I'm not suprised at the existence of this radical, kook-fringe Christianity. For people like this, religion is incidental to the deeper psychological pathologies. They are dangerous, and need to be shut down because what they are doing here is truly child abuse.
At the same time, I am concerned that kook fringe groups like this will define Evangelical Christianity. The last thing Christians need is for Jesus Camp to be the image the world takes away from evangelical youth ministry. As someone who has worked in Christian camps through college, I can emphasize that the hatred and intolerance spewed on the trailer is not what we taught there.
There's also the possiblity - which I discount, but it should be stated - that the footage may be manipulated via editing and selective quotations of the kids to make the camp, and by extension, Christians, look far worse than it actually is.
It does look really bad, all by itself. A segment on GMA just now was devoted to it. The kids were scary in their intensity.
I can back you up on that. I have some involvement with a Christian Camp as a bus driver and a few other things. Behaviour like portrayed in thsi film is counter to the reality of Christian camps.
Precisely.
At the same time, I am concerned that kook fringe groups like this will define Evangelical Christianity.
That depends: will other evangelical Christians unambiguously denounce this sort of abusive brainwashing, or will they spew CAIR-like equivocations on the subject?
They are dangerous, and need to be shut down because what they are doing here is truly child abuse.
No.
A) Freedom of religion
B) Entertainment value
At the same time, I am concerned that kook fringe groups like this will define Evangelical Christianity. The last thing Christians need is for Jesus Camp to be the image the world takes away from evangelical youth ministry. As someone who has worked in Christian camps through college, I can emphasize that the hatred and intolerance spewed on the trailer is not what we taught there.
That's your opinion and, opinions are like a**holes, we all have one.