Paradoxology: Jesus Camp

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NT Wright offers a honest and somewhat heavy-hearted perspective regarding The Episcopal Church (TEC) in the U.S., and their decision to further formalize their decision to appoint to all orders of ministry, persons in active same-sex relationships. This marks a clear break with the rest of the Anglican Communion.
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September 11, 2006

Jesus Camp

Watch the trailer by clicking... here
or... visiting here.
.
And then weigh-in and tell us what you think -- of the movie, of the reality it attempts to represent, or anything else that comes to mind.
.

September 11, 2006 at 06:34 PM | Permalink

Technorati Tags: children, fundamentalism, Jesus Camp

Comments

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Children coining clichés in grown up language? This is a joke, right? No? Oh, well then: "Onward christian soldiers ..." (sick to the stomach, then fade ...)

Posted by: Carlos | September 12, 2006 at 01:21 AM

I grew up going to pentecostal summer camps like the one shown in the trailer. They never had the militant political element, though, that's exhibited here. Have the dominionists really made inroads into charismatic and pentecostal churches? That people who (I presume) are rapture-believing pre-millenial dispensationalists would line up with the dominionist political agenda is baffling to me.

Posted by: forestwalker | September 12, 2006 at 01:09 PM

Like Carlos, I'm inclined to believe this a parody of all that is puke-worthy in the Christian religion. Take the name Jesus out of it -- and it could be mistaken for the type of propaganda we see from fundamental Muslims. Brainwashing children in the name of Jesus is nauseating.

Stuff like this nearly convinces me we'd be better off without any form of religion in the world. It's hard to keep the faith when so much Christian-crap surrounds...

Posted by: Lauren | September 12, 2006 at 01:50 PM

I'd like to point out an interview in Christianity Today with the filmmakers (thanks Árni Svanur). I certainly look forward to see this, when it comes to our shores.

Posted by: Carlos | September 12, 2006 at 11:37 PM

It was also interesting to read the comments on Dan Kimball's blog post about this movie - including comments by the woman who leads the summer camp featured in the movie.

Posted by: Chris A. | September 13, 2006 at 07:37 AM

WWJD?

I don't think he would be at camp ... he would be over here, listening to these who share their "deconversion" stories:

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/09/when_did_you_wise_up.php#commentsArea

Posted by: Bro. Bartleby | September 13, 2006 at 12:24 PM

David Byrne on Jesus Camp:

http://journal.davidbyrne.com/2006/08/american_madras.html

Posted by: Carlos | September 14, 2006 at 12:26 AM

I'm sure that the only thing we can say about where Jesus IS (not would be He's not absent) is we don't know. Besides everywhere present and filling all things.

I do know that the video disturbs me on a few different levels. My 10 year old, the Jade, would not attend.

I like my zeal quieter and with less patriotism I guess.

LYB

Seraphim

Posted by: Seraphim | September 14, 2006 at 10:12 AM

coming from the UK, this all looks like a load of scary American-agenda based 'double speak' to me. They are all white!!! HMMM?

Global issues raised? American poverty (forget world poverty, America has it's poverty)

an intelligent look at the muslim world as way of understanding truths so we can better LOVE ( best form of attacking the spirits behind Islam with good understanding) the people that God loves

They wanted to keep it away from the 'lefties' why ?( I read the CT review) what are they scared of? verbal attack? if they so sure about what they are doing why not let the 'world'see it...white man's- middle-class clubby club? I like Michael Moore on the whole ..a decent chap! and a man who would love to engage, converse with believers if they gave him some spaceto do so...you know tht believers who were really real..Jim Wallis types

Grace and Identity: these are the two reasons for the Cross, and that's it...scary is it not as this changes everything and you can't control a person's behaviour through this either.

Posted by: tracy | September 15, 2006 at 11:01 PM

are these children being taught to love the humanity of their oppressors? to lay down their lives in service to the mission of reconciliation? are they being taught about works of truth, justice, mercy, prayer and the heavier matters of the law? that Iraqi children breathe the same air that they do?

Posted by: shinyapple | September 16, 2006 at 03:25 AM

Carlos,
Thanks for the David Byrne link -- very interesting.

shinyapple,
I'm really trying to remain neutral and reserve judgment until after I see the movie (in about 2 weeks). But after reading your post, I kept asking myself: "where is the love" (esp. as conveyed by Christ and much of the N.T.)?

Peace,

Chris

Posted by: Chris Monroe | September 17, 2006 at 04:26 PM

heya Chris..
Yeah.. it's so hard to *not* be judgey about these things, for then we are no better than those we are criticizing. The whole "battle against the evil" thing terrifically bugs me 'cause it seems so outta line with Jesus (in the "love your enemies" sense). The blurred line between Christianity and nationalism is... scary. May the light and love of Christ prevail.

Posted by: shinyapple | September 18, 2006 at 06:58 AM

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