Last night I went home with the full intention of sitting on the sofa and reading some of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, but then I remembered that I Tivo'd the film Jesus Camp a couple of days ago. The hubby wasn't going to be home until after 9pm, so this was a perfect time to settle in and watch it. So I do not prattle on and on about this film, I am forcing myself to make five (5) succinct(ish) points. (And then will probably prattle on following my main points.)
First, a brief synopsis of the documentary if you are not already familiar with it (source: IMDB): Jesus Camp follows several young children as they prepare to attend a summer camp where the kids will get their daily dose of evangelical Christianity. Through interviews with camp staff, the children, and others, Jesus Camp illustrates the unswerving belief of the faithful.
1) The film runs less than an hour and a half but it felt like it was four hours along. I was amazed that it was still light outside when I was done watching it. This is due to the very honest and neutral way that the filmmakers present their subjects. If you do not subscribe to this belief system, it is quite awkward to watch for an extended period of time and I can understand why several reviewers said they had to try hard not to walk out of the theater while watching it.
2) I made the conscious decision to not automatically judge the film's subjects. I do believe "to each their own" even though I have seriously strong objections to a lot of what is said and occurs during the film. I am related to some people who consider themselves born-again Christians and my grandmother is a Jehovah's Witness, so I am used to hearing views that do not match my own. However, I am grateful that no one in my life is as involved in this sort of church life as the documentary participants.
3) My forced patience with the film did lead me to some increased understanding. As someone who is strongly, vehemently pro-choice, I have a very difficult time understanding part of the pro-life argument. I understand the part about thinking abortion is wrong (see: to each their own). However, the part I have never understood is why some people think it's their business to stop anyone else's abortion. In this film, the participants talk about how God has a plan for each person from the moment of conception. That, for me, was like a big "Oh, duh!" moment. If you think about God as having a plan for each and every life from the moment of conception, well then clearly you are going to be even more vehemently pro-life than I am pro-choice. In no way do I agree with the "there's a plan for everyone from the moment of conception" idea, but it has really helped me understand where the pro-life folks are coming from.
4) That said, that was the only useful piece of understanding I gained from the film. Beyond that, I still just do not comprehend much of this lifestyle and belief system. I don't understand why they see themselves as warriers in a worldwide holy war. I believe that religion and faith is personal and that if you wish to congregate with others who share your beliefs, that's wonderful. However, I do NOT agree that you should take it upon yourself as a god-given mission to convert those that do not believe as you do, especially if they have been exposed to Christianity their whole lives, as most Americans have. I recognize that wanting people to agree with me on this could be construed as trying to convert their thinking to mine, but is wanting everyone's faith to be respected really a radical point of view? (See: to each their own.) Note: I do not believe that just because I don't understand the lifestyle and beliefs that they shouldn't exist; I'm just stating that I do not comprehend it all. (Again, see: to each their own.)
5) To end, the film left me really troubled, almost in a way that is still too complicated for me to parse, even the next day. While the scenes about abortion did lead to some new understanding, I find it quite troubling that they are discussing this with children. I do not believe children need to know what abortion is and that there's even a battle over it. That is not a part of childhood. Then to have them whipped up into a frenzy, screaming "Righteous judges! Righteous judges!" in the prayer that God will lead then-president George W. Bush to appointing judges that will overturn Roe v. Wade - I find that incredibly inappropriate. I don't even want adults praying for that, much less children. The utter denial of the separation of church and state among the subjects was, at best, disheartening and, at worst, terrifying. I believe that conservative politicians saw this group as a potential voting bloc if they hooked them correctly and have worked to do so without fully considering the long-term ramifications. The level to which church and state now mix, or a group of people want it to mix, is extremely troubling. We should no longer even be discussing the idea of creationism in a public school and yet it comes up over and over again. If you want your children to learn creationism, send them to Sunday School and/or parochial school.
I do not believe there should be prayer in school. If you want to pray in school, you can easily find the time. (Who didn't mutter a few, "Oh please, God, please" right before some tests in high school?) I do not believe your Bible belongs in my bedroom or my doctor's office. I believe marriage is a religious institution for you and you only if you so desire. This is the house of to each their own.
Monday, June 1, 2009 at 8:08PM 