“THE JESUS CAMP”: Through the Eyes of an Atheist
Observations by Niknan
Watch it here: http://tinyurl.com/d8ctvs
This film SCARRED me. Moreover, I had to remind myself that it wasn’t a film, but a documentary – documenting events happening in the richest nation on Earth. This was happening in the United States! I also have come to the conclusion that what these people are practicing is not religion. As far as I know, it’s far from the peace, love, acceptance, and harmony taught at the core of each belief – Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, AND atheism.
Observations by Niknan
Watch it here: http://tinyurl.com/d8ctvs
This film SCARRED me. Moreover, I had to remind myself that it wasn’t a film, but a documentary – documenting events happening in the richest nation on Earth. This was happening in the United States! I also have come to the conclusion that what these people are practicing is not religion. As far as I know, it’s far from the peace, love, acceptance, and harmony taught at the core of each belief – Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, AND atheism.
An atheist ponders religion.
Nonetheless, I would like to provide a critique of the community/sect/cult presented in the film. I provide that this critique, like the documentary, will appeal to both conservatives and liberals. But I will NOT restrain any of my own opinions for the sake of being less offensive.
Subjects: Becky Fischer, Kids in Ministry International , leader of the “Jesus Camp”
Levi, a 12 year old boy with ambitions of becoming a preacher
Rachael, an 8-ish year old “mall missionary”
Mike Papantonio, a radio host critical of the Christian right, provides a moderate perspective – a voice of reason.
RECURRING THEMES:
1. MILITANTISM
The documentary opens up with a “song and dance” program held at the Christ Triumphant Church. The children are wearing Military camouflage with their faces painted. They brandish sticks and dance to lyrics: “Arise, Arise…He will shake the nation”. This image is enforced throughout the documentary’s 90 minutes as Fischer calls for a generation of Christians to retake America for Christ. She calls for an army of Christians to counter the Muslims in “Pakistan, Israel, and Palestine.”
This is troubling. It’s extremely difficult not to see the similarities between these camo-covered children and those children seen on rough archived video of Al Qaeda training its militants. In fact, this form of militant Christianity is much more powerful than Al Qaeda’s; it had the Bush Administration’s blessings and also those of Ted Haggard (weekly advisor of Bush). Further, this Christian right has the money and resources to achieve its goals, whatever they might be.
2. PRAYING IN TONGUES TO “HOOK UP WITH THE SPIRIT”
This act has shown up multiple times in the documentary, yet I am still not clear what it achieves. If only those hundreds of children took the opportunity to learn a real language to “hook up with” real people – our world would be a more peaceful place.
3. INDOCTRINATION
“I can go into a playground of kids that don’t know anything about Christianity, lead them to the Lord in a matter of just no time at all. And just moments later they can be seeing visions and hearing the voice of god because they’re so open. They are so usable in Christianity.” – Becky Fischer
This is disturbing enough and doesn’t need commentary.
4. POLITICIZATION
“President Bush…has brought some real credibility to the Christian faith.” – Becky Fischer
President Bush plays a huge role in the lives of this community, although he never actually appears personally. We see his picture posted on a family’s refrigerator. We see a life-size cardboard cutout of Bush being brought to a podium and being blessed by hundreds of children. Seriously… if you need Bush to bring credibility to your faith, there is 1) something wrong in your faith or 2) something beautiful in Bush. Your choice.
The documentary also shows families at Ted Haggard’s evangelical church in Colorado Springs. Levi, the ambitious preacher, is in awe of Haggard and speaks with him personally after the sermon. Haggard then continues to explain how “kids love the Evangelical message” and how churches like his can “sway every election.”
Ironically, in 2006 Haggard was removed from leadership positions after soliciting a male prostitute and dealing with meth. Not exactly the winner of “Evangelical Idol.”
5. WAR AGAINST SCIENCE
“If you look at Creationism, you realize it’s the only possible answer to all the questions.”
“Science doesn’t prove anything.”
– Mother of home-schooled Levi.
I was very confused by these comments. Overgeneralizations aside, I assume that when one says that Creationism has all the answers, we are entering into the cycle of circular Biblical reasoning. The Bible might provide a story, but not facts. Science provides facts which must be built into a story.
Subjects: Becky Fischer, Kids in Ministry International , leader of the “Jesus Camp”
Levi, a 12 year old boy with ambitions of becoming a preacher
Rachael, an 8-ish year old “mall missionary”
Mike Papantonio, a radio host critical of the Christian right, provides a moderate perspective – a voice of reason.
RECURRING THEMES:
1. MILITANTISM
The documentary opens up with a “song and dance” program held at the Christ Triumphant Church. The children are wearing Military camouflage with their faces painted. They brandish sticks and dance to lyrics: “Arise, Arise…He will shake the nation”. This image is enforced throughout the documentary’s 90 minutes as Fischer calls for a generation of Christians to retake America for Christ. She calls for an army of Christians to counter the Muslims in “Pakistan, Israel, and Palestine.”
This is troubling. It’s extremely difficult not to see the similarities between these camo-covered children and those children seen on rough archived video of Al Qaeda training its militants. In fact, this form of militant Christianity is much more powerful than Al Qaeda’s; it had the Bush Administration’s blessings and also those of Ted Haggard (weekly advisor of Bush). Further, this Christian right has the money and resources to achieve its goals, whatever they might be.
2. PRAYING IN TONGUES TO “HOOK UP WITH THE SPIRIT”
This act has shown up multiple times in the documentary, yet I am still not clear what it achieves. If only those hundreds of children took the opportunity to learn a real language to “hook up with” real people – our world would be a more peaceful place.
3. INDOCTRINATION
“I can go into a playground of kids that don’t know anything about Christianity, lead them to the Lord in a matter of just no time at all. And just moments later they can be seeing visions and hearing the voice of god because they’re so open. They are so usable in Christianity.” – Becky Fischer
This is disturbing enough and doesn’t need commentary.
4. POLITICIZATION
“President Bush…has brought some real credibility to the Christian faith.” – Becky Fischer
President Bush plays a huge role in the lives of this community, although he never actually appears personally. We see his picture posted on a family’s refrigerator. We see a life-size cardboard cutout of Bush being brought to a podium and being blessed by hundreds of children. Seriously… if you need Bush to bring credibility to your faith, there is 1) something wrong in your faith or 2) something beautiful in Bush. Your choice.
The documentary also shows families at Ted Haggard’s evangelical church in Colorado Springs. Levi, the ambitious preacher, is in awe of Haggard and speaks with him personally after the sermon. Haggard then continues to explain how “kids love the Evangelical message” and how churches like his can “sway every election.”
Ironically, in 2006 Haggard was removed from leadership positions after soliciting a male prostitute and dealing with meth. Not exactly the winner of “Evangelical Idol.”
5. WAR AGAINST SCIENCE
“If you look at Creationism, you realize it’s the only possible answer to all the questions.”
“Science doesn’t prove anything.”
– Mother of home-schooled Levi.
I was very confused by these comments. Overgeneralizations aside, I assume that when one says that Creationism has all the answers, we are entering into the cycle of circular Biblical reasoning. The Bible might provide a story, but not facts. Science provides facts which must be built into a story.
Let’s take into account that the Ancient Egyptians believed the flooding of the Nile was attributed to God. We no longer believe so because of a certain level of scientific attainment (satellites, radars, patterns, etc). In fact, we find such reasoning foolish and naïve. We now have reasons; we now know that floods are not random acts of God. I am sure that generations of the future will find today’s religion just as foolish and simplistic as we find those of the Ancient Romans or Greeks.
6. “WE HAVE THE TRUTH” RHETORIC
Having never been a part of the “Judeo-Christian” heritage, it’s this supercilious sentiment which I find most harmful to our world. As an outsider, I don’t see why people can’t be content with their own beliefs rather than trying to force them on others as well. It’s a question of quality over quantity.
A scene at a bowling alley, shows Rachael praying as she bowls the ball. While waiting for her turn to bowl, we also see her reading a Christian tract. Although I don’t agree with this, I found it as acceptable private practice of religion. But this sentiment changed when Rachael walked over to the neighboring lane and handed the tract to a woman in her twenties claiming that:
“God’s just telling me that you’re on his mind and that he wants to take you…and love on you and he has special plans for you.”
Rachael then returns to her father and proudly explained how God drew her to the woman. Needless to say, the father was full of smiles and encouragement for his missionary daughter.
ONE FINAL NOTE:
Interestingly, when Levi attended Ted Haggard’s church and rock concert, he was wearing a black shirt with a clear image of the Taj Mahal on both the front and the back. Has anyone explained to him and his family that the Taj Mahal was built as a monument for eternal love by a MUSLIM Mughal Emperor *gasp*!!! Burn that shirt!!! Cleanse his soul of Satan!!!
CONCLUSION
Overall, this documentary opens Americans to the radical extremists in their own nation. It asks the religious moderates to debate the radical factions of their faith. And it asks the nonreligious to cooperate with the moderates in order to preserve America’s image of secularity.
Personally, knowing that a cult faction of the extreme right is intent on a twenty-first century Manifest Destiny is not comforting.
Moreover, in a globalized society, a United States overcome by such Evangelical rhetoric in practice will be unsustainable. And we were witness to only the tip of the iceberg under the Bush Administration.
Rather, we must lose the ethocentricity and xenophobia which have conquered the nation for the past decade. And bring together once again the fractured society of the United States to its original, intended equilibrium.
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