Parents need to know that this documentary is an outsider's look at members of the Evangelical Christian church. While it shows a Christian radio deejay who opposes what the church stands for, it does it rather respectfully. Parents should be warned, however, that there are many scenes of kids caught up in religious fervor where they look very distressed and are crying, speaking in tongues, and professing to the group that they have sinned. There is also a scene where a right-to-life advocate hands out small infant figures to the kids, tapes their mouths shut, and encourages them to express their sadness and outrage. One child says that she thinks God only comes to a church like hers. One parent home-schools her child and explains why evolution is wrong. A family recites a revised version of the Pledge of Allegiance with many mentions of God, and at one church meeting a life-size cardboard cut-out of President Bush is brought to the stage and everyone is encouraged to pray over the president, and over more conservative Supreme Court nominees.
Positive messages:The church members aren't all white, but they are openly exclusionary otherwise -- no alternative lifestyles allowed here, this religion is the "right" one, and evolution is wrong.
Violence:Kids get distressed and cry in religious fervor. In one scene their mouths are covered in tape as part of a protest. A right-to-life advocate talks about how many children abortions have killed since Roe v. Wade.
ok. Evolution is wrong, but Fundamentalist Christianity is REALLY stupid. Im an evangelical and I know God exists, but these peoples aren't Christians, they are just cults making up a bunch of lies. These people are liars. I'm sorry for this profanity but man this film makes me that mad!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This movie has NOTHING wrong with it, just because you don't believe in them does not mean it is bad, again it has nothing wrong and these people need to simply shut there mouth, I rated this 1 star though because I'm a agnostic.
Why is it that as soon as I saw the title, I knew that I would have a bone to pick?
First off! It is called Jesus Camp. I'm guessing no Jew or Muslims can watch this movie? (not joking. I really am Jewish)
Anyway, this movie made me want to rip my eyes and ears off. Even if I were Christian, I would not do that whole, anything new is of the Devil stuff. This was a very one-sided film, and discoureged me more than it encouraged me.
My daughter and I watched this movie together when she was 13 years old. We were both fascinated by it, and seeing it gave her the idea that "documentaries" film category is something to check out, rather than to dismiss as boring.
This movie was a good starting point for us to discuss varieties of religious belief, education, and point of view (e.g., what do you think that the film maker thinks about this type of religion, and what makes you think that?).
I don't think that very many kids under 13 or so would find this interesting.
I am an Evangelical Christian and proud of it. Our youth band has played at many of these camps and the "religious fervor" that is being experienced here is a beautiful and moving experience. I've seen it, I've been in it. I don't know what this denomination is but I would like to let everyone know that not all Evangelical Christians are like this. While I do not support abortion, I most certainly believe in evolution. I am so far left on the political scale that I am a breath away from Socialist. I most certainly did NOT support the political views of the previous administration, and once again, I am a practicing Evangelical Christian. Spreading a stereotype that is dangerous to my Faith and I have to speak out against that being spread.
Not a great work of documentary film making, but an eye opening look into a world few of us really see . . . but one that plays a big role in the politics of the current administration. What I found most intriguing is the furvor behind the training of these children. Had the woman in charge of the camp told them to commit acts of terror in the name of Jesus, these kids would have . . . this is how you train a jhihadist.
Mature, enlightening documentary is not without flaws...
This documentary is enlightening, but also very mature. Those who watch it need to be old enough to understand the issues discussed. Understanding the slant of the filmaker is also key. This movie was filmed from a liberal perspective. While I agree with a more liberal perspective, I still want to know all sides of the story. Make sure you (and your kids) are comfortable with this viewpoint before you watch it.
I realize that these people are extremists and that in no religion do most people act like this, but this is the reason we would be better off with no religion, because it only takes a handful of people to turn children into sadists who are willing to do anything in the name of their beliefs
Fist off let me say that not all evalgelical christians act in such a manner. This was a very interecting "documentary" into the lives of some very wacked people, their drive for a perfect lifestyle in the face of God has forced them to push everything else away. Its really selfish, I know that this movie will spark dedate in most churchs accross the nation.
I do not recamend this movie for someone under the age of about 14, simply too much to comprehend at one time.
This is a culture shock movie, one has to enter the theater knowing that they are going to see strange behaior.
truly shows the extremes of some people and all older should watch , but the younger audience will not understand. Mothers and Fathers or any one over the age of intellectual value need to see that kids will become the future and that may be good depending on how you raise them.
A must-see in my opinion. I am apalled that I let one of my children go on "vacation" with a friend once, and they actually went to one of these camps. The parents and youth pastor in this movie commit a disturbing form of child abuse, but I could not stop watching, and I am glad I did. Very enlightning.