Discuss.

I'll start.

Are the trying to make themselves look bad?

I don't know, but the main woman scared the hell out of me. I felt horrible for the kids too. I once had to go to a bible camp in PA with my cousin when I was a kid. The things I experienced similar things to the movie. There weren't as many preachings in huge auditoriums from what I remember (although it's entirely possible that I just tuned it all out and wandered off), but the brainwashed delusions infected everyone like a cancer. I asked a few kids if they really believed in "the whole jesus thing" then asked, "WHY?" They all just gave me dirty looks and was kicked out a few days later. These people are no joke.

Just watching it in parts, over and over.

Came across this in the film:

"Kids are everything. They love the evangelical message: god loves them, the bible's the word of god, they are gifts from god so all the public schools are telling they're animals, they are the product of natural selection, we tell them god loves you, god's created you, you have a purpose in life, I mean the kids are just loving it. And so... uhmmm, so........"

So, they should be unhappy that they are a product of millions of years, millions of choices to make them stronger? They are the eventual outcome of a strengthening of a species?

Posted by atomx Just watching it in parts, over and over. Came across this in the film: So, they should be unhappy that they are a product of millions of years, millions of choices to make them stronger? They are the eventual outcome of a strengthening of a species?

No, they should be unhappy because they actually have to give a shit in this life, because it's the only one they get.

Just watched this on Netflix. Had it been changed to a Wahabbist school or camp in Pakistan, we'd be saying "They're training future terrorists!" But if it's Jesus they're being indoctrinated into, we give that a pass.

Telling kids they're worthless sinners is child abuse. Get 'em while they're young!

Posted by splumer Just watched this on Netflix. Had it been changed to a Wahabbist school or camp in Pakistan, we'd be saying "They're training future terrorists!" But if it's Jesus they're being indoctrinated into, we give that a pass.

hahah, how about that?

Dunno what bible camp yall talkin about but at ours we made popsicle manger scenes and birdhouses to donate to a shelter in the city to sell for money. We read bible stories and scripture too. No one ever said we were sinners, or that we are going to hell. It was just a fun time for all, basketball, baseball, arts/crafts, community outreach, and talk about Jesus, the Lord, and right and wrong. So tell me, was any of that bad? Seemed ok to me.

Oh boy, I'd rather leave this one alone, buuuut... I believe this "Jesus Camp" thing is probably one of two things.

One: Its a borderline cult and the above said "brainwashing" is probably a good way of describing it. Or its some odd sect of Christians that are not mainstream and therefore very different.

Two: Its camp made by and ran by "sheltered Christians", a better way to refer to them are "Flanders" class Christians. They havent been "exposed" to all of the worlds sinly pleasure and they have been raised by the church. Because of this, what they say, how they say it, and how they act can and would be viewed as strange or "brainwashed", but in all actuality they know nothing else and they are not tainted by the world.

I personally find both of those annoying.

Posted by Mr_Fiend Oh boy, I'd rather leave this one alone, buuuut... I believe this "Jesus Camp" thing is probably one of two things. One: Its a borderline cult and the above said "brainwashing" is probably a good way of describing it. Or its some odd sect of Christians that are not mainstream and therefore very different. Two: Its camp made by and ran by "sheltered Christians", a better way to refer to them are "Flanders" class Christians. They havent been "exposed" to all of the worlds sinly pleasure and they have been raised by the church. Because of this, what they say, how they say it, and how they act can and would be viewed as strange or "brainwashed", but in all actuality they know nothing else and they are not tainted by the world. I personally find both of those annoying.

Well, the only difference between "church" and "cult" is a church is larger and generally has mainstream acceptance. I don't think this place fits into either. My point is that these kids are told "Of course you have a choice: accept Jesus or burn in hell for all eternity. All your friends here are accepting Jesus, why don't you?" With the hope-dope dealers, the first hit is always free. I think kids need to be allowed to make up their own minds, especially on non-religious issues like climate change and abortion, and not indoctrinated in such a setting where there only realistic choice is to conform or be cast out. I don't want my kids to be bullied into atheism any more than I want them bullied into any other belief.

This isn't meant to be a discussion about religion per se, but more about indoctrination of children. You really should see the movie, Mr. Fiend. I'd be really interested to hear your take on it.

Posted by splumer You really should see the movie, Mr. Fiend. I'd be really interested to hear your take on it.

Yeah, I havent seen it, so my opinion can only go so far, but I'll definitely watch it when I get around to it.

A cult to me is something that traps you, and the people in charge make you vow to be silent or threaten you with physical harm or death. And of course there are strange rituals such as kool aid drinking involved. A real church is supposed to be non threatening and give you all the information so that you may make your own decision, and if you choose not to follow their beliefs, you can simply leave. A cult isnt so nice.

And please, call me Fiend

My step father worked for a corporation that owned a camp here in the state. It was mostly used for meetings, employee family getaways, and (sometimes) rented out to local groups. One summer I was dragged there kicking and screaming to spend two weeks out in nature w/o my Atari or my D+D cronies. Just my family, several other families the step father worked with (all had kids my age)....

And a 300+ bible camp group from some fundy church collective in the central part of the state.

I was bummed. That left me with nothing to do, no one to hang with, and...why yes I do happen to smoke pot. Why do you ask...?

The next two weeks I learned-
1) My mom and step father drink waayyy too much. And so do their friends. And they never seem to notice where alot of it goes when they aren't looking.
2) Their friends kids were all a blast to drink, smoke, and game with
3) Preachers daughters put out. So do their friends. And their friends sisters. They also like to drink, smoke, game, and do anything else that will get them sent to hell.

Best vacation of my adolescence.

Posted by underdark Preachers daughters put out. So do their friends. And their friends sisters. They also like to drink, smoke, game, and do anything else that will get them sent to hell.

Hahaha! Very true!

Was that a raptor?

Posted by Mr_Fiend Was that a raptor?

That is a clip from the film, but the dino head and the flashing colors were added.

Posted by splumer That is a clip from the film, but the dino head and the flashing colors were added.

I was being facetious, but thanks for the explanation anyways lol.

When I was 16 I went to a similar camp. I saw the kids (my age) crying and all that jazz, never did anything for me to tell you the truth. There was one chick there that was on here knees balling because they called here up to the stage during a services. I dont know how legit she was at the time, but a few months after that we took a shower together at her place when her parents were gone, so yeah...

I really have no comment on situations such as the one showed in that small clip. What I can tell you is that I've been in similar situations.

Again, while at camp, we had to go to a chapel service (I always had mixed feeling about those, mainly because of the dillweed preachers they had). Anyways, after the service we were supposed to play capture the flag at night, so being prepared, me and my friends dressed in all black (for obvious night camo) and went to the service (mandatory to go btw according to camp rules). We ALWAYS sat in the back, never in the front, thats what I do everywhere, church or no church. When the preacher got up, he said something like "I remember seeing some disturbed boys with a cloud of darkness around them, they were in the back wearing all black, oh there they are!". I was like wtf you discriminating bastard! That pissed me off so much, I was livid! This guy couldnt spot darkness if I ripped his eyes out. I was especially mad because the kids in the front (of which at the time were the party goers and drinkers) didnt get singled out of course. And on top of that, between me and my friends we knew more about the things of God and understood Him more than and anyone in that room.

After that when it was dark and capture the flag was over, somehow we got our hands on capes and ran around screaming like mad men. We ran right past the dude who thought we were evil and he had the most epic "I have failed" look on his face. That is an example of a sheltered Christian that needs to get his feet wet before he thinks he can start callin out people who are "evil" or are under the influence. Its those types of people (not saying they are bad in anyway) that make these churches look like cults, because their methods are strange to people not belonging to the church. Even seems strange to me, and there are ways of going about things that dont make you look like a "looser Christian", but some people dont care what others think, and thats actually fine.

No church is perfect, by any means! And I cant speak for a church if I dont know what really goes on there. But seeing something on video and being there are two different things.

Posted by Mr_Fiend Two: Its camp made by and ran by "sheltered Christians", a better way to refer to them are "Flanders" class Christians. They havent been "exposed" to all of the worlds sinly pleasure and they have been raised by the church. Because of this, what they say, how they say it, and how they act can and would be viewed as strange or "brainwashed", but in all actuality they know nothing else and they are not tainted by the world. I personally find both of those annoying.

methinks that the Flanders class of Christians are harmless and well-meaning, even if they are a little misguided at times

Posted by jukebox fuckup methinks that the Flanders class of Christians are harmless and well-meaning, even if they are a little misguided at times

I'm really surprised you said that. Does that include the book-burnings, the attempts to get intelligent design into school curricula and attempts to cancel Halloween trick-or-treating?

Posted by splumer I'm really surprised you said that. Does that include the book-burnings, the attempts to get intelligent design into school curricula and attempts to cancel Halloween trick-or-treating?

Or the pro-lifers who kill abortion clinic doctors?

Posted by Kbasa Or the pro-lifers who kill abortion clinic doctors?

Touché

My opinion: not that I condone it, but the dude had it commin!