‘Jesus Camp’ divides Evangelicals
-19/09/06
‘Jesus Camp’ divides Evangelicals
-19/09/06
A documentary film to be released this weekend in the US about an Evangelical camp in America which trains children to be preachers, has triggered controversy.
The film, ‘Jesus Camp’, features a bible school which, somewhat ironically, is held at a place called ‘Devilís Lake’ in North Dakota.
The school trains children to become ‘warriors for Jesus’.
The film is a first-ever look into an intense training ground that recruits born-again Christian children to become an active part of America’s political future.
A growing number of Evangelical Christians believe there is a ‘revival’ underway in America that requires Christian youth to assume leadership roles in advocating the causes of their religious movement.
The documentary follows these children at camp as they are schooled in how to “take back America for Christ.”
It has however divided Evangelicals, with some saying it is designed to demonise them, whilst others take it as a fair reflection.
Becky Fischer, the religious group leader who fires up little warriors, believes that the completed film is a fair look at her efforts. Ms. Fischer reportedly feels she can use the film as an evangelical tool.
The children are heard speaking in tongues, praying for an end to abortion, crying over plastic foetuses and saying a Christian alternative pledge of allegiance to a cardboard likeness of George Bush.
Some Evangelical Christians however are now frantically trying to distance themselves the ones portrayed in the film.
In a statement, the president of Magnolia Pictures who produced the film, Eammon Bowles, said: “Weíre frankly surprised and a little disheartened by the efforts of prominent members of the evangelical community to clamp down on Jesus Camp. Whether or not the children and camp depicted in the film represents the ëmainstreamí of the Evangelical movement is beside the point: they exist, the film documents them, and the subjects feel theyíve been treated fairly. Why a community thatís so quick to attack discrimination from secular Americans would then turn and do the same to other Evangelicals is unexpected, to say the least.”
‘Jesus Camp’ divides Evangelicals
-19/09/06
A documentary film to be released this weekend in the US about an Evangelical camp in America which trains children to be preachers, has triggered controversy.
The film, ‘Jesus Camp’, features a bible school which, somewhat ironically, is held at a place called ‘Devilís Lake’ in North Dakota.
The school trains children to become ‘warriors for Jesus’.
The film is a first-ever look into an intense training ground that recruits born-again Christian children to become an active part of America’s political future.
A growing number of Evangelical Christians believe there is a ‘revival’ underway in America that requires Christian youth to assume leadership roles in advocating the causes of their religious movement.
The documentary follows these children at camp as they are schooled in how to “take back America for Christ.”
It has however divided Evangelicals, with some saying it is designed to demonise them, whilst others take it as a fair reflection.
Becky Fischer, the religious group leader who fires up little warriors, believes that the completed film is a fair look at her efforts. Ms. Fischer reportedly feels she can use the film as an evangelical tool.
The children are heard speaking in tongues, praying for an end to abortion, crying over plastic foetuses and saying a Christian alternative pledge of allegiance to a cardboard likeness of George Bush.
Some Evangelical Christians however are now frantically trying to distance themselves the ones portrayed in the film.
In a statement, the president of Magnolia Pictures who produced the film, Eammon Bowles, said: “Weíre frankly surprised and a little disheartened by the efforts of prominent members of the evangelical community to clamp down on Jesus Camp. Whether or not the children and camp depicted in the film represents the ëmainstreamí of the Evangelical movement is beside the point: they exist, the film documents them, and the subjects feel theyíve been treated fairly. Why a community thatís so quick to attack discrimination from secular Americans would then turn and do the same to other Evangelicals is unexpected, to say the least.”