This riveting Oscar-nominated documentary offers an unfiltered look at a revivalist subculture where devout Christian youngsters are being primed to deliver the fundamentalist community's religious and political messages. Building an evangelical army of tomorrow, the Kids on Fire summer camp in Devil's Lake, N.D., is dedicated to deepening the preteens' spirituality and sowing the seeds of political activism as they're exhorted to "take back America for Christ."
Astounding, and terrifying.
Just a couple thoughts at the moment:
I suppose the filmmakers found it necessary to situate this in a particular time, but given the fall of Haggard and a variety of other events leading up to the recent election, the appointment of Justice Alito hardly seems like a pivotal moment in recent history. Still, it's a reminder to viewers that this is a pre-Obama film, if that makes a difference.
I'd love to believe that most of these kids will grow up and have children and live and work in the town where they grew up and won't bleed their hate out onto the world around them any more their parents did. But who knows -- the leader of the camp sees this as the tip of the iceberg. God help us all.
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