By Jeff Hartke, September 21, 2006
The power, sincerity and clumsiness of absolute faith are the
subject of Jesus Camp (JSCMP), an excellent documentary from
the team that brought us The Boys from Baraka. While most of
the attention will be focused on the link between faith and political
action, the documentary is also notable for its disclosure of the
self-contained world of Evangelical Christianity. Visually
expressive and for the most part evenhanded, the film should
appeal to people looking to understand more about this American
social scene.
“Culture War” is a phrase often on the lips of the Christian Right,
and which is considered completely apt. For they believe that their
values are under assault from a variety of sources that are
secular, liberal, even explicitly anti-Christian. To this end they
believe they have been fighting a defensive struggle against
gigantic forces, and that at long last the tide is turning. Now, more
than ever, they feel there is a need for soldiers.
Pastor Becky Fischer’s mission is aimed specifically at children,
preferably as young as possible. With perfect frankness she
explains the logic behind her choice. One third of the world’s
population is under 15 years of age. Lessons learned by age
seven are likely to stick with you your whole life. Plus she has a
wary admiration for Islam, which she believes is successful due to
the early religious indoctrination of children. So she has created
her “Kids on Fire” summer camp as a training ground for future
activists – “God’s Army” – in the culture wars.
Among these soldiers are Levi, Rachael and Tory, the children
who are the focus of the film. All are bright, outward, serious kids
who are absolutely committed to their religious lives. And why
wouldn’t they be? Their home life – all of which includes home
schooling – revolves around worship. Even the simple rituals of
the school day take a new form. For example we see Tory and her
brothers pledging allegiance to the Christian flag, and to the
Bible, both of which apparently require the presence of the flag of
Israel.
The bulk of the film introduces us to their lives and the time that is
spent at the Kids on Fire summer camp. Many of the activities are
familiar to us, like go-cart racing and exploring the nearby woods.
Others will not be, including the extensive political training – or
indoctrination, depending on your point of view. This includes
some very serious lectures on abortion, the need for “good
judges” and praise for President Bush.
This last point will probably raise the most controversy. At one
point an adult brings before the kids a life-size cutout of the
President. She asks the children to greet the President and then
directs them to offer up their prayers on his behalf. The sight of a
hundred kids on their knees and caught up in the emotion of the
Pentecostal rite, bowed before a cardboard effigy of President
Bush, is powerful and disturbing.
Interspersed throughout the documentary are scenes of Mike
Papantonio and his Air America radio broadcast. Papantonio, a
lawyer and Methodist, has a show that discusses religion and
American culture, and represents a middle ground of faith
reconciled with democracy. Again and again he makes the point
that the Religious Right are working hard to elect “people that
they are comfortable with” and that they are succeeding. Soon, he
fears, the tipping point will be reached and power will pass into
their hands.
Why is this a concern? The end of the program features a
conversation between Papantonio and Pastor Fischer, in which he
accuses her of indoctrinating the children. She does not deny the
charge, but argues that instilling the word of God is worth it. When
asked if such training is opposed to the concepts of democracy,
she replies “Democracy is the best system invented by men. But it
is just that of men, we seek to replace it with God’s rule.”
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| News Papers |
| There are several 100 news papers and Internet news stories so it is imposable to have the all here on Jesus Camp. |
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| Kids in Ministry. Becky's Web Site |