Militant Jesus Camp?

[MzDiz]

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2456227

What was that? Worshipping at a picture of the president? What?

I wish I could tell these kids that if someone isn't a Christian, chances are they have heard about it and decided they arent' interested, making them annoying. No need to get themselves killed over my eternal soul. I have a religion, thanks.

I remember my son coming home when he was in the fourth grade, telling me that another student was asking him if he knew Jesus, and grilling him about his faith. DS told him to stop and the kid went on to tell him that he'd be burning in hell. I wondered then where these kids come from, now I know.

For very devout Christians, this may warm your cockles, but as a non-Christian, it scares me. Sure, they aren't taking up guns like the poor little Muslim kids we see on the news all the time, but this isn't too far away from that.

So, would you send your kid to this kind of camp? To smash things, scream, and writhe at the foot of a Bush poster? Does this scare you? Does it send the wrong message about Christianity? Do you agree with it?

Inquiring minds, and what not...

 

[RealMickeysGirl]

Sure, they aren't taking up guns like the poor little Muslim kids we see on the news all the time,

Not Yet, but could that be far behind - they talked about being warriors and the adult woman - I assume she is the leader - said that she wants them to be like the islamic people ready to give their lives to further their mission.

Extreme fundamentalism - no matter what it is based on, is dangerous.

 

[cstraub]

After watching that I am even more convinced that ALL organized religion is a bad idea.

Can't people just go out into the woods, take a deep breath and realize that is "god"? Too many rules and battles....it's just not right.

 

[cardaway]

Extreme fundamentalism - no matter what it is based on, is dangerous.

 

[eclectics]

After watching that I am even more convinced that ALL organized religion is a bad idea.

I've felt that for quite a long time. My thoughts on organized religion; Put a bunch of men and women together with a bit of power up for grabs and arguments are the most likely outcome. I've seen enough congregation splits in my lifetime to know this is the truth. As for the OP, it's sad that it seems to be the majority opinion that Islam has the exclusive dibs on radical thinking.

 

[Uncle Remus]

This youth camp is SICK!

 

[Geoff_M]

After watching that I am even more convinced that ALL organized religion is a bad idea.

That would be like me saying "After seeing the actions of the Unibomber, it's finally convinced me that ALL environmentalism is a bad idea."

The lady and her "camp" are whack jobs. Period. And I will make a bold prediction that they will not flurish either.

This still is nothing new, as late at the early 1980's the John Birch Society held youth summer camps to indocturnate kids about the views of "world communism" and to prepare them for the coming military showdown against the red menance. I remember a conversation I had with the out of town niece of a family friend about her recent time at a Bircher camp and about the war about to come. She gave me the creeps and I felt I was talking to a Moonie.

Just read the accompanying story to the video. Here's a smear of breathtaking proportion:

A Growing Movement

This camp is, by many accounts, a small — and perhaps extreme — slice of what some say is a growing, intensifying evangelical youth movement.

Over the past decade and a half, enrollment at Christian colleges is up 70 percent. Sales of Christian music are up 300 percent. Tens of thousands of youth pastors have been trained. Link

Wow, that one heck of a logical leap there... Because my kids and I like groups like the Newsboys, Jars of Clay, Barlow Girl, Casting Crowns, then we're in kahoots with those yahoos talking about armed conflict for Jesus???? Wow. "What media bias???"

 

[clarabelle]

After watching that I am even more convinced that ALL organized religion is a bad idea.

Can't people just go out into the woods, take a deep breath and realize that is "god"? Too many rules and battles....it's just not right.

Going out into the woods and taking a deep breath and having that be God just doesn't work for a lot of people. I know lots of terrible things have came out of organized religion. But in my life I personally have gotten so much good out of it. My community as well benefits (we house homeless, do soup kitchen build houses in Mexico -the list goes on and on.)

I don't think this person and this camp are "normal". Also not all Christians are out trying to convert people. You can't lump us all in one group we are very diverse just as I am sure other religions and atheists etc... are diverse.

 

[maleficent1959]

You see a logical "leap." I don't. The article says that there is a growing evangelical youth movement. Some of the indicators are that there are increased Christian music sales, increased enrollment at Christian colleges, and, yes, that there is this radical Christian camp. Probably not the only one of its kind, but certainly at the extreme. The article even says it's a small, extreme slice of a bigger movement. The camp is described as extreme, not the movement itself.

I took it to mean that this is an itty bitty part of a more moderate movement. Doesn't mean that if you listen to Point of Grace you're going to send your first-grader to camp where he'll be slain by the Spirit, speaking in tongues, and smashing mugs rather than bringing them home.

 

[maleficent1959]

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2456227...
So, would you send your kid to this kind of camp? To smash things, scream, and writhe at the foot of a Bush poster? Does this scare you? Does it send the wrong message about Christianity? Do you agree with it?

Inquiring minds, and what not...

No, I wouldn't send my kid to this kind of a camp. I don't even send him to Vacation Bible School.

He may scream at a Bush poster at some point in his life though, who knows. I've certainly wanted to on occasion.

Yes, I do find it chilling. Seeing a little girl describe herself as a warrior for Christ and a boy talk about all the people that die for God is more than a little unsettling.

The wrong message? There have been other militant groups in the past. Different people have different interpretations (how's that for wishy washy?) hence religion vs. faith. But in terms of the idea of what Christianity is and represents that I grew up with ... yeah, I think it's pretty f'd up.

 

[Geoff_M]

The article says that there is a growing evangelical youth movement.

It's not the statement of that fact that makes it a leap, it's the attempt to link this fact with the existence of this camp.

Consider this statement using my analogy:

A Growing Movement

People like the "Unabomber" are, by many accounts, a small — and perhaps extreme — slice of what some say is a growing, intensifying environmental movement.

Over the past decade and a half, enrollment in Enviromental Studies programs is up 70 percent on college campuses. Sales of "organic" foods are up 300 percent.

Should people that prefer "organic" foods be lumped into the same boat as Ted Kaczynski??? Should an increase in interest in environmental sciences be used as a barometer for increased eco-terrorism?

 

[eclectics]

He may scream at a Bush poster at some point in his life though, who knows. I've certainly wanted to on occasion.

 

[Keli]

I don't have a problem with christians trying to convert others as long as they are respectful.
Many Christians believe that those that die without becoming a christian will go to hell. They believe hell is a firery pit that burns for eternity and that those that go there never actually die, they just burn forever.
I guess love of humanity would require them to try to warn others and prevent them from going to hell.
I just don't have a problem with someone sharing their faith with me. I have the freedom to walk away if I choose. No one is forcing me to become a christian.

 

[Aidensmom]

For very devout Christians, this may warm your cockles, but as a non-Christian, it scares me. Sure, they aren't taking up guns like the poor little Muslim kids we see on the news all the time, but this isn't too far away from that.

Perhaps you meant "radical" or "extreme" rather than devout? This video is portraying an extreme, not your average devout Christian.

So, would you send your kid to this kind of camp? To smash things, scream, and writhe at the foot of a Bush poster? Does this scare you? Does it send the wrong message about Christianity? Do you agree with it?

I would not send my child to this particular camp. For one thing, I am very turned off by politics being part of it. Why does Bush have anything to do with this? Whereas I would like to believe I would die for my beliefs (i.e. if all who admited to being Christian were being killed, I would like to believe I would still admit publicly that I was one), I don't know that young children are able to really understand that concept, and it seems here that is not quite what they mean by dying for God.

I would, however, send my son to your average church camp or vacation bible school if he wanted to go.

I don't have a problem with things like speaking in tongues (if it is a true gift and not faked just to be accepted), being emotional about God, etc. either, different people are comfortable with different expressions of their faith.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Seen these?

 

[JennyMominRI]

Seen these?

It looks like an updated KKK outfit

 

[Fitswimmer]

It's not the statement of that fact that makes it a leap, it's the attempt to link this fact with the existence of this camp.

That's the same type of reporting that moderate Muslims complain about-but of course, that's justified.

ABC is sending a subtle message that all Christians are like those portrayed in this video and that is an insult. Now, should Christians go burn Charlie Gibson in effigy or burn down the studio?

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Seen these?

Something tells me if the middle school football team hears about lil' Jimmy's new PJs, he's in for a rough Monday morning in Homeroom!!

 

[Fitswimmer]

The scary thing isn't that somebody made them, but that somebody else will probably buy them!

Those kids are going to end up making a lot of money for some therapist someday.

 

[Galahad]

ABC is sending a subtle message that all Christians are like those portrayed in this video and that is an insult.

I'm not sure it's so subtle. Often the real purpose of threads like this as presenting a platform to pull all Christians and Christianity into it.