My question is about these faith based camps for training Soldiers

...for Christ as depicted in the movie documentary "Jesus Camp", how much of their funding is from private sources <contributions, foundations, camp dues and fees, etc.>, and how much comes direct from government funding such as Bush's Faith Based Initiatives <FBI>? I have not viewed the entire movies, only previews and clips which are out on the web, but it strikes me that the indoctrination of the kids attending the camp in the film is very much like the Hitler Youth Movement of the 1930's.

My other thought is how wide spread are these camps in the U.S. as well as in other so called democratic countries <i.e. Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, etc.> around the world? There has pretty much been small pockets of this type of child conditioning in the form of martial arts and militia cults, white supremacist groups, etc., over the decades gone by I know. But, it now seems that the whole country, our nation the United States od America is caught up in this militaristic zeal to produce a generation of fearless warriors <boys and girls> to establish World Dominion based on Christianity and One World Government based on fascism with the United States as the head of this Imperial Power.

If anyone cares to discuss this and contribute insights, links, additional information about the film and/or the movements on which this documentary appears to be based upon, feel free to do so. I can't prevent "flame throwers" from attacking and disrupting a serious discussion. I just ask that any discussion be as civil as possible about this as it has to do with this generation of DUers and America's children, future generations of grand children and great grand children as well as younger siblings and relatives.

It isn't new; it's just more organized and blatant. During the 70s and 80s, I was raised in a fundie church where the sort of thinking espoused in this camp were woven into every sermon, every class lesson (I also attended private school there), and definitely every minute of summer camp. Our summer camps weren't explicitly organized as "training soldiers for the Lord" (although that phrase often came up throughout the church's teachings), but we were pressured and brainwashed into forcibly "praying" (including "laying on of hands," and "casting out demons") for campers who didn't want it, shown movies of "abortions" and told that the women and doctors involved were murderers, and constantly reminded that we might someday soon be imprisoned and tortured for our beliefs.

They stopped short of advocating any actual violence, however, so I don't know if that is the case with these Jesus Camp kids or not.

BTW, this was no little cult, but one of the largest "mainstream" evangelical churches in Tucson, Arizona.

and his 2 sons, where he taught them to see the devil in ordinary people.

He would then train them to kill them and bury the bodies...

These cults create people like this !

...but I think like many Americans thought these were kook fringe groups. My eyes are opening to just how widespread this is now becoming in mainstream religion. Thank you for sharing.

becuase of the faith base initiative programs... There are billions to be had and believe me, these "Christian groups" are claiming it..

I think for the most part this is an American thing... Much of Europe has learned from their past mistakes and shake their head in pity and disgust at Americas racism disguised as Religious self righteousness.

But this is an extremely serious problem, that will explode if we do not do something about it.

<snip>
Using Children as 'God's Army'
By Kirsten A. Powers, The American Prospect. Posted June 12, 2006.

A new documentary chronicles a summer camp where children, as young as six, are trained to become devout Christian soldiers.

Gandhi once said if Christians lived according to their faith, there would be no Hindus left in India. He knew how powerful the fundamental tenets of Christianity -- fighting poverty, caring for the least among us, loving your enemies, eschewing materialism and embracing humility -- could be if everyone who called themselves a Christian truly followed them.

The new documentary, Jesus Camp, which chronicles a North Dakota summer camp where kids as young as 6 are taught to become dedicated Christian soldiers in "God's army," is an illustration of this sentiment in the extreme.

The film, by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, the duo who also directed the critically-acclaimed The Boys of Baraka, opened to an appreciative and flabbergasted audience at the 2006 TriBeca Film Festival, where it received the Special Jury Award. The directors skillfully captured the daily interactions of a world that would be foreign to most viewers: children speaking in tongues and talking of being "born again" at age 5.

The star of the film is Pastor Becky Fischer, who explains the startling mission of her "Kids on Fire" camp: "I want young people to be as committed to laying down their lives for the Gospel as they are in Pakistan." At the camp, the children are asked: "How many of you want to be those who will give up your life for Jesus?" Little hands shoot up from every direction. They are told: "We have to break the power of the enemy over the government." At one point, Becky yells: "This means war! Are you a part of it or not?" More little hands.

The directors take us into the homes of the children, where we see them "pledge allegiance to the Christian flag" and play a video game called "Creation Adventure" that debunks evolution. A mother helps her children with homework and informs them that, "Global warming is not going to happen. Science doesn't prove anything."

The film takes us back to the camp, where the children are gathered for their daily teaching. Suddenly, a camp counselor places a life-size cardboard cutout before the group. No, it's not Jesus. It's George Bush. Clapping erupts and Becky encourages them to "say hello to the President." Becky claims that "President Bush has added credibility to being a Christian."

<more>
http://www.alternet.org/movies/37373/