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| Movie Review: Jesus Camp Alternate Title: Onward Christian Toddlers
Story: Oy vey! Look out - the
fundamentalist Evangelical movement has a new wing in its organization.
Documentarians Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
(The Boys of Baraka) deliver a sobering look at what is going
on in this molding of young minds' movement. Children's minister Becky Fischer
operates a summer camp for kids at Devil's Lake (I found the location
name ironic), ND. The kids, as young as six (I saw some who sure looked
younger) are taught to become little Christian soldiers in God's army.
The training includes the often used tools of fear, shame, guilt and
humiliation to help indoctrinate the already impressionable kids. Along
with lectures on sin and punishment these kids line up willingly to
go out and spread Jesus' message (or at least the message according
to their interpretation). Contrary to what Minister Becky Fischer says,
the message morphs into far right wing politics when it includes lectures
on the sins of abortion and praying to a cardboard cutout of George
W. Bush (I kid you not). The first third of the film follows three of
the kids who are featured before they go to the camp. We get to see
their home lives (most home schooled) by their fire breathing mothers.
Fascinating. We see their rooms, the books they read and the videos
they are allowed to watch (mostly on Creationism and the fallacy of
global warming). I would like to see how these kids turn out to be in
say, 15 years, after puberty strikes and they venture out into the big
wide world. The lone voice of opposition is from Mike
Papantonio, from Air America Radio's Ring of Fire.
This is a disturbing film and should not be missed. These 30 million
or so Evangelicals are a huge voting block. The televangelist Ted
Haggard, who operates mega churches out of Colorado Springs,
looks into the camera and warns the viewer as to the potential power
of this block. Scary stuff, indeed. Acting: It is hard to tell if the kids were all in
a religious fervor and speaking in tongues. But it sure looked real.
Predilection: None other than my like of documentaries. Food: I don't remember any eating.
Soundtrack: Ominous music but it seemed to be coming
from the church itself.
Theater Audience: About a dozen wide eyed viewers
like me.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 2
Squirm Scale: High - I do not like to see children
used in any way.
Drift Factor: No drifting for me. Oscar Worthy: No
Soap Box: I am a big advocate of separation of church
and state. I also believe in evolution, global warming and the public
school system as opposed to home schooling.
Big Screen or Rental: Either will scare you. Length: 100 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 7
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