I first saw Jesus Camp when it was released on DVD in '07. I found it to be well-made, fascinating, completely unbiast and truthful. It reminded me very much of the people I grew up with. I couldn't sleep the other night and it was available on watch instantly on Netflix so I decided to throw it on. I was as drawn in and enraged as I was on my first viewing.
The documentary takes a look at a pentacostal summer camp in North Dakota where children are indoctrinated to "take back America for Christ". The camp is run by Becky Fischer, a beast of a woman who claims Islam is "the enemy", that Harry Potter deserves to be put to death and uses Nestle bottled water to wash children's hands in the "water of God's word". The children "speak in tongues", lay hands in prayer on a life-sized cutout of George W. Bush and chant for "Righteous judges!" to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Three children are shown at their homes. One, Levi, is homeschooled by his mother. She teaches him that global warning is a political specualtion and warns him of the evils of a public school education. Rachael hands out Chrisitan tracts at a bowling alley and prays for her bowling ball. Tory likes to dance to Christian heavy metal music, constantly checking herself to make sure she isn't "dancing for the flesh". All three are well-mannered and all three are very very disturbing to watch.
Directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, Jesus Camp is very respectful towards its subjects. They are allowed to speak for themselves and Fischer herself claims to use the film as a tool to publicize her ministry and it's work. I'm sure many would watch the film and assume that this stuff is pretty extreme, that the directors must have edited the film to push an agenda. Take it from someone who grew up in a pentacostal household - what you see is only the tip of what goes on in these churches. Evangelicals are a scary group of people.
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