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Children of the Lord's Flame

Under discussion:
Jesus Camp (2006)

Under discussion:

Jesus Camp (2006)

When we listen to Becky Fischer talk about Christ, Christians would first agree with the implied message, and then feel creeped out by the extremity that she brings to her views. She's deeply worried about the condition of the United States, about the role of Christianity in the country, and the lack of religion that in her mind is starting to dominate. What makes her dangerous is that she feels compelled to put her own paranoia on children susceptible to her views at the ages of 5-10. You're not scared of her, so to say, but you're scared of what she could be doing with YOUR children if she had things her way.

And yet Jesus Camp is a documentary not really intending to bash its subjects or make them look like villains. It's curious about a sub-culture of Evangelical Christians and how they teach their kids. The film starts off with Becky promoting her Kids on Fire Camp (not exactly the kind of title that I would feel comfortable with) in South Dakota at a church in Missouri. We get to follow around three of the kids who we will be following. Levi is 10, who were baptized at 6 because he couldn't find meaning in his life (if that doesn't bother you, what does?). Another child is 7, a rather joyful and interesting little girl who loves to bring people to the Lord during bowling games. Tori is around 8 herself, loves Christian Rap and to show off her dance moves. All three kids wear clothes that has some sort of Christian message on it and firmly believe as their parents do about the Evangelical message, but they also act like other kids, act in little mischief’s and basically good humor.

Intercut with all of this is (Mike Papantonio), a talk-radio host who seems to be concerned with the Evangelicals getting so deeply involved in the Republican Party. The documentary was shot during the time of Samuel Alito's confirmation into the Supreme Court, something that the Evangelicals want desperately as a means of abolishing abortion. He sometimes becomes the voice of reason when things get a little creepy. He's definitely religious, but also believes that religion and politics need to be separated, something that Becky Fischer doesn't believe.

When we get to the camp, we begin to see the tactic used at this camp. Becky sometimes takes us to outside the activities and show us how she intends to get the message in using activities that sound harmless, but very impactful for the kids. Two of the scariest parts of the camp involve hammering cups (with a real hammer and ceramic cups) to suggest destroying sin. The aggression that comes out of it, both implied by the adults and the effect that it creates in the kids, almost made me want to run away from the film. The other involves praying to a cardboard cutout of George W. Bush, which Becky sees as God's hand on this nation. There are other scary parts of the camp, but those two nearly made me scream.

And then we get to see what happens after the camp, especially Levi, who gets to meet the now infamous Ted Haggard of New Life Church. Haggard tells the young preacher-to-be to use his youth to rope in his congregation. To now know what Haggard was doing, I wonder if this will effect what happens to Levi in the next few years. But the film leaves us with our three kids hitting the streets, talking Jesus to anyone who will listen. One of them ponders, "They think we're selling something". Another answers, "We're kids! What could we be selling?" That left me with a laugh that I hope one day those kids would understand what they're doing.

The film doesn't judge the right or wrong of Fischer's camp, but shows us what it does show us what the camp does. I myself believe that the camp is dangerous since it breeds intolerance and ignorance, two things Jesus was firmly against. But that's just one opinion against 20 million Evangelicals that make up our country. But that's the beauty of the film; someone else can see the film and have a completely different take on it. The film inspires an open debate on Christian education, including "Intelligent Design".

But can't we see that Fischer's tactics almost seem like the same kinds we look down on in Muslim schools for indoctrination? She makes it clear she sees this as a religious fight with Islam and she wants to win. Doesn't she see that by doing exactly what she says her enemies do, that it makes her no better than them? The film seems to be curious about her, but leaves her to explain herself. The highlight of the film involves her talking on (NAME)'s radio show and seeing her openly defend her stance.

Directors (Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady) have made an effective and understanding documentary that will both scare you and engage you. They make you think about what you believe is right by giving you people that will challenge those beliefs. And even if you believe in what Fischer's camp does is right, the film doesn't undermine their cause. You couldn't ask for a more fair documentary on this subject.

All in all, this is the best documentary I've seen this year. But it's also the scariest movie I've seen in several years. And Jesus Camp is definitely one of the best films of 2006. So I say, Amen!

posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 5:34 AM by erico_77375

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