Christian Boot Camps

Telegraph News ^

[Free and Armed]

A growing Christian movement is encouraging men to discard their "nice guy" personas and emulate the warrior heroes of films such as Braveheart and Gladiator to get closer to God.

Churches and Christian groups worldwide are organising military-style boot camps and "weekend warrior" retreats to help men fight their perceived emasculation within church-going societies. The inspiration for the movement is Wild at Heart, a book by Colorado-based author John Eldredge, who believes "God designed men to be dangerous". The book has already sold 1.5 million copies in English and been translated into 16 languages...

I came across this story at DU, where they were fretting over the idea of right-wing Christian militias. I think this boot camp idea sounds interesting. Wish I had more in-depth information on it to make a good opinion about it. Nonetheless it sounds fun.

[Psalm 73]

Real men love Jesus.

[BallandPowder]

Powder..Patch..Ball FIRE!

King David

[Tax-chick]

Here's John Eldredge's web site:

http://www.ransomedheart.com/

You'll have to navigate in the site to get the information on his camps. The direct link information didn't show on my browser, for some reason.

[speed_addiction]

Someone posted this in response to a post of mine once, "To be bad is good. To be a killer of men is better." All of those men mentioned were killers.

[68skylark]

I know a good boot camp for interested men (and women).

http://banner.goarmy.com/banrtrck/banrdocs/home_fl.jsp?banner=3662-016i-9999-9999-07

[Tax-chick]

And I don't know whether you have children, but if you do, here's a link for "Family Adventure Camp," run by Little Bear Wheeler:

http://www.mantleministries.com/horncreek/

[Free and Armed]

Thanks for the link. It looks like a pretty cool idea to be honest. Devotions, prayer time, mock-boot camp, sounds pretty fun to me. Just reading what the DUmmies are saying, you'd think Christians everywhere were mobilizing for armed combat and training contract killers. I guess anything that smacks of masculinity frightens them horribly.

[68skylark]

I guess anything that smacks of masculinity frightens them horribly.

I think you're right on the money, there.

[Free and Armed]

I'm already joining the Marines, thank you.

[polymuser]

I suppose authentic men could certainly cause DUpers to fret, eh?

[sarasota]

Good going and good luck!

[phugg]

I already went through boot camp. I'll stick with our men's golf retreat.

[68skylark]

I'm already joining the Marines, thank you.

As a soldier, I'm sorry to hear that.

(Just kidding! The USMC is a wonderful organization -- congratulations!)

[Gingersnap]

"...John Eldredge, who believes "God designed men to be dangerous"."

Having closely observed my husband over the past 20 years, I'd have to agree. Fortunately, he's more a danger to himself than others although all bets are off when his brothers come over.

Seriously, I'd rather be protected by a somewhat dangerous Christian guy than a sprout-eating liberal guy.

[Viking2002]

I didn't choose my moniker and avatar 'cuz I thought they wore purty boots......

[twigs]

I just went to the web site and read about boot camps. I didn't see anything dangerous in there, except maybe the ideas. IE, along the lines of C. S. Lewis' Aslan, who was NOT a tame lion. Nothing militia about them, unless there's more that doesn't meet the eye.

[Rummyfan]

Good luck! Semper Fi!

[Tax-chick]

I think you're right about DU simply being afraid of masculinity ... and of Christianity, too. Are they afraid of anyone who goes on a rafting or hiking trip? Nuts!

[j_k_l]

"Nothing militia about them, unless there's more that doesn't meet the eye."

The battles that Eldredge addresses are spiritual. I have read all four of his books and most of his subject matter revolves around men being who God created them to be. He calls for men to reject passivity, take resposiblity and stand up and be leaders.

One of his great quotes is "Jesus is not Mr. Rodgers with a beard".