Jesus Camp

It’s important to know that each and every person will interpret films differently: what one person will see as politically correct, another will see as insulting. There are films throughout our history that have raised questions, and criticized activities that some Americans take place in. But what happens when the focus of criticism is a strong belief base that a majority of the population believes in? What happens when the criticism turns to the Christian religion, and relates it to politics? It’s hard to say how some people will take in this film. I hope that I can bring a somewhat un-bias opinion about it:

Jesus Camp is about a small Evangelical church in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. The film begins with Mike Papantonio beginning a radio show about the future of American children, and the influence of Christian religion on governmental policies. Papantonio opens with criticism, posing the question: what are these children really being taught? What are they really being influenced to do, and how does that relate to the general Christian belief system?

It’s hard for me to comment on the activities that are shown in the film as I’m not quite sure hot to present them. One of the most interesting facts about this documentary is that it has no narrator. The film makers thought that there was a chance a narrator would partisan the film, and thus, to protect the integrity of the film, they made it nothing but images and video of actual events that take place.

One of the most powerful moments in the film surround a group prayer at the get-away retreat located in North Dakota, USA. The youth pastor brought out a cardboard image of current US president George W. Bush, and led a group prayer, asking Jesus to help G. W. Bush save us from abortion, and what I will call “all other evil associated with non-evangelical beliefs.” I say this for two reasons: I don’t think it’s fair to single out a belief group in a film review, even if it relates directly to the film, and two, there were just too many.

Children are told that they are sinners for not doing exactly what Jesus has asked for them. It seemed to me that the majority of the film focused on crying children, and their passion for wanting forgiveness. The film makers focused around the curriculum of the program, and in particular, Becky Fischer, the youth pastor.

As a documentary, it does just what I want it to do: pose questions. The United States was founded in the principal of religious freedom; there is no question about this. In a direct quote from the film, most evangelicals believe “there are only two kinds of people in the world: those who love Jesus, and those who don’t.” The question is, even if this documentary is an example of extremism, what sort of message is it sending to future generations that participate. Currently in the United States there are 80 million Evangelical followers. This makes up roughly 28% of the American population. Is this a problem? I believe that’s the question the documentary is trying to express. What are the consequences when America’s youth, who have been told that “science has never explained anything,” reach the age to vote? Another direct quote, when speaking about childbirth, a youth pastor openly mocks science saying “They say we come from protoplasm, whatever that is!”

The question of this film isn’t whether their beliefs are right or wrong. The question it should pose is this: at what point have we overstepped the boundary of religion and government? At what point does telling a child they are going to go to Hell if they swear overstep the boundary of child abuse? It’s an interesting question to pose, and a scary one to think about. Again, trying to stay as non-partisan as possible, I can understand the flip argument as well: why are we not teaching our children the proper values needed to maintain a just and intelligent society.

Overall, the film had a very unbiased feeling to it, as it let everyone else do the talking. Though at times the commentary by radio host Mike Papantonio felt out of place, he seemed to redeem himself when he began posing questions to Becky on a radio interview. It’s one of those films that you have to see for yourself to believe, and afterwards, only you will be able to decide how you feel about it. My only recommendation to you is that you not avoid this film because of subject. Many people avoided Al Gore’s film about global warming on the sole basis that it was Al Gore, or that their parents believe he is a sham. How can one accurately understand a topic if all sides are not seen? It’s important for you to see this film, and any other film that presents the other side. It’s certainly for your consideration. 6.5 of 10.

Further Author Notes:

Now that I’ve completed my (as far as I can tell) nonbiased review, I have to share some things that I honestly feel about this situation. In 1935, a man with a very strong belief went to director Fritz Lang and asked him to produce on of the biggest films of all time. This film was to be called Triumph des Willens, or in English, Triumph of the Will. Please keep in mind that I am not trying to compare Evangelicals to Nazis. Please hear me out.

It is important to know the social impact of what power adult have by influencing their children. In the early 1930s, several political leaders began to point fingers at particular religious groups, and figureheads, blaming them from the problems in their country. Because the youth was so eager to find a solution, and because children are very easily influenced, a very bad idea was put into their head, leading to one of the world’s greatest wars in history.

This may not be of that extreme, but I find it very similar and equally dangerous. Are these particular Evangelical pastors taking advantage of children, and their futures? They have taught children to believe that Catholics are attending what they called “Dead Churches,” as they claim there is no faith base in them. I’m not catholic, but if I were, that’d be a pretty big insult to me. Furthermore, they point directly to the leftist, liberally aligned citizens and directly state that they are the cause of morality problem in American. Please illustrate to me how that is different than pointing to a religious group, and blaming them for social problems.

The boundary of religion and government has been weakening for years, and as stated in this film, the Evangelical movement is poised to break it. What will this do to the country whose primary reason for foundation was freedom of religious practice? What is America saying to the world? “Come on in, but make sure your part of the crew?” With the creation of super-churches, which hold thousands, what word are we really spreading?

I personally never share my religious beliefs as I find that they are the property of one person: myself. When someone approaches me with a bible in hand and a grin on their faces, I know that they only mean well. Who can argue that Christian beliefs are bad for society? But when these beliefs begin to encroach on the political nature of a country, and influence WORLD DECISIONS, it becomes a very dangerous action. All I ask is that this film be considered with each and every piece of evidence for either side. I personally believe that women have the right to choose what they do to their body.

I believe that people should have the right to choose which God, or no god, they believe in. But it seemed to me that this documentary illustrated one of the most dangerous movements in American history: the mentality of US and THEM. Once it becomes US and THEM, per past history of America, we tend to move towards drastic actions. Please, just please; consider the influence we all have over each other, and the problems that COULD exist if movements such as this continue. Jesus is not “training me to be a part of God’s army,” which is directly quoted from the entire congregation. Just pay attention to what is happening.