THOUGHTS ON “JESUS CAMP”

I went to see the “Voices of the Heartland” showing of the documentary “Jesus Camp” last night at the Elks Theater in downtown Rapid City. It was indeed an experience.

First of all thank you “Voices of the Heartland” for making these films available here in Rapid City. Without you we would not have the opportunity to view this caliber of film. And thank you Elks Theater for granting the space for the viewing.

Jesus Camp is indeed an eye opener for those not familiar with the culture and tactics of the evangelical extremists. The best part of the film was that it was presented solely by the words and actions of the participants, which spoke volumes about their intentions, goals and agenda.

During the movie we witnessed every psychological trick imaginable in the indoctrination and brain washing of these little kids. Home schooled and kept in isolation from the rest of the world, science, reality and other points of view either don’t exist or are ridiculed and dismissed. The coercion and psychological pressure to be part of the group was overwhelming. Interestingly at no point did we hear any disagreement, dissent or acting out on the part of these kids. These are mostly 12 and younger and acting out and questioning should be normal behavior for kids trying to establish their own identity. Contrary thought was not tolerated.

Given that environment, the adults in charge could have told these kids anything and they would have followed it and taken it as gospel. All people who did not belong to their belief system were “of the Devil.” Even to listen to contrary thoughts was considered evil.

We have all been bestowed with a brain by the Creator and given the power to reason. To see it thwarted in such a manor to advance a personal political and financial quest for power is scary and cause for grave concern for the safety and well being of these kids and for society itself when these kids come of age.

At one point in the movie during one of their revival sessions a life sized cut out of Bush was brought out and these kids were actually praying to and groveling at the feet of this cut out. This religious fervor transformed into political idolatry creates individuals who can be led to do anything the political powers choose. The adult leaders in this group even predicted the fall of democracy because it leads to and allows for evil to exist. Of course evil is anything that disagrees with or gets in the way of their quest for power and domination.

This is the same process that is used to create the terrorists we’re a supposed to be combating throughout the world and is strikingly similar to the Nazi and Communist training facilities that created the monsters and atrocities of our History.

One positive note which seemed to forebode the decline of these fanatics was the introduction of Ted Haggard as a leader of the fundamentalist evangelical movement. It showed him with the kids and promoting the fundamentalist agenda. Maybe with his fall from grace the hypocrisy of this entire movement will start to be exposed.

It is my firm belief that this is the Achilles heel of this movement. We need to hold their feet to the fire and expose the hypocrisy and transgressions that are rampant in their quest for power and world domination.

It was very obvious throughout this movie that Christian religion was secondary and subservient to their quest for earthly power. That, my friends, is dangerous and threatens our democratic way of life.