parents.
At 5 I believe I was still playing with dirt.
Christians are going to have a tough time
aligning themselves with these teachings.
I know a family who outlaws non-Christian movies
for their kids. I know a family who
believes Harry Potter is evil. Though I
feel they are raising their children in a
dangerous bubble, I think they are entitled to
their methodology. However, I wouldn't
send my children to a camp where they are the
authority figures, and that is the real problem
here.
Defending your faith is
more difficult each day. Freaks come out
of the woodwork and make it harder and harder to
be a Christian. Films like Jesus Camp will
be used to combat Christianity, not strengthen
it. How can you stand by a priest when
they are caught molesting children? How
can you call Ted Haggard your superior when his
hypocrisy is shown on a national stage?
This is an amazing film in
every sense of the word. Your jaw will
drop multiple times in awe of what you're
seeing. If it doesn't, you should see a
counselor of some sort. Jesus Camp is the
best documentary I have seen in years. It
sticks with you long afterwards. If you're
a non-Christian, see it and know that we aren't
all like this. If you are a Christian, see
it and realize just what we're up against in
bringing others to Christ. The biggest
obstacle in our way may be other people who
think they are just like us.
Leah's Rating: B :
Okay, this is a movie that made me mad, frustrated, shocked,
discouraged, and at times question my own faith... I'm still happy I saw it
because it gave me an inside peek into what I think as extreme "christianity".
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