Review of Jesus Camp (2006) by Patrick D — 03 Nov 2010

Being within the evangelical community and hating what it has become, this was still a hard pill to swallow. Countless times I sat there with my mouth open in sheer disbelief at the amount of non-logic used and utter brainwashing taking place. Can anyone say Hitler Youth?!

The smartest tactic that Ewing and Grady use is their unfiltered look at this subject. Most docs will try to show multiple sides to a story where it adds layers, and smartly so. This is not needed. The opposite sides are so extreme here, the story would devolve into chaos. They only present the one side, although there is Papantino's radio talk show commentary that comes up every once in a while. Other than him, they don't show anybody outside of this sect of people. We get a truly honest, eye-opening look that might've been guarded otherwise, or marred with extremists views from the otherside. These "Jesus Camps" firmly speak for themselves and we cannot help but recoil in horror at statements like this: "Muslims raise their children to have enough dedication to be suicide bombers! So I thought 'Great idea! Let's do that!'" ...That is Pastor Becky Fischer everybody.

The whole point of religion, much less Christianity, is choice. These kids aren't given one. A person should choose to believe in something, not be indoctrinated by it. I understand the right of parents to raise their children with their religious/moral values, but to offer them up to a woman like this, and then to make them believe so strictly, wholly, so guardedly, so divisively in a way of life that allows essentially no options, is disheartening. You have to believe a certain way or you aren't "godly" is what it comes down to with these people. They aren't spreading the message of love and acceptance the way Christ did, the way He asked his disciples to do, His people to do. These so-called Christians judge the sin and the sinner two-fold and pack on the guilt. It's a heartless type of Christianity that will run you over in a heartbeat.

As well, to see the mixture of politics i.e. religion and the right wing taken so far to the extreme here, brings me even more sadness. This is such a disillusioned idea that it doesn't bear any more words on the subject.