Feature
In God We Trust?
Becky Bartlett discusses how Christian fundamentalists have been portrayed in recent years, and whether it's possible to be objective when faced with religion.
In an increasingly secular world, there has been a noticeable rise in fundamentalism. This is not limited to Islam, which no doubt courts the most attention due to its impact on the world. Certain followers of Christianity, particularly in America, have shunned progressive politics and ideals, and chosen to return to some very basic principles of their faith. These can seem at serious odds with what the non-believers consider to be simple, often scientific, fact, and have led to some crucial and difficult arguments, most notably regarding the teaching of creationism in schools.
Recently several documentaries have offered an insight into the lives of some of these, more fundamental, Christians. They range from incredulous to informative, from sensational to uncomfortable and, perhaps more than any other possible topic, cannot help but display the opinions of their makers. Working within the arts lends itself to a liberalism that is not shared with the subjects of these films, and today it is much more acceptable to be against religion than for it. As well as either subconsciously or consciously displaying the filmmakers' beliefs, these films speak volumes to their viewers also, whose personal values will, naturally, affect their reading of the events shown.
For one reason or another, almost all religious documentaries designed for public consumption seem intent on discrediting their subject matter. Regardless of how objective they appear to be, the picture they paint in so many instances is one that simply cannot be allowed to spread. Rather than pro-theological propaganda, they display the most extreme cases, which are designed to shake the viewer to their very foundation. Several examples exist, each as disturbing as the next.
In 2006 Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady observed the events within Jesus Camp, a special Evangelical summer school in which families, and particularly their young children, interact with other like-minded families. From the perspective of an outsider, scenes in which the camp's leader, Becky Fischer, spouts anti-Harry Potter rhetoric and informs the impressionable youths that they will now start speaking in tongues (which, naturally, they do), leave a bitter after-taste. These nine, ten, eleven year olds are encouraged to approach strangers in order to convert them. They are subjected to long sermons decrying abortion and evolution. They are guided and led in such a way that their faith becomes inevitable, yet they frequently appear confused and lost, unable to speak for themselves without repeating sound bites on topics that, at their age, they cannot possibly properly understand. It doesn't help that in late 2006 Pastor Ted Haggard, a vehemently anti-homosexual, highly influential preacher who appears in Jesus Camp, was outed as having had secret relations with a male escort for three years, and being a crystal methamphetamine user. While the directors of the documentary attempted to balance this fundamentalism by including a Christian voice of reason, the liberal and well spoken attorney Mike Papantonio, for the outsider, it is difficult to justify the claims made by adults and unquestioningly lapped up by the children who listen.
Acclaimed documentary maker Louis Theroux travelled to Topeka, Kansas in 2007 to stay with the members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church, the subject of his television film, The Most Hated Family in America and its 2011 follow-up, The Most Hated Family in Crisis. Comprised of approximately seventy members, the church is outspoken in its "message of hate." Led by Fred Phelps, many adherents are his relatives, although Theroux talks to one family within the church who joined after coming, like him, to make a documentary. Rather than be appalled, they were impressed with the message espoused by Phelps, and are now some of the church's staunchest followers. Theroux follows the churchgoers as they picket funerals of dead soldiers, proudly holding placards claiming "God Hates Fags" (their primary ethos), "Thank God for AIDS," and "God is America's Terrorist," among others. Their message is simple: homosexuality is bad; God is punishing America for allowing homosexuality; only they are the chosen few who will receive God's grace. Their utter hatred for everything and everyone is shocking and deeply upsetting, as is their refusal to engage in any debate or conversation. As the "us against them" mentality increases with their infamy, rather than exposing the cracks and flaws, it unites them further. They are shown hatred, and they are full of hate. In a way, to them, this is an endorsement, proving that what they are doing is right. Yet for the viewer, as in Jesus Camp, one simply needs to watch a young boy stumble over his church's justification for picketing a funeral, to feel a deep sense of unease and sadness towards this exploitative, hatred-filled brainwashing.
Also in 2006, PBS released Jonestown: The Life and Death of People's Temple. This retrospective account of the tragedy of Jonestown, in which more than 900 people followed preacher Jim Jones to South America and, when their church was challenged, killed themselves, reveals how badly belief can end. Featuring footage of Jones in action, the first half of the documentary paints an altogether welcoming, liberal and agreeable man. In the 1970s, with race still a major issue in America, Jones preaches equality, no segregation, community and care. The church's adherents are looked after in old age, are treated the same regardless of colour or creed, and embraced with love into what seems to be a well-meaning and progressive house of worship. Not only is it easy to see how so many people could be taken in by Jones' words, it is hard to disagree with much of what he said. Yet his increasing paranoia, alcohol abuse and personal greed takes over, and the result is mass suicide of almost a thousand delusional, pathetic people.
Clearly when faced with such atrocities it is impossible, and possibly unethical, to not lay judgement, and these films are not the only ones to portray Christianity in its ugliest or most ignorant form. Deliver Us From Evil (2006) exposes a history of child abuse in the Catholic church. The God Who Wasn't There (2005) explores whether Jesus existed. Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion, has made several films that challenge Christianity through science, including Root of All Evil (2006) and The Enemies of Reason (2007). In 2008 comedian Bill Maher travelled around America meeting people of faith in Religulous. Viewers know exactly what position these films will take simply by their titles, which are confrontational and derisory.
While each documentary no doubt has its value, the question remains as to why this return to fundamentalism exists. While many attempts have been made to understand the reason behind Islamic fundamentalism, the Christian equivalent is largely met with ridicule. In each of the examples mentioned there is a startling, but not unexpected, lack of interaction between the different camps. By not discussing their faith, these adherents can remain sure of their standpoint. Children are home-schooled using approved textbooks, antagonists are shouted down or ignored and, in the most tragic situation, believers choose to die rather than face a world outside their church. Perhaps the most important insight in all these documentaries is that religions, at their core, are comprised of people: passionate, determined, self-assured, yet, crucially, flawed and fallible. Of course, as a non-believer, maybe I have to say that.
Becky Bartlett
