Jesus Camp
by Pete Aleksa
Jesus Camp is the new documentary by directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (known for their acclaimed 2005 film The Boys of Baraka) that offers a frightening look into the spawning of a fanatical new generation in the Evangelical Christian movement. Winner of the Special Jury ward at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, Magnolia Pictures is releasing the film in time for the flurry of political discussion leading up to one of the more decisive and divisive midterm elections in recent history.
The opening scene of Jesus Camp propels us into the rural suburban landscape from which the Evangelical movement gathers strength. Tracking shots travel down highways filled with trucks and billboards that offer both cheap food and promises of salvation; to a land of McDonald’s and megachurches. Where Evangelical parents home school their kids, teaching them that evolution and science in general are nothing more than myths. Where families say the pledge of allegiance to the Christian flag. This is where Pastor Becky Fischer, an Evangelical children’s minister preaches and recruits children for her “Kids on Fire” summer camp in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota.
The directors, for their part, do an excellent job to depict their subjects accurately and objectively, letting the overtly political overtones of the “Kids on Fire” group speak for themselves. Pastor Fischer claims that she wants to see children, “radically laying down their lives for the Gospel, because, hello, we have the truth!” Continuing, “We’ve got to stand up and take back the land.” Still, to her credit, Pastor Fischer, demonstrates a phenomenal understanding of how to reach children of the information age, the sight and sound generation, using a collection of Barbie dolls, jell-o mold brains, toy scythes, and various multimedia presentations in order to preach her message to the children. And the children themselves come across as bright, articulate, and engaging, and one can’t help but marvel at the depth of their faith and conviction.
But, as the group is engaged in frenzied prayer, brought to tears, screaming for the appointment of “righteous judges”, and being told, “This means war! Take these prophecies and make war with them!” one can’t help but make the association between the Kids on Fire and the Hitler Youth videos of the 1930s. This is a characterization, however, that the directors are not entirely comfortable with. “If we thought that these kids were interested in or capable of violence, or were blowing themselves up in front of abortion clinics, then we wouldn’t have made this film. We wouldn’t have wanted to give a platform to people who advocate violence,” responds director Heidi Ewing. “The most powerful thing this community has is to unify and vote as a bloc, and that is more powerful in a way, because it effects generations of people.”
In order to create a narrative amidst these one sided arguments of the Evangelists, the directors intersperse segments that feature broadcasts by radio host Mike Papantonio, an outspoken critic of the Evangelical movement. In doing so, the directors do an excellent job of framing, in the minds of the audience, the conversation that never truly takes place on the screen. Papantonio’s commentary voices the questions that the film seeks to explore, questions about the ramifications of the continued expansion of the evangelical movement and the ethics of indoctrinating children. “What we’re really hoping to do with this film is to spawn dialogue,” states Rachel Grady.
Jesus Camp opens September 22nd at the Angelika Film Center and Empire 25 Theaters in New York, and in various cities around the country.
Jesus Camp is the new documentary by directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (known for their acclaimed 2005 film The Boys of Baraka) that offers a frightening look into the spawning of a fanatical new generation in the Evangelical Christian movement. Winner of the Special Jury ward at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, Magnolia Pictures is releasing the film in time for the flurry of political discussion leading up to one of the more decisive and divisive midterm elections in recent history.The opening scene of Jesus Camp propels us into the rural suburban landscape from which the Evangelical movement gathers strength. Tracking shots travel down highways filled with trucks and billboards that offer both cheap food and promises of salvation; to a land of McDonald’s and megachurches. Where Evangelical parents home school their kids, teaching them that evolution and science in general are nothing more than myths. Where families say the pledge of allegiance to the Christian flag. This is where Pastor Becky Fischer, an Evangelical children’s minister preaches and recruits children for her “Kids on Fire” summer camp in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota.
The directors, for their part, do an excellent job to depict their subjects accurately and objectively, letting the overtly political overtones of the “Kids on Fire” group speak for themselves. Pastor Fischer claims that she wants to see children, “radically laying down their lives for the Gospel, because, hello, we have the truth!” Continuing, “We’ve got to stand up and take back the land.” Still, to her credit, Pastor Fischer, demonstrates a phenomenal understanding of how to reach children of the information age, the sight and sound generation, using a collection of Barbie dolls, jell-o mold brains, toy scythes, and various multimedia presentations in order to preach her message to the children. And the children themselves come across as bright, articulate, and engaging, and one can’t help but marvel at the depth of their faith and conviction.
But, as the group is engaged in frenzied prayer, brought to tears, screaming for the appointment of “righteous judges”, and being told, “This means war! Take these prophecies and make war with them!” one can’t help but make the association between the Kids on Fire and the Hitler Youth videos of the 1930s. This is a characterization, however, that the directors are not entirely comfortable with. “If we thought that these kids were interested in or capable of violence, or were blowing themselves up in front of abortion clinics, then we wouldn’t have made this film. We wouldn’t have wanted to give a platform to people who advocate violence,” responds director Heidi Ewing. “The most powerful thing this community has is to unify and vote as a bloc, and that is more powerful in a way, because it effects generations of people.”
In order to create a narrative amidst these one sided arguments of the Evangelists, the directors intersperse segments that feature broadcasts by radio host Mike Papantonio, an outspoken critic of the Evangelical movement. In doing so, the directors do an excellent job of framing, in the minds of the audience, the conversation that never truly takes place on the screen. Papantonio’s commentary voices the questions that the film seeks to explore, questions about the ramifications of the continued expansion of the evangelical movement and the ethics of indoctrinating children. “What we’re really hoping to do with this film is to spawn dialogue,” states Rachel Grady.
Jesus Camp opens September 22nd at the Angelika Film Center and Empire 25 Theaters in New York, and in various cities around the country.
Labels: angelika, award, baraka, camp, documentary, evangelical, independent film, jesus, kids on fire, middle america, new york, nyc, review, wal-mart
posted by petebfd at 10:34 AM
1 Comments:
Though some of these people may be sincere and may align with fundamental core doctrines of Christianity, they are sincerely mistaken as to Biblical Christianity. Any intelligent person could read the Bile for themselves and see that the Christianity represented there, through the teachings of Jesus, and the letters of the apostles, along with historical narrative of the life of Christianity in its beginning, is marked by soberness. There is not the taste of the bizarre in Biblical Christianity.
Even if you don't believe in "Christianity" you have to admit that there is a gross disconnect from what you read in the Bible and a large part of mainstream "evangelical" Christianity. I cannot speak for the souls of the people in this film.
It is possible that some of these could very well be truly regenerated Christians; however, it is possible that they are very sadly mistaken on some doctrine and practice of Biblical Christianity. It is unfair to look at this and then base one's understanding of Christianity as a whole on this. True Christianity, in both doctrine and practice, is found, in its purest form, in the Bible (KJV version is arguably the most time-tested, safest, and accurate English translation). Wherever anyone that calls themselves Christian does not follow the Bible, is right where that one departs from true Christianity.
So many people that call themselves Christians do not manifest the Spirit of Christ. Often people use the name of Christ for their own pursuits without truly dying to themselves and allowing His Spirit to live through them. God help all those that call themselves Christians to live as Christ lived so that the name of Jesus and Christianity doesn't have needless reproach heaped upon itself.
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