Did anyone hear Rachel Maddow talk about "JESUS CAMP" this AM?

[BrklynLiberal]

Scary as hell!!
There is a documentary with Mike Papantonio doing voice over.
The pastor, Becky Fisher says, in effect, she wants these kids to be as dedicated to Christ as the Islamic suicide bombers are to Islam.

Here is the link to "Jesus Camp" directed by Oscar Nominated directors, Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady.

In Jesus Camp, Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, directors of the acclaimed film The Boys of Baraka, introduce us to children who are growing up as evangelical Christians. Twelve-year-old Levi, who was "saved" when he was five, is a shy boy except when he is filled with the Holy Spirit. Nine-year-old Rachael is outspoken in her love for the Lord. They are home-schooled by their Christian parents and interact with their peers at church and church events. In the summer they travel to Becky Fisher's "Kids on Fire" summer camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota, to intensify their devotion to the Lord. Fisher is a children's pastor, who specializes in tapping into the hearts and minds of kids on their level. She recognizes that this generation accesses information through video, images, and music. Intercut with scenes of the kids is the radio commentary of Mike Papantonio, a Christian who believes that the Evangelical movement has strayed from the original teachings of love that Jesus died for. He worries that the movement's position on the environment, creationism, and other fundamental tenets are short-sighted and will hurt the conservative movement in the end. And where does the government land in all this? The Evangelicals apply unceasing pressure to their elected officials, and have made great strides with Bush as their president. What kind of force will these kids be in politics and religion when they grow up? Although they speak in tongues, the kids of Jesus Camp are smart, empowered, and determined to change the world.
- Nancy Schafer

"Jesus Camp" premiers at the Tribeca Film Festival April 27th.

http://www.ringoffireradio.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=496&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=&sid=b5ca69b16bdfc09f462b54dbd71c1b33

JESUS CAMP – International Documentary Competition

Directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady

A growing number of Evangelical Christians believe there is a revival underway in America whereby Christian youth must take up the leadership of the religious right.

JESUS CAMP, directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (The Boys of Baraka), follows Levi, Rachael, Tory and a number of other young children to Pastor Becky Fisher's "Kids on Fire" summer camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota, where kids as young as 6 years-old are taught to become dedicated Christian soldiers in "God's army." The film follows these children at camp as they hone their "prophetic gifts" and are schooled in how to "take back America for Christ." The film is a first-ever look into an intense training ground that recruits born-again Christian children to become an active part of America's political future.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/vine/showthread.php?s=21da166851b7e1a6718334ec43055a0d&p=8483236#post8483236

http://lokifilms.com/site/jesuscamp.html

[donsu]

1. if possible I would have voted twice to put this on the greatest page

nt

[sinkingfeeling]

2. To me, this is terrifying and sad at the same time.

[bowens43]

3. This child abuse.

These are very sick people do very severe psychological damage to their children.

[Der Blaue Engel]

10. I'm living proof of that

I was one of these kids in the 70s. Somehow I managed to think for myself eventually, but I'm still messed up from it. It really hurts me to see it happening to other kids. My sisters' kids in particular make me very sad.

[nashville_brook]

14. many of my friends in east tennessee grew up in a similar culture

nearly all have gone into some sort of long term dedication to therapy, either by becomeing therapists themselves or just practicing the 'life.'

i know some tho, without the positive life strategies. one in particular turned out to be a child molester. after he did his time in prison, etc, he came out re-"born again." thing is, the molesting behavior for him, started in the church. so this just puts him beck in touch with all the original triggers. it's horrible.

[progressoid]

4. oy

[yodermon]

5. now now,

let's not be atheist extremists.
or was that securlar extremists?
extreme secularists?
i'm so confused about what i'm allowed to say or think! wah!

[corkhead]

6. I won't hold my breath waiting for it to come to a theater near me

hopefully it will come out on dvd soon.

scary shit.

[LiberalPartisan]

7. Sort of an Evangelical Boys from Brazil - yikes

And they'll all go to Patrick Henry college no doubt.

And have you seen this?

http://www.jcsgirls.com/

[atreides1]

8. Hitler Youth Camps

For religious fanatics!!!!!

What will they think of next?

[Stinky The Clown]

9. American Madrasa ... brought to you by the America-hating Talibornagains

[YOY]

17. Got it in one sentence!

Wow, that's a great summary! :thumbsup:

[ClintonTyree]

11. Brainwashing at such a young age....

terrible, just terrible. These kids will grow up to be the Family Planning Clinic bombers of tomorrow. These kids are going to have some serious problems when they mature, IF they mature. Yeah, their parents must REALLY "love" them to do this to them. :eyes:
Fundamentalist religion in ANY country is dangerous and stupid. I can't believe a parent would do this to their child. They're thwarting any independent thought process these children may have.

[rniel]

12. I hope so

"He worries that the movement's position on the environment, creationism, and other fundamental tenets are short-sighted and will hurt the conservative movement in the end"

I live for that day.

[knitter4democracy]

13. It won't take with most of the kids.

Summer youth camps may be on message, but most of the kids aren't. I have some great stories from the summer I went. ;)

Of course, I also have some great stories from the evangelical college my hubby and I went to. The leaders always make it sound like the kids are more committed than they really are to get more donations from the rank and file.

[ginnyinWI]

21. true.

What makes American kids different than kids growing up in Afghanistan or wherever is that they have options. They don't need to cling to religion as their only hope for success in life. As soon as they get some distance from their parents, many begin to think for themselves.
They are taught to be law-abiding, and they are in the vast minority. And as we have seen so often, when they become adults they are often corrupted by money, sex, or power, because they have been kept so isolated from all of that growing up. (Jimmy Swaggert, Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, Ralph Reed, Pat Robertson, etc. are the names we know, but I'm sure there are legions more in the ranks.)

[BrklynLiberal]

15. A nudge for the evening crowd

[maveric]

16. "Twelve-year-old Levi, who was "saved" when he was five..."

I bet he was an evil Christ-hater before they allowed Jesus to "save" him. :sarcasm:

[knitter4democracy]

18. *giggle, snort* Well, I guess it could sound like that.

He probably doesn't remember it, though. It's an odd, fine line in those churches. They want their children saved, but they don't believe in infant baptism or that children too young have really chosen for themselves.

[tinfoil tiaras]

19. That. Is. Scary. Shit. You. Have. There.

Christian Taliban freaks...grr.

Thank God the Baptist camp my mom makes me go to every summer isnt at all like that. We just like read the bible and play games and stuff. No converting, 'are you saved?' shit there. Thank god. I bet this movie will do HUGE in Miss. I expect to see letters to the paper talking about how "great" this movie is and how it will "advance our godly agenda" and all that bullshit.

[eppur_se_muova]

20. Is there a "Fundamentalists Anonymous" ? Could be the next big thing. nt

[degreesofgray]

22. there is; found through google

http://www.fundamentalists-anonymous.org/

[BrklynLiberal]

28. Who woulda guessed?

Guess the problem is more serious than we ever knew...kind of like those deprogrammers for kids who run away and join cults.

[DanCa]

23. Conservatism has nothing to do with Jesus

We got to learn gop does not equal god :D

[NMMNG]

24. And *we're* the whackjobs???

:rofl:

[onager]

26. Good point, BTFS!

When kids go to our atheist summer camps, at least they learn useful skills like cooking Xian babies.

[IowaGuy]

25. "Devils Lake, North Dakota" ?

That symbolism is just too rich....could there possibly be false prophets walking amongst us?

[highplainsdem]

27. K & R

[BrklynLiberal]

29. A kick for the Sunday people.

[undeterred]

30. Most people outgrow this stuff

When people are young and vulnerable and aren't getting what they need at home, they are easy prey. As life goes on many of them will come to see how ridiculous it is and how poorly it prepares them for life in the real world.