Jesus Camp - Watching Kids on Fire
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady's Documentary of an Evangelical Retreat
Mike Papantonio of Air America begins this documentary, discussing the blurring of lines between religion and government. It is a fitting way to start this film, which discusses the way religion has become a divisive factor in American politics. Papantonio, himself raised Christian, makes no quarrel with the faith, but rather with the new aggressive and hostile manner in which it is being used to drive a wedge between different Americans.
Becky Fischer is a sincere woman who obviously believes she is leading a war against the "enemy," which seems to change from Islam to the U.S. government. In one scene, the children are given a hammer and told to destroy a cup with "government" written on it, after being told that the evil "government" took Jesus out of their schools. Of course, most of these kids may well be home-schooled, which means school policy does not impact them but this keeps them even more in a closed system. The screen flashes varying statistics on it, one telling us that there are 80 million evangelicals in the U.S. and another that 75% of homeschooled kids in this country are Evangelicals. Soon we are watching as a homeschooling mother teaches her child that "science doesn't prove anything." Her child agrees.
Jesus Camp Looks at A Rising Movement
The portrayal of Jesus Camps seems designed as a symbol of the rise of New Evangelicals in the 21st century. President George W. Bush is shown in a cardboard cutout and the children at camp are told to bless him and pray for him. He is praised for opening the door to Christianity and giving the faith substantial validity in the country. At one point, a teacher tells the kids that if Harry Potter were there, he should be "put to death," a rather frightening concept from the religion of "love one another." But conflicted ideology does not seem to hamper anyone in this film. In fact, it is the sincerity and dedication to their faith that is the most touching as well as appalling aspect of this film.
The children at the camp are encouraged to "give up their lives" to Christ. One young girl says that once you decide to die for Christ, you are excited but at peace. "Repent, repent" these tiny children are told as tears stream down their cheeks. Why on earth does a six year old have to repent? Even when adults are exhorting them about abortion, it is hard not to wince, since such concepts are above the ability of such young people to understand in their full complexities; one wonders if their leaders are unable as well with such fundamentalist approaches to indoctrination as seen in this documentary. But the obvious dedication of the participants to their belief system is apparent throughout the documentary.
Ewing and Grady's Documentary: Danger in Religious Fundamentalism
A good use of music and closeups of the kids makes this a moving film. It does get a bit tedious to watch as one hears endless indoctrination and can only imagine how much "fun" the camp could possibly be for these kids. The children seem to try so very hard to please the adults, by shaking on the ground, reaching for the sky, uttering gibberish in tongues, or crying out for redemption, yet the adults seem rather unconcerned if any of this is age appropriate; they have much larger concerns. The "boot camp" type techniques might be better saved for older kids or better yet, adults who are free to leave the premises if they wish. For most of these kids, they will get the same at home. Submission is the magic word. Watching kids have bright red tapes reading "LIFE" taped over their mouths was a little too close to a projection of what the camp was about: teach the kids to fear life, hate the world, and be ready to die upon command.
Be sure to watch until the end of the credits, for a view of what the camp has created. If you are an Evangelical, you may love it, but most people will find it a bit disturbing. Not for fun viewing but a pretty accurate and respectful view of radical Evangelicals.
- 84 minutes
- A&E Indie Films
- Magnolia Pictures
- Loki Films
- Nominee, Academy Award, Best Documentary
Jesus Camp
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