"Children are so usable in Christianity."
"When I grow up, I always thought it would be fun to be one of those people who paint nails and stuff cuz you would get a chance to tell them about the Lord." - 9-year-old girl in Jesus Camp.
I spent 50% of this film gaping in disbelief. The same kids who fell to the floor weeping and moaning as their minister whipped into a frenzy projected a total sense of calm when they were interviewed. Serenity in absolute conviction.
The documentary self-consciously avoids editorializing. If anything, it's too even-handed. I wish they'd shown at least one camper who felt conflicted or set apart from the others. Who was struggling with an embryonic skepticism. I noticed there were several kids on the film's periphery who seemed more hesitant, who were not overcome with emotion. But perhaps they hadn't dared voice their reservations.
The indoctrinator-in-chief, Becky Fisher, was right in only one regard: there IS a culture war in America today. But it wasn't liberals who declared it. The adults in the film call the children to war numerous times and allude to them as "soldiers in God's army." If the film is damning about the evangelical revivalist subculture in any way, it's only because of the own words and actions of those featured.
Bonus: Jesus Camp includes some real Ted Haggard gems, pre-meth and male prostitute. At one point, he points cockily to the camera and jokes, "I think I know what you did last night. If you send me a thousand dollars, I wont tell your wife."
I spent 50% of this film gaping in disbelief. The same kids who fell to the floor weeping and moaning as their minister whipped into a frenzy projected a total sense of calm when they were interviewed. Serenity in absolute conviction.
The documentary self-consciously avoids editorializing. If anything, it's too even-handed. I wish they'd shown at least one camper who felt conflicted or set apart from the others. Who was struggling with an embryonic skepticism. I noticed there were several kids on the film's periphery who seemed more hesitant, who were not overcome with emotion. But perhaps they hadn't dared voice their reservations.
The indoctrinator-in-chief, Becky Fisher, was right in only one regard: there IS a culture war in America today. But it wasn't liberals who declared it. The adults in the film call the children to war numerous times and allude to them as "soldiers in God's army." If the film is damning about the evangelical revivalist subculture in any way, it's only because of the own words and actions of those featured.
Bonus: Jesus Camp includes some real Ted Haggard gems, pre-meth and male prostitute. At one point, he points cockily to the camera and jokes, "I think I know what you did last night. If you send me a thousand dollars, I wont tell your wife."