Stratovarius Community

I wonder what the opinions are about this documentary on this forum. Anyone seen it?

Here is the IMDB entry

Here is the official website

Here is the trailer

And here is a quite thought-provoking, if biased, review.

I think it's frightening, that young children are being forced into such religious fervour. Children are in no position to make up their minds about something as advanced as the concept of religion.

We've all seen the Madrasas in Pakistan brainwashing young children into believing that the Prophet Muhammed wants them to sacrifice their lives for an ideal, I think this is the Western equivalent. You could argue, however, that many children in Pakistan are sent to Madrasas because they are one of the few ways poor parents can give their child an education (many classes on science and mathematics are also taught at these schools, along with the religious brainwashing). However, this Jesus Camp is attended by well-off children. This is fully out of choice.

As someone who sees organised religion having no place in a modern society and instead as something very personal and private, I find this film highly disturbing. The free countries of the world are embroiled in a struggle against religious extremism now, but it's not only Islam that is a problem.

It is heartbreaking to see the innocence of childhood be corrupted in this manner.

NeonVomit wrote:We've all seen the Madrasas in Pakistan brainwashing young children into believing that the Prophet Muhammed wants them to sacrifice their lives for an ideal, I think this is the Western equivalent.

This is exactly what this is. Because, the leader of that camp talks about "making war" with the enemy. I know that the Bible is referred to as a "double-edge sword", but to use it as a total offensive weapon is misinterpreting it.

Pretty much what she teaches these kids is what I'm learning in theology. These kids don't need to go through that at a young age. She also takes the Scriptures WAY out of context.

NeonVomit wrote:As someone who sees organised religion having no place in a modern society and instead as something very personal and private, I find this film highly disturbing. The free countries of the world are embroiled in a struggle against religious extremism now, but it's not only Islam that is a problem.

Well, as a person who is born and raised Lutheran, and will be working in a Lutheran church, this disturbs me even more.

Every time I hear about Christian extremist, I wanna go up to them, beat the living shit out of them, and say, "What the fuck are you saying!?" Yes, I know, it doesn't sound very Christ-like, but it fucking irritates me to see my own brothers and sisters in Christ going to these pointless extremes for no reason whatsoever.

Going to extremes in Religion&being strict will tend to actually turn people, especially teens, off to religion.

Fuck... thats just twisted, I became atheist by my own will through considering the angles and doing some "soul searching" but I don't resent others if they are deeply religious as long as they don't force it on me (same principle with homosexuality and suicide, do as you will for all I care) these kids won't ever get that chance... any sort of imposed and rigid system on a person will either break the person or the system...

This is completely fucked up. And I don't say this because I'm atheist. If atheists were trying to do the same thing with atheism, I would think that's fucked up.

NeonVomit wrote: Children are in no position to make up their minds about something as advanced as the concept of religion.

Are adults?


Anyway I still haven't seen this thing yet, but I'm kind of interested in how creeped out I can get.

i love the phrase 'born again children.' um... weren't they, like... JUST born recently?

If you're really interested in things like that, ya'll should read Jeanette Winterson's first novel, 'Oranges are Not the Only Fruit.' One of my favourites...