12 Insane Documentaries Way Stranger Than Fiction
4. Jesus Camp
‘Jesus Camp' is an uncomfortable look at an Evangelical Christian camp for children. The unsettling devotion the children appear to have to their religion is questioned in this controversial documentary that ultimately lead to the closure of the camp.
The camp’s leaders openly describe the process as 'training Christian soldiers for a future war'. It’s safe to assume that this is a metaphorical war but it is a disturbing use of imagery nonetheless.
The film primarily focuses on three different children all with varying levels of commitment to the program. One child is determined to become a pastor when he is older, while another is seen questioning the religion and is clearly confused by the intensity she experiences while at the camp.
The filmmakers maintain that there was no hidden agenda in their documentary; they were simply trying to offer an honest reflection of what occurs at the camp. That didn’t stop the shock and outrage of people that watched it upon it’s release.