Extremely Uncomfortable: at once and later

Uncomfortable: This was the first word which came out of my thoughts after watching “Jesus Camp”, documentary film dealing about the evangelist church movements in religious camps and daily life. Maybe other viewers might feel the same “discomfort” after encountering with zealous actions toward Christianity. In fact, however, I encountered two discomforts throughout the documentary: the extreme tenets of the evangelist church, and the depiction of the documentary. Yes, the documentary was successful in depicting the occasions within evangelist communities. However, was it “truly successful”? While we laughed, mocked, and pitied at the children indoctrinated by the camp leader Becky Fischer, we were also “indoctrinated” by the intentions of Rachel Gardy, the producer of the film.

Before encountering the two discomforts within the documentary film, we should view on why the documentary was made. The producers did not know the situation of the evangelist church at first: they merely wanted to film the Jesus Camp with interest and enthusiasm. Rachel Gardy wanted to depict the atmosphere and reveal the facts of Jesus Camp hidden under the veil of religion as he did in “Boys of Baraka”, which depicts about the tragic and hopeless life of African-American high school students in Baltimore. After encountering the happenings in Jesus Camp, the producers were shocked and enraged by the happenings in the Jesus Camp, trying to depict the craziness within the evangelist church. The producers made further recordings not only in Jesus Camp, but also in evangelist Christians dwellings and in the radio station. The producers showed the opinions of evangelist Christians in daily life and in media, supporting their major opinion in the documentary. The juxtaposition of three recordings separately merged into one “highly-praised film”, Jesus Camp.

Was Becky Fischer truly a crazy person? Or was she portrayed as a crazy person? We might be able to find the answers for the two questions by considering the thoughts behind Becky Fischer and Rachel Gardy. Becky Fischer had the belief that young children, or the next generations, are the very important “people” to establish the role of true Christianity. As adults who have learned and believed in Christianity, evangelist church members should guide these children to a better way, making them as the true followers of god. Therefore, the procedures to achieve the goal are justified. Since Jesus Camp is one of the procedures to lead children, the camp is not only educational but also beneficial to the whole world.

While many viewers claim that Becky Fischer was an intolerant tyrant toward the children, the logical flow within the “tyrant” is quite solid: if the viewers know little bit of knowledge about Christian beliefs. Becky Fischer wanted to educate the young children because young children are considered as divine entities within the bible. Seeing the children running joyfully in the church, Jesus Christ mentioned that we adults should have childish and unadulterated emotions and feelings. Maybe Becky Fischer wanted the next generation to retain celebrated youth, leading others to revive the lost youth.

Yes, the purpose of the Jesus Camp is inspiring and thoughtful. What were inappropriate for the ordinary viewers in the United States were the several actions of Becky Fischer. Too zealous to enlighten the children, Becky Fischer used several techniques which are considered doubtful among other Christian churches. The act of pouring “sacred water” to children is practiced in several churches, but not as immediate as seen in Jesus Camp. (The leaders of the camp poured spring water without any rites or consecration.) Although there are classified books selected among churches, the criticism on “Harry Potter” or the “da Vinci Code” is rarely made in public. Many churches tend not to make connections with political issues, while the Jesus Camp commented on several political approaches on Democracy and President George W. Bush. Therefore, Becky Fischer can be commented as the enthusiastic Christian who used actions regarded in public as inappropriate and extreme.

(Several Scenes from Jesus Camp. The actions depicted in this film are considered inappropriate and too extreme among ordinary Christians.)

The film director, unfortunately, only pinpointed the inappropriate actions and procedures of the Jesus Camp. The film director, who initially went into Jesus Camp with enthusiasm, wanted to show the appalling sites within the camp. Showing clips from other places such as the interview scene with Becky Fischer at the radio station and an ordinary home-schooling environment of one family living in North Dakota, the director successfully portrays the unexpected and terrifying experiences of Jesus Camp. Since the American society tend to criticize extremely zealous activities, the documentary set up the meeting as an epitome of the activities, trying to arouse frustration and disbelief among the viewers.

The documentary should be praised for effectively portraying the apparently misleading situations within Jesus Camp. Several actions within the camp were indeed misleading and against the genuine tenets of Christianity: to rely solely on god, not to rely solely on people. The documentary succeeded in gaining public attention toward the unexpected religious meetings, forcing Becky Fischer to close down Jesus Camp indefinitely. The film also tries to gain objectivity about the depiction. The directors excluded the narrations or explanations within the film, giving a wide-open ground for viewers to think.

However, the wide-open ground was confined with transparent glass walls called “effects”. The overall background music within the film was dark and uncomfortable. Especially, the gloomy and ominous music flowed into the ears of the viewers whenever there was a communal meeting or religious meeting within the camp. Had the producers inserted invigorating music such as “Hallelujah” or “Messiah”, the praying scenes would have been portrayed as sacred and favorable. The light effects of the radio studio also conveyed mysterious but misleading characteristics of Becky Fischer: her face was hidden under dark while the radio host’s face was brightly lit. The remarks by Becky Fischer were followed within the dark shade, creating a feeling as if the guest was a convict or a criminal. On the other hand, the questions and criticisms from the show host were followed within the bright shade, implying as if the show host was effectively criticizing and commenting the true Christianity. The selective bias can weaken the objectivity of the documentary as well. Rachel Gardy actually filmed 300 hours on Jesus Camp and Radio Interview. The movie footage was only 85 minutes. What happened behind the 298 hours and 35 minutes? Viewers will never figure out the true character of Jesus Camp. The selection of 85 minutes was based on the intention of the director to show the Jesus Camp as unexpected and shocking as possible. There is a high possibility that the other 298 hours and 35 minutes are not actually shocking compared to the 85 minutes of horror-striking situations.

(Another scene from Jesus Camp. The background music is ominous, portraying the prayer meeting as a brain-washing incident)

Then there arises another question: Can the attitude of documentary be justified? What is right or wrong within the religious tenet? There is one principle we cannot deny: we rarely hear to God’s messages. All we can interpret as God’s messages are the bible, the ten testaments, and supernatural happenings. The way to serve God is different from people to people. Some people will express their true voices toward god by shouting or singing out loud. Others will express their attitudes through silence and prayers. There have been conflicts between different branches of churches. The Catholics and the Protestants were enemies to each other for several centuries. Many testaments or documents of each branch depicted the other branch as devil or heretic. However, in modern society both sides are thought as appropriate ways to serve God. Histories show that the justification of one branch within Christianity is determined through thoughts and trends. There is no objective standard for mankind to determine what is right or what is wrong within religion unless the God’s sayings forbid or criticize such actions. Did the documentary criticize the Jesus Camp based on the objectiveness of the bible or reliable sources? Or did the documentary criticize the Jesus Camp based on the “popular beliefs” toward Christianity within the United States? Can we question the value or the justification of Jesus Camps, which are happening all around the world? Or, should we admit the actions in the Jesus Camp as “another approach” toward Christianity?

Walking out of the Mr. Garrioch’s office after seeing the whole Jesus Camp, I felt at once horror and doubtful. Yes, I was truly shocked with the approaches and procedures taken within Jesus Camp. Becky Fischer was a misleading religious tyrant to my eyes. But soon I realized another misleading tyrant: the documentary. Using the voices from the general assumption about Christianity, Rachel Gardy mocked and criticized the Jesus Camp. It is as if a major misleading tyrant used the voices from the public to criticize the minor misleading tyrant. Maybe we ourselves would not be able to comment solely on the content of the documentary. Based on our experiences and thoughts, the documentary will have different values from individual to individual. Maybe it is not possible for this documentary to make universal comment or criticism because we do not precisely know what the right way to Christianity is. Both the documentary producers and the Jesus Camp leaders will have to reconsider the messages from God, not just telling to others that we are the “true messages of God, so you should follow us.” We cannot approve either side since both sides have logical flaws based on uncertain assumptions.

WE JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT GROUPS WITHIN CHRISTIANTY.