Saw Jesus Camp tonight at Images Cinema. It basically documented my experiences growing up in the Assemblies of God churches and the camp I went to. It made me very angry to see these children so indoctrinated. I wish someone would have stood up for me and allowed me to not go to these camps. The amount of blatant brainwashing in them is simply abhorrent.
The rest of the audience’s reaction was very much calmer, perhaps more scientific, but also less realistic. When the after-show speaker talked about how there is a culture war, many people in the audience were offended by the use of the word. I say they need to wake up and stop being so wishy washy. A war has been declared, and in order to fight it we have to acknowledge it. Trying to ignore it by calling it something else does no good.
A bit of an addendum, now that I’ve cooled down some:
About the movie’s political side: there wasn’t any voiceover or anything, but there was some small amount of showing how the religious right is pushing to have their ideals represented in government and the supreme court. Mostly it just documented prayer meetings, the church camp, and the zealotry involved. Apparently the lady who ran the camp saw the movie and thought it was great. The filmmakers endeavored to show a fair and balanced documentary. What struck me most was the religious fervor.
I understand fundamental’s beliefs, and I respect their right to hold those beliefs. I think I just resent being so force fed them growing up.
I think that people of all strongly held beliefs try and foster that belief in their children. I’m not sure what I think about that practice.. there is a line I think that is very hard to define where teaching crosses into indoctrination. I think that kids should be given more options when growing up, especially those kids who are home-schooled and only ever shown their parents’ ideas, even to the point of having opposing ideas ridiculed. I guess I just believe in balance more than anything.
I’m not angry with my own parents anymore. I think this movie dug up old things that I hadn’t dealt with well yet. I think that all parents make mistakes with their kids, and I also believe that their kids should be able to forgive them and move on. I believe I’ve done that.
I love my parents. I respect their beliefs and I feel they respect mine as well. I’m glad we’ve all grown to the point where we can do that.
Josh, I appreciated the contrast of your immediate and reflective reactions, and your personal experience. I guess parents who send their kids to these camps are just trying to do the best thing for their kids. I think indoctrination would be defined as a direct or implied discouragement of exploration of ideas outside the camp’s pre-determined parameters. For some people’s minds, that must be impossible and oppressive, especially if they naturally use their God-given reason to figure life out for themselves. You might know something about that as a Myers-Briggs NT, as you said you are in another post.