Jesus Camp

Jesus Camp is a documentary about the "Kids On Fire" summer camp, located just outside Devils Lake, North Dakota and run by a Pentecostal children's pastor named Becky Fisher. The film focuses on the indoctrination of the children through music, games and emotional terror.  I would almost describe the methodology as a severe form of brain washing. It is one of the most disturbing pieces I have ever seen, as terrifying as any horror movie you could imagine.

There is a lot one could say about this "camp" - its focus on recruitment, the passion of those running it, or the explicitly political nature of the experience.  But what brought me to write about this today are the revelations surrounding Ted Haggard, the infamous leader of the National Association of Evangelicals. 

Mr. Haggard appears in Jesus Camp when the campers spend a day at his Mega-size New Life Church in Colorado Springs.  Haggard comes across as condescending and insincere - to such degree in fact that he has criticized the film for its portrayal of himself and the movement.   The film makers have made a public response to his criticism:

"We taped at New Life Church for an entire day. Pastor Haggard played with the camera and made jokes through both sermons. We made sure to indicate in the film (from the audience’s laughter), that he was joking around with his parishioners. After the sermons he met and spoke to a child in our film who has dreams of preaching and gave him advice, which we show in a very straightforward way. His interview was also filmed modestly, sitting on the alter after his sermon.  We did not put words in his mouth nor did we instruct him to utter the statement that has garnered him so much attention: “If the Evangelicals vote, they determine the election.”  In fact, we were very careful not to include other material from his sermons that were more inflammatory in nature and could perhaps be interpreted as divisive."

To be honest, his appearance in the film is not all that compelling or even interesting.  What makes Mr Haggard of interest is that a male prostitute has recently accused him of being a regular customer for the last three years.  He further accused Haggard of snorting methamphetamine before their sexual encounters to "heighten the experience."

Yesterday Haggard stepped down as president of the National Association of Evangelicals. He stated, "I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity. I hope to be able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date. In the interim, I will seek both spiritual advice and guidance." In case one is wondering what he thought of the gay "life style," Haggard has been an outspoken supporter of a proposed amendment on the November 7 Colorado ballot that would ban same sex marriage in that state

Whether or not these accusations turn out to be true, what I find fascinating is the mixture of homo-erotic behavior and right wing moral rectitude.  And I am not simply pointing out the obvious hypocrisy - "do as I say, not as I do."  What I wonder is what level of projection takes place for someone to be publicly hostile to the gay "life style" and privately embracing it, or at least being attracted to it?  And why is this dichotomy such a prevalent issue today?