Review of Jesus Camp (2006) by Kiko E — 12 Jul 2014

Jesus camp is a fascinating look into a Christian summer camp for kids that had since closed because of negative publicity. The camp expounds anti intellectualism and right wing values to kids of Evangelical nut jobs.

The camp leader is a overweight, middle-aged woman named Becky Fischer that resembles a career fast food manager who is super into her job. She wants her disciples as devoted as Muslim suicide bombers are.

Many of the kids featured in the movie are home schooled because why bother with pesky facts when all you need to know Is that Jesus is responsible for everything. I learned that 75% of the kids that are home schooled in this country are Evangelicals.

The film was released in 2006 as the second term of the Bush administration was coming to an end. The Evangelicals in the movie are greatly responsible for reelecting him. At one point, the kids at the summer camp pray to a cardboard cutout of George Bush.

The kids go up to strangers in public places like bowling alleys and try to recruit them. There's a cringe-worthy rap song "kicking it for Christ" that's almost worth the price of admission.

These people are sure that Jesus Christ is coming back in their lifetime. But yet he never seems to get around to it. Becky tells the children that Harry Potter is evil because he is a warlock and warlocks are enemies of god.

She says "Harry Potter would have been put to death in biblical times." It would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad and chilling that people actually believe this. There is a poignant moment where a kid that goes to the summer camp explains why he doubts what he has been told to believe.

The kids meet disgraced preacher Ted haggard who was once a spiritual adviser to president Bush. He was later caught smoking meth and paying a make prostitute for sex. There is a scene where Haggard is talking to his congregation and pointing to the camera ; "I know what you did last night, you need to repent" It feels like he is talking to himself.

Jesus Camp is a scary, very well made documentary, that doesn't try to lead you into one way of thinking like many documentaries tend to do (Micheal Moore) but instead reports and let's you make up your mind.