At the beginning of Jesus Camp, the video is introduced with a radio announcer who introduces the ideal role of Christianity in politics. The announcer believes that if Christians around the country get together and make a stand on this movement, Christ followers can form together to make a powerful impact. In the director’s interview, Pastor Becky does not believe politics have a substantial role in Christianity, she says “I don’t consider myself or what we do with the kids as overly political”(Ewing 11). It seems odd that Pastor Becky allowed the film to be portrayed the way it is if she did not see her summer camp as a political endorser. Pastor Becky also mentions that the Spirit of God will call Christians to be involved in politics on the will of God, which slightly contradicts her original point (Ewin 16). Pastor Becky’s camp has a set section on Jesus and politics; some of the guest speakers discuss topics such as the president and pro-life. Some of the other participants in the film answered questions about politics in a Christian home, the answers varied from “should be active” (17) to “I never thought of myself as politically active” (24).
Thomas Jefferson would not have approved of Jesus Camp based on his thoughts about the role of religion with politics. In the First Amendment Jefferson pushed for having freedom in religion, this was achieved and with this idea comes allowance for politics to be free and not tied down in a religious bind. In Virginia, Jefferson made an act which has stated “civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions”(Jefferson). This statement backs up his ideas for why the constitution should give the right to freedom in religion. Henry Giroux noted that Bush “did more during his two terms in office to advance the agenda of right-wing evangelicals than any other president in recent history” (Giroux 271). This assessment along with the ideas illustrated in the movie, it seems to providing a lead to the idea of religion being able to make a change in politics. Whether this is true or not is something that cannot be proven. The movie does have a cult-like feel, making the idea of religion playing a role in politics seem insane.
Thomas Jefferson would not have approved of Jesus Camp based on his thoughts about the role of religion with politics. In the First Amendment Jefferson pushed for having freedom in religion, this was achieved and with this idea comes allowance for politics to be free and not tied down in a religious bind. In Virginia, Jefferson made an act which has stated “civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions”(Jefferson). This statement backs up his ideas for why the constitution should give the right to freedom in religion. Henry Giroux noted that Bush “did more during his two terms in office to advance the agenda of right-wing evangelicals than any other president in recent history” (Giroux 271). This assessment along with the ideas illustrated in the movie, it seems to providing a lead to the idea of religion being able to make a change in politics. Whether this is true or not is something that cannot be proven. The movie does have a cult-like feel, making the idea of religion playing a role in politics seem insane.
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