Battle of the videos.
Here is a little video sure to upset Christianists and Bill O'Reilly -- not that it takes much to upset either one.
Bill O'Reilly and his Right-wing cohorts say its child abuse.
Here are some of the kids from Jesus Camp and I don't think Bill O'Reilly finds this disturbing at all.
Or would he complain about a woman preacher telling children that Harry Potter should be put to death?
posted by GodlessZone at Saturday, December 09, 2006
7 Comments:
The Jesus kids are creepy.
The athiest kid brought smiles, laughter, and tears to my face. What a surprised BillO missed the entire fucking point! >.<
December 09, 2006
yeah, the atheist kid is funny - but I actually do think that kids should not be used for this. Sure, they should know the topic and we should try and show them at a fairly early age that the whole religion thing is WAY overrated and potentially dangerious especially to kids. But I don't think they should be made a target like that.
December 10, 2006
I agree. Kids shouldn't be used as a puppet microphone. I don't know if I've said this here before or not, but I actually agree that "religion" can definately be disturbing and usually is. It's not religion that we should be teaching kids. Of course, "religion" and faith are two very different things, opposites actually when you think about it.
December 11, 2006
I do see your point. The climax of the video however, the part about children needing to be taught empathy, would not have come across the way it did from an adult. I found this video to be quite powerful and effective in promoting the real issue. The issue of the child being "put in harms way" by this video, and being used as a "puppet" aren't so clear-cut though IMO.
Firstly, the message itself is something all adults need to hear and understand, so it's not just beneficial to her, it's beneficial to all children. The danger of some "nutcase" tracking her down is hard to judge. The danger of a society that doesn't understand emotion is clear and present.
As for her being used as a "puppet", I think you might underestimate just how smart kids can be. She may or may not understand all of the particulars of what she's saying, but she will see the emotion behind it, and I would hope that the word "empathy" was explained by her parents. Teaching a kid to stand up for herself in an intelligent way like this, teaching her to convert emotion into speech instead of violence is a good lesson.
I'm not saying this is all a good thing. Certainly there are dangers. What I am saying that it's very hard to judge it overall from the comfort of our computer chairs. We can only hope the parents made the right choice and leave it at that. I for one though enjoyed it, but then I am pretty hopelessly idealistic sometimes.
December 11, 2006
I definately hear what you're saying. But for some reason, the statement Jesus made about children keeps coming to mind... "It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin."
December 12, 2006
I am curious about the idea that the child might be harmed for having done this video. O'Reilly seemed to imply that if I remember correctly. Who poses the threat? Who would harm a child for expressing atheist ideas? (This is besides whether she does or does not hold them.) I would argue that what is being said here thought not explicitly is that there are plenty of Christians who would engage in harm against atheists. No surprise centuries of history prove that point beyond any doubt
I put in the clip from Jesus Camp to show precisely how the Religious Right is using millions of children for their agenda. I find it amusing that they are upset over this one child while ignoring what they do themselves. Some about a splinter in the eye comes to mind. Over and oved their agenda is "for the children" I don't say the Left doesn't do it too, they do. I condemn them for that as well. I am not upset the child acted in this video. I don't think any rational person honestly thinks the child came up with these ideas herself though some of them she might have. No doubt, like most like fundies, she learned from her parents. But I see the video more as a commercial with a child actor than anything else. I don't see it as absue except those who would harm the child.
December 12, 2006
I think you know as well as I do, that there are groups of people and individuals who will use religion as an excuse to do harm to others. I hesitate to call these people Christians though. I'm thinking of proposing a name change for people who honestly are concerned with following Christ. Too many people call themselves "Christians" now days.
As far as the Jesus Camp thing, I think there's a difference between indoctrinating or teaching kids things you believe are right, and using kids as puppets. I'm not saying I agree with what the Jesus Camp people are saying, because frankly I don't. Kids ought to be taught to think for themselves about things. But at the same time, parents unfortunately have the right to indoctrinate their kids however they see fit, up until it become harmful to the kid.
O'Reilly is off his rocker calling it child abuse I think, but it's not the smartest thing to do, to put a kid on the internet spouting off about potentially inflamatory things she only half-way understands.
December 13, 2006
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