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Scary cults
Feb. 13th, 2007 08:18 amI saw Jesus Camp last night at the Bloor Cinema. I guess that means I've seen far more of the nominees for the Best Documentary Oscar than the Best Picture Oscar.
Rather like Deliver Us From Evil, I can't say I learned anything I didn't already know, or at least suspected, but it was still worth seeing.
The movie ranged from almost black comedy to terror. Fun moments include when the camp leader blurts out apropos of nothing "If Harry Potter was in the Old Testament, he'd be killed!" or her showing off the "brain mold" with the gummy hands of sin, or then when she pulled out the toy scythe and fake heart (at least I hope it was fake). That kind of thing leads one engage in a bitchy commentary. When they talk about setting the kids on fire, I remarked to my friend "I hope they don't mean literally." And then when more creepy suicide bomber talk started, I said "Oh, I think they do mean that literally."
Cults in general are scary, but what's scary about this cult is how widespread it is. I remarked on that vacant, sort of drug addicted look on some of the kids. And my friend noted he's seen that in Hare Krishnas. But HKs don't make up a quarter of the US population, nor have even greater political influence -- the Christian cults in Jesus Camp are that powerful.
It's shameful what they are doing to the kids. And the homeschooling scenes felt like a bizarre parody of the Simpsons episode about "the Leader". I guess that's why I always feel vaguely dirty when I find people using my website for homeschooling. The teaching of irrationality was like so many things in the movie, a source of true gallows humour.
Another freaky thing -- the leaders lacked any sense of charisma. (Which is ironic, considering they are called Charismatic Christians.) These cults were being led by people who looked like soccer moms, creepy child molester/headshop owners and used car salemen. If the cultists had a powerful speaking style. If their attempts to speak in tongues weren't so laughably fake (and I don't mean the tongue-speaking of the churchgoers themselves, I mean that of the leaders). If there was some clear reason why anyone (like the kids' parents) would follow these cult leaders, it would almost be reassuring. But instead it looks like even the most ordinary and geeky can inspire people 10 year olds to tape their mouths shut and talk about dying for God.
Thank Goodness my parents weren't into any freaky Christian death cults.
This morning I have to visit my bank to sort out some identity theft. I can't say a term like "identity theft" does wonders for the old self-esteem. Then again, on days when the pointy-haired boss shouts my name, others are welcome to my identity.
Allen
Rather like Deliver Us From Evil, I can't say I learned anything I didn't already know, or at least suspected, but it was still worth seeing.
The movie ranged from almost black comedy to terror. Fun moments include when the camp leader blurts out apropos of nothing "If Harry Potter was in the Old Testament, he'd be killed!" or her showing off the "brain mold" with the gummy hands of sin, or then when she pulled out the toy scythe and fake heart (at least I hope it was fake). That kind of thing leads one engage in a bitchy commentary. When they talk about setting the kids on fire, I remarked to my friend "I hope they don't mean literally." And then when more creepy suicide bomber talk started, I said "Oh, I think they do mean that literally."
Cults in general are scary, but what's scary about this cult is how widespread it is. I remarked on that vacant, sort of drug addicted look on some of the kids. And my friend noted he's seen that in Hare Krishnas. But HKs don't make up a quarter of the US population, nor have even greater political influence -- the Christian cults in Jesus Camp are that powerful.
It's shameful what they are doing to the kids. And the homeschooling scenes felt like a bizarre parody of the Simpsons episode about "the Leader". I guess that's why I always feel vaguely dirty when I find people using my website for homeschooling. The teaching of irrationality was like so many things in the movie, a source of true gallows humour.
Another freaky thing -- the leaders lacked any sense of charisma. (Which is ironic, considering they are called Charismatic Christians.) These cults were being led by people who looked like soccer moms, creepy child molester/headshop owners and used car salemen. If the cultists had a powerful speaking style. If their attempts to speak in tongues weren't so laughably fake (and I don't mean the tongue-speaking of the churchgoers themselves, I mean that of the leaders). If there was some clear reason why anyone (like the kids' parents) would follow these cult leaders, it would almost be reassuring. But instead it looks like even the most ordinary and geeky can inspire people 10 year olds to tape their mouths shut and talk about dying for God.
Thank Goodness my parents weren't into any freaky Christian death cults.
This morning I have to visit my bank to sort out some identity theft. I can't say a term like "identity theft" does wonders for the old self-esteem. Then again, on days when the pointy-haired boss shouts my name, others are welcome to my identity.
Allen
