some philosophizing/ranting on religion
I just got back from a very telling, oft-disturbing documentary called Jesus Camp. I cannot even remember where I heard about it, but I figured I ought to check it out. The film centers around a Missouri-based Pentecostal ministry led by a strong-willed female pastor (Becky Fischer) and aimed at very young children from age 6 through pre-teens. Fischer leads a summer camp in North Dakota...ironically in a town called Devil's Lake. Her mission is to galvanize young children into being conscious of the fight to spread and maintain Christianity in America...it's a mission she couldn't live without achieving.
Children that just plain chap. my. ass.
The documentary introduces us to several young children. Some of them seem very sincere in their beliefs, including one young boy (Levi) who sports a hairstyle I can only refer to as a "coon-skin-cap mullet." He was saved at 5 and aspires to preach...something the camp director encouraged him to do one evening. I think I could live with this kid, despite the fact that he's potentially the next Jerry Falwell.
Yet, there was one child that, for the lack of a better phrase, chapped my ass: a young girl (maybe about 10) who loves reading religious tracts and witnessing to bowling alley patrons. Her trademark is a meticulous, analytical way of witnessing. Throughout the film, we see her state her very strong opinions with a rank air of superiority I would have expected coming from someone three times her age. I never thought I could seriously dislike this girl, but I lost a lot of respect when she noted the existence of what she considers "Dead Churches" in America. She claims that God hates churches with more reserved behavior. My guess is that she is referring to Mainline Protestant churches (like Lutherans, Episcopalians, and even Disciples of Christ). I guess singing a few good hymns rather than being deafened by wall-to-wall Christian Rock, hearing a well-thought out sermon rather than non-sensical blatherings about politics, and quietly honoring God rather than chronically screaming His name at the top of ones lungs is all the makings of SIN and the DEVIL. God, according to her, wants people jumping up and shouting halleluias non-stop. That's fine, if that makes you feel good, but don't EVER try to tell me that there's ONE WAY to worship God or ONE WAY to have a personal relationship with Christ. Just don't! Imagine me... getting angry over the (warped and uninformed) religious views a kid less than half my age.
The most disgusting part of the whole dang film:
That little girl, however, was not the nadir of my disgust. Near the end of the film, the children are all gathered at a pseudo-political rally at Becky Fischer's Missouri church. At one point, an elder female member of the church hauls out-- and I'm not making this up y'all-- a life-size cardboard cutout of George W. Bush. She encourages the children to come forward to literally lay their hands on "President Bush" in a show of spiritual support while chanting words (in tongues or not, I'm not sure) of spiritual and political support towards this cardboard monstrosity. The children clamor to touch the fake Bush as the the chanting reaches a hypnotic, fever pitch. Doesn't a display like that just SMELL of idolatry?!? Have these people forgotten that important commandment NOT to idolize graven images? I guess when the graven image tells America that God speaks through him, this little bit of idolatry is ok. Disgusting. Utterly disgusting.
What I have taken away from this film:
- Pentecostals remind me somewhat of my Southern Baptist roots...except we never spoke in tongues. We'd probably mark tongue-speaking as a sign of the devil, not the holy spirit. I also never went to any sort of Bible camp outside of a couple big-city Youth Encounters. I'm glad my mom never forced me to do anything I didn't willingly choose to do.
-Megachurches are like a soft-core cult. But unlike cults, you can leave safely at the end of the sermon.
-I'm so blessed to have grown up with a Christian mom who, despite her very strongly-held beliefs, let me have my own mind. It makes our disagreements/debate on some religious issues all the more richer. :-) Love you, Mom!
-Some of these kids are destined for stark disappointment later in life. I guarantee they're going to have to venture out into the real world and find that there are people out there, Christian or not, that aren't as conservative or zealous as they feel the world should be. It's going to shatter them.
-Commercialism has hijacked evangelical Christianity. Never have I seen so many kids wearing T-shirts with popular corporate logos modified to take on some Christian slogans.
What I liked as a whole about the film:
The filmmakers treat Becky Fischer and the people at the camp with the utmost respect. It's all an honest, plain presentation of what these people believe. The film is book-ended by a christian liberal radio talk-show host calmly (though a bit despairingly) questioning the direction of Evangelicals in America today. I despair right along with him.
What I despair about the most:
Becky Fischer openly mentions that she targets young children specifically during their formative years, as she believes these particular beliefs will "stick" for a lifetime. I beg to differ, thinking that they'll be nothing more than zombie-like in their approach to Christianity. As I said before, some of these kids are going to be very disappointed when they grow up and someone or something shatters their foundation. Furthermore, constant pressure usually triggers extreme rebellion... ...and I don't want to know what those kids might be capable of if or when they "backslide."