Miscellaneous Movie Musings

flippyshark · 01-28-2007, 04:43 PM

I just finished watching Jesus Camp.

This was a depressing experience. Watching this group of bright, gregarious children being indoctrinated, emotionally manipulated, harangued and exploited made me queasy, the moreso because my own childhood included similar experiences. (Thankfully, not quite to this extreme)

The movie serves as an interesting litmus test. To me, it looked like an exposé, but its central figure, camp leader Becky Fischer, reportedly thought the movie was fair, and showed her operation in a good light. (She has, however, shut down the camp since as a result of vandalism and negative scrutiny engendered by the film.)

As an unblinking document of pathological faith, Jesus Camp has few equals. I realy hope there will be a follow up in a few years. I'd love to know how these kids do further down the line. Will they stay with this lifestyle? (This type of highly charged "spirit-filled' Christianity is emotionally exhausting, for one thing. These kids are pushed to tears again and again in the course of a week.) Will they start asking important questions? Will they rebel? I'd be curious to know.

Pastor Ted Haggard, y'know, the guy who bought some meth and didn't take it but got a nice massage, appears here, just months before his fall from grace. He comes off poorly, seeming arrogant and cynical when he talks to one of the kids. Also, there is a moment, comical in retrospect, when he turns to the camera and, with all the machismo of Liberace, says "This is a FABULOUS lifestyle!" (Millions of dollars, a luxurious mansion and sex and drugs on the side? I'm sure it is!)

Alex · 01-28-2007, 06:24 PM

Just out of curiosity what would distinguish non-pathological faith from patholigical faith?

flippyshark · 01-28-2007, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Just out of curiosity what would distinguish non-pathological faith from patholigical faith?

I'd be tempted to say that all blind belief in irrational things is a kind of pathology, but that's painting with too broad a brush. I probably reached for the phrase here because it's one that I picked up back in my days as a moderate liberal Christian.

Pathological faith could be described as the type of faith that places additional psychological burdens on the believer, increasing anxiety rather than relieving it. This may involve;

- Forced accountability to a leader or hierarchy (as in the "discipleship" type ministries)
- Expectation of enormous commitment of time and resources (especially financial)
- Intolerance of questioning or independent thought
- Subjugation of personal identity
- Inordinate "Us vs. Them" mentality
- Ostracism or punitive treatment for those who deviate

These are just some elements that could distinguish an unhealthy faith or community, as opposed to those that espouse a more compassionate outlook, are less judgmental, or more community oriented. (Y'know, those wishy-washy mainline churches with their emphasis on "love.")

This is just a quick reply - this is obviously a huge topic.

Alex · 01-28-2007, 10:05 PM

Yeah, but is it patholigical if it turns out that god is an asshole?

Anyway, not a religion thread.

Saw one and a half movies today. To fill out the Oscar ballot I hauled myself out to The Painted Veil. Of course, when I got home I remembered it hadn't actually been nominated for anything and I'm trying to figure out why I thought it had.

Oh well. The big reason for my reticence is that Edward Norton has just gone sour for me. Haven't liked him in his last several movies.

He's ok here, though he still feels miscast. Decent performances. Prettily flimed. But it just never connected to me. But the book never did either so I'm not surprised (significant changes from the book to the movie).

Tried to watch Don't Tell (La Bestia Nel Cuora), the 2005 nominee for best foreign language film from Italy. I've only made it about halfway through.

On this one the subtitles are killing me. Now, when I'm at all into a movie I don't even notice them, but when I'm not absorbed my eyes tend to wander. I get distracted by other things in the house.

01-28-2007, 04:43 PM	#1
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	I just finished watching Jesus Camp. This was a depressing experience. Watching this group of bright, gregarious children being indoctrinated, emotionally manipulated, harangued and exploited made me queasy, the moreso because my own childhood included similar experiences. (Thankfully, not quite to this extreme) The movie serves as an interesting litmus test. To me, it looked like an exposé, but its central figure, camp leader Becky Fischer, reportedly thought the movie was fair, and showed her operation in a good light. (She has, however, shut down the camp since as a result of vandalism and negative scrutiny engendered by the film.) As an unblinking document of pathological faith, Jesus Camp has few equals. I realy hope there will be a follow up in a few years. I'd love to know how these kids do further down the line. Will they stay with this lifestyle? (This type of highly charged "spirit-filled' Christianity is emotionally exhausting, for one thing. These kids are pushed to tears again and again in the course of a week.) Will they start asking important questions? Will they rebel? I'd be curious to know. Pastor Ted Haggard, y'know, the guy who bought some meth and didn't take it but got a nice massage, appears here, just months before his fall from grace. He comes off poorly, seeming arrogant and cynical when he talks to one of the kids. Also, there is a moment, comical in retrospect, when he turns to the camera and, with all the machismo of Liberace, says "This is a FABULOUS lifestyle!" (Millions of dollars, a luxurious mansion and sex and drugs on the side? I'm sure it is!)
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01-28-2007, 06:24 PM	#2
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Just out of curiosity what would distinguish non-pathological faith from patholigical faith?
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01-28-2007, 10:05 PM	#4
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Yeah, but is it patholigical if it turns out that god is an asshole? Anyway, not a religion thread. Saw one and a half movies today. To fill out the Oscar ballot I hauled myself out to The Painted Veil. Of course, when I got home I remembered it hadn't actually been nominated for anything and I'm trying to figure out why I thought it had. Oh well. The big reason for my reticence is that Edward Norton has just gone sour for me. Haven't liked him in his last several movies. He's ok here, though he still feels miscast. Decent performances. Prettily flimed. But it just never connected to me. But the book never did either so I'm not surprised (significant changes from the book to the movie). Tried to watch Don't Tell (La Bestia Nel Cuora), the 2005 nominee for best foreign language film from Italy. I've only made it about halfway through. On this one the subtitles are killing me. Now, when I'm at all into a movie I don't even notice them, but when I'm not absorbed my eyes tend to wander. I get distracted by other things in the house.
	Submit to Quotes