Jesus Camp

• Becky Fischer
• Mike Papantonio
• Ted Haggard

Jesus Camp is an American documentary directed by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing about a children's summer camp of the Christian " charismatic movement ". There, the children are trained to work to ensure "win back for Jesus Christ " the United States.

The film was released in September 2006 in the U.S. and was nominated for the Academy Awards in 2007 for Best Documentary. In the country of origin, he sparked a lot of discussion about the methods of Charismatics and the objectivity of the producers represented. In Germany the film was shown at the International Documentary Film Festival Munich in the original language in 2007, and then in the winter of 2007 /08 at a number of places in the German version in the film series after tomorrow the Action Man / The shareholder. The first broadcast in the German television took place on 19 June 2007 in the ORF, voiced by speakers of Austrian television. On 15 October 2007 the film was aired in German machining in the WDR.

Action

Jesus Camp is a documentary about the charismatic summer camp Kids on Fire ( German: Inflamed children) in Devil 's Lake, North Dakota, which is led by the Pastor Becky Fischer and organized by Kids in Ministry International. In this summer camp children charismatic Christians are taught in primary school age to their " prophetic gift " to discover and strengthen. From the Pastor they are prompted in a large and simple church to be " clean " from their sins and to be quite the mission and the spread of evangelical doctrines, such as the Intelligent Design and the banning of abortion to prescribe. The children are called " chosen generation " means that America is to reclaim for Christ again; therefore they should join the " Army of God " ( Army of God). Through the rhetoric of the pastor - unless you preach before the children even of the "prophet" Lou Engle and the preacher Ted Haggard - as well as the use of music, dance and PowerPoint presentations are the children encouraged to participate. This pray and sing obviously thrilled with. Several times is to see how many of the children collectively shed a tear or religious ecstasy " in tongues " prays. Becky Fischer makes clear that the need to focus as a Christian on the education of children because it finally did "the enemy".

The film follows focuses on three children who attend the camp. All three are firmly convinced of the truth of the teachings and engage it. The boy Levi is, how many of the participants, informed by his parents at home and therefore learns exclusively evangelical standpoint. For example, taught him that global warming could have no great importance, since it amounts to only a few degrees, and other issues are more important. Levi has preached himself several times and therefore wants to be a preacher. Rachael regularly distributed small booklets to foreign people around her when she feels that these require a conversion. Ridicule from other children ignored in the belief that not the opinion of men, but God's judgment is crucial about them on the Day of Judgment. Victoria ( Tory ) is a member of a children's dance group that advertises with menacing -looking appearances in pseudo - military uniforms for a fight for evangelicalism and thus appears to be particularly children of the same age group responds. She enjoys dancing, but only hear Christian rock music and despised secular artists such as Britney Spears.

The producers of the documentary renounce completely a comment or narrator from the off, only brief information about people or places are displayed. Only a short time simple, depressing film music is played and at the end of the song Spirit in the Sky. The plot is made up of footage from the church, scenes from everyday life of the people portrayed and comments from them. The only critical voices are rehearsed radio reports, especially by Mike Papantonio, which was filmed in his studio. Background of the radio discussion was the controversy over the proposed appointment of a very conservative judge to the Supreme Court of the United States by President George W. Bush, which was supported by evangelicals and remembered for the Papantonio on the separation of religion and state.

Controversy

The images of the film lay close comparisons with the religious education of children in parts of the Islamic world, where they are brought up to God's warriors. This comparison also provides Becky Fischer in the film, but as a justification for their own methods. The fact that the children an indoctrination is given, which hardly leaves them room to decide freely, is not discussed by those responsible.

From the producers of the claim is made to present an honest and unbiased movie, which suggests no fixed point of view. From Evangelical side were accused only represent a small aspect of evangelicalism and thereby distort the image. The directors hold in a statement noted that only Ted Haggard was unhappy with the manner of its presentation, and claim to have all the people portrayed realistically and sympathetically.

Michael Moore showed the film on his Traverse City Film Festival, although the film distributor Magnolia Pictures this is not desired. They feared that the film with certain ideas and interests is associated.