Jesus Camp : Kids Worshipping to a George Bush Picture

[尼古拉前执事]

You have got to see this!

[DavidHawthorne]

As a former Protestant of the type portrayed in the video, I doubt seriously whether either the reporter or the "Liberal secular feminist" really understood what they were seeing. Most likely, the kids were praying FOR the president rather than to him. It was common in the prayer meetings I attended to take those stances during intercesory prayer for others. Perhaps the cardboard cutout was just to help the kids see who they were praying for. I don't agree with that practice but it seems a more likely explanation- especially considering the usual Protestant stance regarding both prayers to saints and veneration of icons.
The reporter's interpretation of what he was seeing isn't logically consistent with what evangelicals and charismatics actually believe.

[Zeno]

I have to agree with David. While I find the practice a bit odd (as I do the evangelical infatuation with President Bush), I seriously doubt the kiddies were "praying to Bush" or in any sense religiously venerating his image.

While I'm sure the "Jesus Camp" organizers are happy with the exposure they're getting, I'm hard pressed to think they're getting a fair shake either from the maker of the documentary or most of it's reviewers. The same ideologues who make a living indoctrinating young people through the public school system and mainstream media are the ones who don't like things like this - it's "competition" to what they rather arrogantly believe ought to be their monopoly on young peoples' minds. This isn't to say I'm a big fan of evangelicalism (I think they tend to confuse enthusiasm with "the Spirit"); only that I don't think they're getting a just assessment in this case.