Every now and then I go on a YouTube rampage, watching one video after another, until I lose count of videos I’ve seen. Yesterday I was searching for Richard Dawkins’ videos (worthy of a post themselves), and one thing lead to another and I ended up watching the trailer, of Jesus Camp.
According to Wikipedia, Jesus Camp is “about a charismatic Christian summer camp for children who spend their summers learning and practicing their "prophetic gifts" and being taught that they can "take back America for Christ."
The kids in the movie are completely brainwashed . It was surreal watching the way they speak about religion, and just how ignorant they’re taught to be. At one point in the movie all of the kids are gathered in a church and start praying for a cardboard George Bush. In another clip a mom was teaching her home schooled son about the origins of Earth and global warming. They both concluded that a 0.6 C rise in temperature is insignificant, and that the big bang is a hoax. After all we didn’t come from “a glob of goo” as an education film explains. The mom in the documentary proudly says “why would I send my kid to school for 8 hours a day, not knowing what he’s being taught?”
Of course, no documentary on evangelicals goes without scenes of faith healing. Children are shown convulsing on the floor of church, after hearing something along the lines of Harakamasheeka harabasaya, which according to AltaVista’s Bable Fish means “go away devil”. Don’t believe me? Look it up and make sure to select the translation from Bullshit to English.
Watching this kind of crap angers me. Just like watching young kids in a mosque immersed in Quranic verses angers me. It’s not the religion, but it’s fundamentalism that I’m against. Anytime kids are raised to believe that they’re right and everybody else is wrong we’re creating trouble for ourselves. Raising kids not to question, and not to accept others is like stepping back to the middle ages. I’m disspaointed in seeing such things during the age of technology and scientific technology. Women are allowed to vote, slavery is no more, but we still have a long way to go.
Labels: culture, media, politics, religion
8 Comments:
At 9/11/2007 1:46 PM,
Asoom said…
I've actually seen this documentary...a couple of times (I think HBO and aljazeera both aired it).
"Just like watching young kids in a mosque immersed in Quranic verses angers me."....... and why would that anger you?? Being immersed in Quranic verses does not equal fundamentalism, nor does it equal "not questioning", nor does it equal "not accepting others" as it seems you're suggesting, just because you've seen (or you think you've seen)those qualities all associated together in a person that doesn't mean being immersed in Quranic verses is the problem.
"Anytime kids are raised to believe that they’re right and everybody else is wrong we’re creating trouble for ourselves." Omar, I think you're naive! Everyone has strong beliefs that they think they're right about and everyone else is wrong and they pass that on to their kids, In a 'civilized' society we just don't discuss it or confront each other about it because usually there's no benefit in doing that. This doesn't just apply for religion but also politics and cultural traditions etc. We succeed as a harmonious society when we know how to properly treat and interact with each other.
I don't give a shit if John Doe down the street thinks he's right and I'm wrong or even if he thinks I'm going to hell-I just care about how he's treating me when we do interact. If some random person that doesn't know me got angry because I think I'm right and he/she is wrong then this person seriously needs to get a life!
I believe in freedom of thought and belief, it's the way that you choose to act upon your beliefs that matters to me.
At 9/12/2007 3:20 AM,
kinzi said…
Omar, calm down, we arent as bad as all that. Remember who made this 'documentary'. People make this with as much shock value as possible. They interview the wierdest possible people.
I believe God created the earth, I speak in tongues, I regularly lay hands on people to be healed and miracles happen. Big deal. You've read my blog, am I so wierd? Are my kids brainwashed? :)
At 9/13/2007 1:39 AM,
x said…
amma15,
It angers me because kids at that age should not be immersed in something as philosophical as religion. Rarely will a kid volunteer to immerse themselves in religious studies, unless they grew up in a religious household. It's not natural for a young person to want to be so involved in religious activities. That is unless the kid is pre-conditioned to think that being religious equates to being a better person, whether it's to please the parents, or not to to hell.
I totally agree with some of your points such as "Being immersed in Quranic verses does not equal fundamentalism... or not accepting others." But I do believe that being overly religious at a young does impede the ability to question and challenge the idea of a single god, and the creation of earth, etc. Simply because religion doesn't allow freedom of thought. You're supposed to have faith in the things you're told, even if they go against your reasoning.
Regarding your second point I think I had to be more specific. In the video the children were in essence, making fun of people who don't act in church the same way that they are taught. The kids are not taught to respect other people's belief's, otherwise you wouldn't hear them criticize other worshipers, so to speak. I'm all for people having freedom of thought, as long as they respect each other's thoughts and beliefs. Something I felt the camp doesn't foster. Not to mention that the camp is teaching them to connect religion and politics together, something that countries take pride in separating.
My two best friends are religious Christians from different denominations. I've known them for years and not once did we criticize each other for believing the way we do. I've even attended my friend's church once, and participated with the singing even. In my opinion, if you were to ask any of this kids to attend a Friday prayer they would refuse. I didn't get an open-minded vibe from the camp leader, but maybe it's just me.
I still think the values that kids are taught in the camp are wrong.
Thanks for your thoughtful input :)
At 9/13/2007 1:41 AM,
x said…
kinzi, I didn't generalize in the post, and if I did, it was unintentional and I apologize. I don't think your weird at all. But I have a question for you. Would you send your children to the camp?
At 9/15/2007 3:05 AM,
Anonymous said…
Omar, no problem...I just wanted to point out that the documentary makers had their own agenda to discredit and picked what they filmed accordingly, just like the media does with Muslims.
Did you go to elementary school in Jordan? Verses from the Quran are part of language, social studies and even health, many times the verses don't even correlate with the subject. Too me, that is religious overkill...but all said, one should teach their children their faith: if it is worth believing, it is worth teaching kids.
The Bible teaches us to pray for our leaders, even for unrighteous leaders. That isn't so political, it is kindness. The kids weren't praying TO Bush, but for him. You'll admit the man needs prayer, yea? )
For the kids to be taught to respect our government is not wrong either. No government is perfect, and America the place that has the greatest amount of religious freedom.
I will have to look at the part where kids are taught to 'disrespect' other faiths. I do know that I have been called some pretty nasty things (kufir, Christian pig) by young Muslim children who are too young to know the meaning themselves. One of my commenters said that when he was at Ittihad school here they were definitely taught to hate Christians and Jews. It wasn't that long ago, his whole generation were taught that.
I'm glad you've been able to worship through song in a church. We've all visited mosques and had good discussions afterward. People like us are bridges between the ignorant of both cultures: it will hurt when they walk across our backs to see other side, but it is worth it. God bless you this Ramadan!
P.S. I would not send my kids to the camp without first seeing it myself, meeting with teachers and reading the curriculum. Then I would decide. Based on this alone, no way.
At 9/23/2007 10:27 AM,
Anonymous said…
Omar,
You need to be careful about your knee jerk reaction to towards religion. There are areas that are black and white. One such area is life and death. I become angry when I see 'religious' people practice death and destruction as a way to solve their problems. There are a multitude of people of faith that believe in respecting people of different faiths (including people of the faith of atheism). These people believe in life and liberty for all. Much evil has been done in the name of religion, and much good has been done by people of faith.
As far as 'brainwashing' goes, you could make the case that all children are brainwashed by everyone who influences them as they grow up.
At 9/23/2007 11:07 PM,
x said…
thanks for your comment Iforr. My post was about this particular camp and not religious people in general as I explained above
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