I think you are missing several important paralells. First, these camps are seldom "voluntary" as you say but rather kids are put in there by their parents,'for their own good'. It is indoctrination, pure and simple. Second, they are forced into certain behaviors that embarrass them and make them ripe for the indoctrination. In the program, we call this 'motivating'. And third, they are forced to accept a certain set of beliefs or be ostracized by the group. religion by Peer pressure, as it were.
There are more similarities. this is the short list, and it is interesting that you give religious 'faith' a free pass when it hasn't earned it. Where else in society do we do this?
Your perception of how program kids appear isn't accurate. program kids, by all outward appearances, once they get off of the early phases appear happy. If they don't, they will answer as to why. They also do activities and socialize with other kids who have accepted the program indoctrination. How is this different? The philosophy isn't cruelty, as you say, but rather "saving" the kids from the culture of drugs which is seen as evil by modifying their belief system. Do I have to point out this is the same goal as the religious camps but around a different philosophy?
Finally, brainwashing is indocrination of an idea or set of ideals using specific techniques designed to break people down and rebuild their beliefs around the group leaders' set of goals for the group. While the techniques used in these relgious camps aren't as harsh as the rehabs most of us were forced into in either duration or intensity, they don't have to be because they are used on very very young children and the children for the most part are already exposed to this ideas at home and at church. These religious summer camps definately use brainwashing techniques in various degrees of harshness. Just because Jesus or Mohammed is supposedly floating around in some etheral background doesn't legitimize this travesty.[/quote]
I am sorry Greg, for phrasing that somewhat inappropriately. I hope it did not cause offence. I was aware of the forced "happiness" in program kids that is a scam. I also know of many who have spoken to me who have argued something along the lines of it was hideous but for my own good. I am sure you have heard this as well a few times. This idea that forced pain is good has always saddened and horrified me. I also remember the quite powerful scene in the film where that little blonde kid expressed doubt and the other kids looked highly uncomfortable. I agree that this is indoctrination. But I would still stop by calling it indoctrination and not brainwashing. There did seem to be a few older kids up the back at Jesus Camp who did not buy into the total hysteria. They did not appear to be forced to change their minds in the same way that straight kids were apparently forced to motivate.
While I came to it seems a different conclusion about Jesus camp that you and ddf I did come away wondering which children would rebel as teens and whether they may end up in a program. Because i certainly agree that parents that fanatically rigid in their thinking are not gonna allow much wriggle room when it comes to teenage folly.
