Jesus Camp - the movie
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I doubt this movie will be shown in Singapore but it's a good demonstration of the dangers of religious extremism. I realise that most Singaporeans are much more moderate and reasonable. However, I think that is partly due to the fact that our society is secular.
In The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins argues that even moderate religion is a danger. Not because moderate religion itself is a danger, but because moderate religion makes the world safer for religious extremism.
The following is an overview of Jesus Camp from Wikipedia.
Jesus Camp debuted at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival, and was sold by A&E Indie Films to Magnolia Pictures. Controversy surrounding the film was featured in several television news programs and print media articles in 2006 (see links below).
Jesus Camp is a documentary about the "Kids On Fire School of Ministry," a charismatic Christian summer camp located just outside Devils Lake, North Dakota and run by Becky Fischer and her ministry, Kids in Ministry International. The film focuses on three children who attended the camp in the summer of 2005--Levi, Rachael, and Tory (Victoria). The film cuts between footage of the camp and a children's prayer conference held just prior to the camp at Christ Triumphant Church, a large charismatic church in Lee's Summit, Missouri; a suburb of Kansas City.
All three children, despite their youth, are very devout charismatic Christians. Levi, who has ambitions of being a pastor, has already preached several sermons at his father's church, Rock of Ages Church in St. Robert, Missouri. He is homeschooled (as are many of the campers), and learns physical science from a book that attempts to reconcile the creationist account with scientific principles, occasionally by dismissing science altogether[verification needed]. He preaches a sermon at the camp in which he declares that his generation is key to Jesus's coming back. Rachael, who also attends Levi's church (her father is assistant pastor), is seen praying over a bowling ball early in the film, and frequently passes Christian tracts (including some by Jack Chick) to people she meets. She doesn't think very highly of non-charismatic churches (or "dead churches," as she calls them), feeling they aren't "churches that God likes to go to." Tory is a member of the children's praise dance team at Christ Triumphant Church. She frequently dances to Christian heavy metal music, and feels uncomfortable about "dancing for the flesh." She also doesn't think very highly of Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan.
At the camp, Fischer stresses the need for children to purify themselves in order to be part of the "army of God." She strongly believes that children need to be in the forefront of turning America toward conservative Christian values. She also feels that Christians need to focus on training kids since "the enemy" are focused on training theirs.
In one scene shot at Christ Triumphant Church, Lou Engle, the chief "prophet" (a term not used in the film) for Harvest International Ministries (the "apostolic network" with which both the church and Fischer's ministry are affiliated--an affiliation not advertised in the film) and founder of the Justice House of Prayer, preaches a message urging children to join the fight to end abortion in America. He prays for George W. Bush to have the strength to appoint "righteous judges" who will overturn Roe v. Wade. By the end of the sermon, the children are chanting, "Righteous judges! Righteous judges!" In another, a woman brings a life-sized cutout of Bush to the front of the church, and has the children stretch their hands toward him. Some media reports misinterpreted this as "worshipping" the president, but the children were actually "praying over him." Indeed, the woman clearly says to "pray for" and "speak a blessing to" Bush. Stretching hands toward someone is a derivative of laying hands on someone, which is a very common practice in Pentecostal and charismatic churches.
There is also a scene at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Levi and his family go on vacation to hear its renowned pastor, Ted Haggard. (Less than two months after the release of the film, Haggard became embroiled in a high-profile scandal involving homosexual prostitution and methamphetamine use.[citation needed]) Afterward, Levi, Rachael and their families take part in a Justice House of Prayer rally held by Engle in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Additionally, there is a debate between Fischer and Mike Papantonio (an attorney and a radio talk-show host for Air America Radio's Ring of Fire).
The DVD, released in January 2007, includes several deleted scenes. In one of them, Levi's father and mother suggest that the next president may well have been at Kids on Fire. In another, Tory's mother takes several of the kids to a pro-life women's clinic located next door to a Planned Parenthood clinic. In an interview, the clinic's director says that she was very pleased to see children so passionate about ending abortion. The DVD also includes commentary by Grady and Ewing. They reveal that when they arrived in Kansas City, there was a great deal of excitement over the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. However, according to Grady and Ewing, Fischer and the others didn't see their activism for socially conservative causes as political, but as a matter of faith. They also reveal that Fischer and the others didn't understand why some of the scenes of them speaking in tongues and praying over objects got in the film. -
Are atheist like this? keep pointing the bad points abt each and single religious groups? tsktsk
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Religious extremism is silly, and it goes against God's supposed Will. Don't forget that religion has been, and is still being, used as a tool to control the masses for political gain. This is a sad fact we all have to live with, and regardless of what we believe in, whether we are religious or non-religious, we have to work against it.
On another note, felirox has a point. You don't see Christians/Muslims/Buddhists bombarding or talking about atheists the same way. -
inbred redneck hillbillies
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In a recent survey conducted in the US, atheists were identified as the least trusted minority.Originally posted by SturmDerSchatten:Religious extremism is silly, and it goes against God's supposed Will. Don't forget that religion has been, and is still being, used as a tool to control the masses for political gain. This is a sad fact we all have to live with, and regardless of what we believe in, whether we are religious or non-religious, we have to work against it.
On another note, felirox has a point. You don't see Christians/Muslims/Buddhists bombarding or talking about atheists the same way.
http://www.ur.umn.edu/FMPro?-db=releases&-lay=web&-format=umnnewsreleases/releasesdetail.html&ID=2816&-Find
In fact, it is shown that in the current political environment, there is no possibility of an atheist being voted the President of the United States. If a politician declares himself an atheist, that is basically committing political suicide.
The religious base their distrust of atheists on their belief that atheists have no moral compass, want the freedom to just do whatever they want, etc. I've covered these points in another post. -
Well, that's because, forgive me for being so frank, atheists tend to be seen as either arrogant, uncaring and socially inept scientists or angry, unhappy and irate people frustrated with the Church. They are common stereotypes that run deep into the roots of many societies, and that could probably explain why people distrust atheists so much.Originally posted by Phaze:In a recent survey conducted in the US, atheists were identified as the least trusted minority.
http://www.ur.umn.edu/FMPro?-db=releases&-lay=web&-format=umnnewsreleases/releasesdetail.html&ID=2816&-Find
In fact, it is shown that in the current political environment, there is no possibility of an atheist being voted the President of the United States. If a politician declares himself an atheist, that is basically committing political suicide.
The religious base their distrust of atheists on their belief that atheists have no moral compass, want the freedom to just do whatever they want, etc. I've covered these points in another post. -
Again, it's a matter of perspective.Originally posted by SturmDerSchatten:Well, that's because, forgive me for being so frank, atheists tend to be seen as either arrogant, uncaring and socially inept scientists or angry, unhappy and irate people frustrated with the Church. They are common stereotypes that run deep into the roots of many societies, and that could probably explain why people distrust atheists so much.
In my opinion, the religious are the ones who are arrogant. They present a logically inconsistant worldview and get upset when people point it out. It's like if I tell someone "there is no Santa Claus" and the person responds by saying, "how dare you say that! You're so arrogant!"
The religious also try to impose their values on others by creating laws (I acknowledge that it's not so much a problem in Singapore). They ask for special priviledges (tax exemption, etc) and complain of religious persecution if it is not granted.
As to the point about atheists being uncaring, I accept that perhaps that might be true. I personally don't think I am uncaring but I do value truth over comfort.
Oh... your frankness is forgiven.
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Who had watch this movie?
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You can view a trailer on youtube.Originally posted by soulwinner:Who had watch this movie?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_EKHK1C2IE
I've not seen it yet though. -
atheist point out the fault of others is to convince them through words and explanations.
some of the atheist arguments may have been not well enough because arguing well is actually difficult for any people.
i argue in a diplomatic peaceful sense because i disagree with opinions of some of the replies so i want to put forth the mistake i think he make.
i want to promote atheism and show others is wrong because i think its better to have more atheists in the world. but i not that active atheist that is so eager to make peopel atheists.
i just talk and talk in the forum. that is the thing i do mainly. -
i also restrict my arguments within internet forum plateform. i do not go outside and give phamplet or what.. so its very mild form of promotion liao loh.
i do not also talk abt atheism in real life also. -
I go to Hong Lim Park 3 times a week to talk about atheism.Originally posted by january:i also restrict my arguments within internet forum plateform. i do not go outside and give phamplet or what.. so its very mild form of promotion liao loh.
i do not also talk abt atheism in real life also.
Also, sometimes I stand at Orchard Underpass with the keyboard player and sing about atheism.
I'm also thinking of hiring Steven Lim to act as a spokesman for atheism. He's proof that there's no intelligent designer.
Just kidding!
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Oh. I saw on Yahoo Movies that Jesus Camp is slated for a 21 June release date.
http://sg.movies.yahoo.com/Jesus+Camp/movie/14124/
If there's enough interest, perhaps we can organize an outing to watch it. -
will be shown in sg meh?
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Yeah. It kinda surprised me as well.Originally posted by laurence82:will be shown in sg meh?
However, the listing shows the movie is coming out on 21 June 2007. This movie was originally released in 2006 so I presume that must be the Singapore release date.
If the govt allowed it, I suspect that they see this movie not as an indictment of Christianity, but as and educational tool to inform people of the dangers of religious extremism. -
Well, i am sure the mainstream Christians are against extremism and cults in Christianity, so i guess its okOriginally posted by Phaze:Yeah. It kinda surprised me as well.
However, the listing shows the movie is coming out on 21 June 2007. This movie was originally released in 2006 so I presume that must be the Singapore release date.
If the govt allowed it, I suspect that they see this movie not as an indictment of Christianity, but as and educational tool to inform people of the dangers of religious extremism.