Woschi
Fast forward... ten years later. Sommerkamp (yes, that's his real name) was one of the kid protagonists. He has abandoned evangelical Christianity, living with a group of spiritual seekers in Mount Shasta, California. His split from the evangelical world happening when his father came out as gay. He says he spent several years angry at the church, but has since discovered peace in eastern mysticism, quantum mechanics, and psychotropic drugs. "Was it child abuse? Yes and no," he said in a recent interview, about his time at Kids on Fire church camp. "I think they had the best of intentions, but I see it as sick people trying to treat sick people. It's their coping mechanism for figuring out why we're alive. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything, though, because it allowed me at such a young age to question my existence."
ironhorse_iv
Jesus Christ! What is wrong with these American Pious? Why are they so disturbing to watch? Directed by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing, this documentary showcase, the dangers of paramilitary indoctrination, by visiting an evangelical Christian summer camp in North Dakota called 'Kids on Fire', where children take part in controversial programs designed to strengthen and intensify their beliefs. The camp's founder, Becky Fischer, discusses her mission to indoctrinate youths in the word of God, as if she was running the Christian version of Al-Qaeda. From her own crazy point of view, she's thinks it's safe. After all, it's no different than the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine or CDD. However, that isn't the image, most people see, when watching this movie. Talks about 'army of God' and telling the kids that they should be ready to lay down their lives in the name of God sounds very similar to the same indoctrination that Muslim extremists used on their youth. Indeed, seeing young people being forced into Christian military style reenactment is a bit scary. It remind me of something out of a Hitler Youth camp. I don't think that is what Jesus was saying, when 'turn the other cheek'. Honestly if you ever see Becky Fischer, ask her, that. WWJD? Because I don't think, he would love this. Its gets even weirder that Becky Fischer was OK with showing all this, in the film. Not only does, she say that this film portrayed her camp accurately, but she also thinks, this film would be a good evangelism tool to bring Christians followers closer to God. I really have no clue, what cloud, her mind is flowing on, but she clearly has to be, crazy, or that she never watched the film. Because films like this, make me want to stay away from the Church as long as possible. Clearly, this movie isn't for everybody. Not only does it, fuel negative reactions and more harsh criticism to the Christianity religion from the outsiders, but for normal Christians like myself, I found it to be, very embarrassing and troublesome. Most Christians don't act this way. Yes, some Christians do have a trouble with LGBT communities & yes, they might protest outside of an abortion clinic; but most of them, are not telling their followers to worship a cardboard cutout of President George W. Bush as if a Saint and destroy mugs that represented the government. That's red flags to extreme Christian fundamentalism right there. About them, showcasing the children of the Pentecostal congregation speaking in tongues to Jesus. Yes, it sounds like they're worshipping the devil, more than Jesus, but I found that scene to be, more silly than scary. Let me be clear: becoming excited, emotional, even hyper-emotional with crying, even ecstatic, for praying is somewhat alright, however, I do believe that going with whatever sounds your mouth might utter under this trance is not what the Bible describes when it speaks about the gift of tongues. It's utter nonsense. Nevertheless, I found it somewhat harmless, unlike the next scene, where the children were somewhat forced to pray for forgiveness for being kids. I really didn't like that scene where Becky Fischer mentally abuse them. The camp seems to do that a lot. A very horrible method of making the kids cry and then using their emotional tumult to really cement their message. It's very sinister tactic for indoctrinating child soldiers. If anything, Becky Fischer is more of a hypocrite than the kids. First off, she called them to fast, yet she looks like she ate the whole supermarket for breakfast. Then she calls Harry Potter, an evil warlock that need to put to death, when Jesus was put to death, for nearly doing the same thing, many years ago. Also ghost stories are bad. What is the Holy Spirit then? Another mindless rant, she has is the separate of church and schools. I guess, she never heard that you can indeed pray in school, but it's unlawful to lead it. After all, this law, also protected Christians as well. How weird, would it be, if everybody was forced to pray toward Mecca every two to three hours? Now that would cause everybody to out-roar. Even her straw man arguments about the dangers of science and believing in global warming is full of fallacy. After all, Becky apparently thinks that power outages and equipment failures are the work of Satan. How bat-crazy stupid, can you be, honestly be? That is by far, one of dumbest statement, I ever heard. I think the worst one from her, is her criticizes of democracy because democracy means giving everyone equal freedom. Wow! What a horrible person! It's even more hypocritical and hilarious in hindsight, when the pastor of New Life Church, then head of the National Association of Evangelicals, Ted Haggard is featured later in the film. Ted Haggard's condemnation of homosexuality is ironic, seeing how he was later revealed to be sleeping with male prostitutes at that time period. Also, take notes on the arrogant, mocking tone he talks with the person holding the camera & also the way, he talks to the kid. What a jerk! I'm glad, I'm not the only one that thinks they are asses. Many conservative Christian viewers like Mike Papantonio, a radio host considered these people's rhetoric message and harsh methods way over the top and ignorant. I'm glad, they feature him. So level-headed. The kids in the film were also alright, even if they were a bit brainwash. I can only hope the best for them, growing up. In the end, the film met with so much controversy that led to the closure of the camp in 2007 due to vandalism and threats. Since that date, it hasn't yet open back up. Overall: The film is fascinating, eye-opening, and well shot. It's worthy to be watch. Glad, it was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 79th Academy Awards. So check it out.
Theo Robertson
If there's one thing guaranteed to cheer me up it's religion . I don't mean I'm going to be spiritually touched by the hand of God , I mean I'm going to feel morally and intellectually superior to some Muppet talking about eternal afterlives and other nonsense . A documentary about evangelical Christians might just be the sort of thing to lift me out of festive gloom ( Christmas humbug) and if this had confined itself to deluded adults spouting metaphysical mendacity it probably would have . However a factual feature consisting of child abuse isn't going to cheer me up and neither does I suspect to any other rational , decent human being The film opens with Mike Papantonio hosting his radio show decrying the religious right with Christian callers phoning in saying they can't understand this new militant type of evangelical Christianity . Of course right away you might think this is merely selective and biased and the callers might be criticising rival Christian sects . God might love us all but he really hates heretics does he not ? Cut to a stage version of APOCALYPSE NOW with children is cameo face paint dancing to a heavy metal soundtrack . Instantly you're reminded of the line in the movie where Chef states "This is pagan idolatry man" . You said it mate . This event is the brainchild of Becky Fischer who lives up to every outsider view of Americans . Loud , ugly and clinically obese by many pounds she wastes no time in making this audience member concerned with the junk coming out of her mouth rather than the copious amounts of junk food she stuffs in to it "We have too many Christians who are fat and lazy" If you don't believe Americans suffer from an irony deficiency then this documentary will make a believer out of you , believe me . I'm doing my utmost best to be diplomatic and guard my back by saying not all Christians are like this , not even in the American bible belt . She continues and there's a rather disturbing use of the word "training children" . Let's think about that for a second . "Training children" . You train a dog , not children . Maybe she meant "condition children" since as human beings we're all products of social conditioning to a degree , but that would be concede Karl Marx is fairly correct in that a belief in God is simply down to cultural environment and the degree of belief and what God you believe in is down to culture . Worse Fischer then starts saying that children should be trained in faith in much the same way as terrorists are in the Muslim world . Hmmm train the kids to blow themselves and some infidels up you mean Becky ? Please tell me you didn't literally mean that ? The documentary then focuses on three children , Levi , Rachael and Tory and while Christian theocratic nutjobs like Becky Fischer need put in to a straitjacket and forcefed anti-psychotic medication the children here are poor wretched victims of deluded and bad parents . Tory shows us her dance moves and states "When I dance I really have to make sure it's really God because people will notice I'm dancing for the flesh and people sometimes notice that" Tory is a ten year old child FFS ! These children are victims of child abuse . It's not the sexual abuse associated with the Vatican based Christian cult but it's still child abuse and comes from superstitious nonsense . Maybe Chris Hansen and Richard Dawkins should join forces and do a show called TO CATCH A Christian CHILD ABUSER . If nothing else it's more evidence than God was , and is the worst man made invention
