What Is Jesus Camp Deviant

Tim Stewart, creator of the Dictionary of Christianese website, in his article “Missionary Kid (MK)” (2013), argues that missionary kids can either be little devils or precious angles, but either way they have a unique and diverse upbringing. He supports this claim by first defining a good MK as someone who practices what the bible teaches (par. 1), then by declaring the bad stereotype of the MK who falters under the pressure and becomes a rebel or troublemaker (par. 2), finally by showing that MKs grow up surrounded by a different culture than their parent’s, which provides many beneficial circumstances for learning (par. 3-6), while also cultivating issues when returning “home”. Steward’s purpose in writing this is to educate Christians about

One characteristic of totalitarianism being shown in the movie is education/indoctrination of the youth. They did this through an organization called the Hitlerjugend, or commonly referred to in the movie as the HJs. The nazis were brainwashing boys and young men into believing Hitler’s ideology. One example of how this is depicted in the movie is Peter being forced to join the HJ after getting in trouble with the police for stealing a radio. Once he joined he would then be introduced to the “teachings” of the HJ teachers, with the teachers derogating Jews. This is an example of education of the youth because young men were strongly encouraged and in Peter’s case, forced to join the HJ. Once they joined they were taught about Hitler’s ideas, with them usually bad-mouthing other races or anything that was an influence from America. Another way that education of the youth was being shown in the movie was when a Jewish boy was being beaten up by a group of HJs. This is an example of education of the youth because the Hitlerjugend were successfully brainwashing the boys and young men to discriminate and hate Jews. Finally education of the youth is shown when Thomas and Peter were discussing about the HJ, one interesting point that appeared during their discussion was when Thomas mentioned all the rewards

The irony of the situation is that Casey works to keep the pay up for the workers in the camp. Instead of attacking the cops, who are trying to keep the price down, the men beat the obvious labor organizers. This can allude to the bible how Jesus Christ worked for peace and change to the oppressed and unjust. Instead, he is crucified for his title and not his action. Therefore, this is similar for the

A little more than 35 years ago, a man named Jim Jones shocked the world when he led almost 1,000 of his followers in an act of mass suicide; amongst those dead were more than 270 children1. On November 18, 1978, Jones and his followers drank Kool-Aid laced with cyanide in what he had presented to them as a peaceful escape to injustices of this world. The Jonestown Massacre was an incredible tragedy that sent waves through the whole world. Though the event was tragic, scholars have used our knowledge of what happened in order to deepen our understanding of cults, religions, and how both can influence people’s decisions.

Jesus is stripped of his clothing in public in order to embarrass and ridicule him in front of his followers

It is known to all that organized religion has noticeably shaped every aspect of human identity for numerous years. In fact in today’s society, freedom of religion is declared as a fundamental right which allows individuals to practice without interference. However, despite its growing popularity, many scholars believe that the line between healthy and unhealthy religion has increasingly blurred. For instance, James W. Jones in his text, Terror and Transformation: The Ambiguity of Religion in Psychoanalytic Perspective” describes healthy religion as one that allows the individual to grow and mature (Jones 2002). On the other hand, Jones explains unhealthy religion as one that allows the devotee to be in a state of submission. This debate is especially relevant for the film “Jesus Camp”, where unhealthy religion can be easily observed. With that in mind, this paper aims examine the film Jesus Camp using Jones’s ideas on religious idealization. First, following an overview of Jones’s ideas from his text, the film Jesus Camp will be used as an illustration of an unhealthy religion. Ultimately after analyzing the film, it will be argued that the religious idealization depicted in this movie as unhealthy rather than mature.

Faith and conformity can go hand in hand. When one has family members that belong to a religion it is easier to conform to keep the peace then to rebel and strain relationships with one’s family. One may ask if this conformity is worth the guilt that comes with lying to one’s family and self. Saying one thing but doing another can inflict an enormous amount of guilt on a person, especially a young child. In Langston Hughes’s story, “Salvation” (1940), the reader gains insight into what happens when a twelve year old conforms into a religion they do not truly believe in.

The people who are gathered in front of Jesus did not understand that this bread was provided by God, they thought Moses had fed the people. The bread was sent from heaven to supply for the physical needs of the people. The people do not understand that Jesus can fill them in a way that no bread is able to. It is evident that this crowd does not yet understand what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus.

Lastly, in the incident with Jonestown, showed the most extreme case of conformity and obedience. Jim Jones was a pastor at Peoples Temple, he was the leader of an interracial church. For its time, Jim Jones was pushing past race and ethnicity and introducing a new church that welcomed all people. Jones was the type of man that made people feel comfortable and at home; maybe that is why so many people followed him when he moved his temple across the county and then to Guyana. I think what made people interested in Jonestown was how the community seemed very close and simple, but who would have guessed that those 900 townspeople would all commit mass suicide just because one man said to. The question that remains is, why did so many people obey

Jesus' decision to physically cast out the moneylenders from the temple stands as one of the most interesting events of his life, because it represents what seems to be the only moment in the Gospel narratives where he becomes visibly angry to the point of physical action. While one could argue that Jesus is frequently (and justifiably) angry with the disciples from time to time, this is the only moment that Jesus' anger moves him to physical force. Although the event is recorded in all four of the Gospels, this study will focus specifically on its rendering in Matthew, because when considered in the context of Matthew's larger narrative, one can see how Jesus' decision to cleanse the temple does not represent an aberration in either his character or theological message, but rather the natural culmination of Jesus' life and works prior to that point, and demonstrates a kind of revolutionary, anti-authoritarian element of Jesus' message of salvation that is all too often overlooked by Christians and critics alike.

Arguments can be extremely frustrating. Sometimes no matter how accurate a particular perspective appears to someone, it may be impossible to convince another to feel the same. The differences in fundamental values between people are responsible for the differences the formation of opinions. The manner in which people adopt these core beliefs is no mystery, and is explored in the documentary Jesus Camp. Humans are social animals, and cultural systems have been established since the beginning of humanity to strengthen the quality of interactions. Human babies are unable to raise themselves, and require the care of adults to foster. Throughout the process of development, children adopt the culture presented to them by adults. Children, who are psychologically developing, are extremely malleable in comparison to adults. This makes them an important focus for an adult generation looking to succeed their beliefs. This film inspects the strong Evangelical upbringing several families practice with their children, portraying this in an unflattering manner. All cultures are different, and these differences should be praised as well as made compatible with modern society as much as possible.

The many beatings, suicides and sexual molestations shattered many children’s human spirit and created a sense of life that wasn’t worth living. “When your innocence is stripped from you, when your people are denigrated, when the family you came from is denounced and your tribal ways and rituals are pronounced backward, primitive, savage, you come to see yourself as less than human. That is hell on earth, that sense of unworthiness. That's what they inflicted on us.”(Pg.81) The quote represents how they were stripped from everything they had ever know, such as their language, rituals, traditions and even choice of food. Over a short period of time, the beatings and threats belittled the children and instilled them with continuous fear. When taken all together, the horror of attending this Residential School stripped not only Saul’s, but all the children’s innocence, traditions and identity.

Of course, the Misfit states that he is not convinced if Jesus truly did everything that has been documented. However, he does state that if Jesus did, “Then there’s nothing for you to do but throw away everything and follow Him.” (O’Connor, 195) Though the Misfit considers the other alternative: “If He didn’t, then it’s nothing for you to do but enjoy the few minutes you got left the best way you can—by killing somebody or burning down his house or doing some other meanness to him.” Thus, the Misfit never gives a clear answer as to whether he believes or not, but does state, “I wish I had been there, if I had of been there I would of known and I wouldn’t be like I am now.” (O’Connor, 195) According to Hendricks, T.W., and Charles May, “From a Christian point of view, what the Misfit is saying about himself is true of all humanity. We are all being punished for Adam’s disobedience— the Misfit is Everyman.” (Hendricks, T.W., and Charles E. May, 134) After the Misfit states, “No pleasure but meanness,” (O’Connor, 195) here is where the readers may begin to feel sympathy for the Misfit. Until this point, the audience are unable to sympathize for any character. The Misfit is a dense, vile, and cruel man and is responsible for the murder of many people, including the family members of

Many Americans flocked to see Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Passion of the Christ.” On over 2.000 screens across America the viewed the “harrowing depiction of Jesus' last 12 hours in wide-screen vivid color.” (Allen 2004) People viewed images of Jesus being flogged, crucified and left to die. This violence caused some Christians discomfort with theology, and some Jews’ fear that it will “incite violence against them because of its portrayal of Jews’ involvement in Jesus’ death.” (Allen 2004)

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (Bible). Jesus was publicly crucified because of his unwillingness to conform with the world’s beliefs. While The Misfit is not killed for his abnormal way of life, he is sent to prison. Although the world has an opposing opinion of what is right neither Jesus Christ or The Misfit back away from their own morals. Jesus Christ was a “misfit” in his own society.