Kidnapped for Christ

Postby Jack Roper » Sun Dec 15, 2013 2:46 pm

Below is from the Huffington Post about an Evangelical program, the Post called Kidnapping for Christ, about a Dominican Republic facility designed to turn gay teenagers into straight kids. If this is Christian then I would never want to touch Christianity with a ten-foot pole!--JR

'Kidnapped For Christ,' Planned Documentary, Aims To Expose 'Ex-Gay' Experiences In Christian Reform Schools

Posted: 12/12/2013 10:52 am EST

"Kidnapped for Christ" is a compelling new documentary that follows the experiences of several American teenagers after they were kidnapped from their homes and shipped to Evangelical Reform schools located in the Dominican Republic. Many of these teenagers' parents discover their children are either gay or experience same-sex attraction, and are sent to “therapeutic Christian boarding school[s]” in order to "transform into healthy Christian adults" in an environment outside of U.S. law.

Directed Kate S. Logan with Lance Bass cited as an executive producer, the film is currently engaged in a Kickstarter campaign in order to be fully funded. The Huffington Post sat down with Logan this week in order to better understand the function of these reform camps, the experiences of kidnapped youth go through while there, and why this film is important.

The Huffington Post: Why did you feel this documentary was necessary?
Actually, when I originally got the idea to make the film, I had no idea that there was anything controversial about this school. I was under the impression that it was just an alternative therapy program with a cultural exchange element. It wasn't until I got permission to film and started investigating that I realized what I had gotten myself into. Once I saw what was really going on at Escuela Caribe, I felt I needed to help expose the truth of what this school was doing in the name of "therapy."

Why do you think the majority of the public knows so little about these reform institutions?
I think it's because the victims of these programs are teens and children and they are often so traumatized by their experiences that they don't speak about it for years -- if at all. Also, a lot of times former students of reform schools get labeled "bad" simply because they were sent to a place for "bad" kids, so no one believes their stories. Some of the things that go on in these places are, quite frankly, so bizarre and horrible that it's hard to believe if you aren't there to see it yourself. With the Internet it's easier for teens who have been sent to these places to speak out and connect with others who've gone through the same thing, but it's still a relatively small group who are talking about it.

What do people undergo in these camps?
I mean, how much time have you got? The "treatment" was called "Culture Shock Therapy" by the administrators. So their actual methods involved jarring kids enough that they were more malleable emotionally and mentally. That was Step One, and it involved strenuous and intense physical labor and exercise, constant repetition of religious and program-written texts, and severe punishments for students who "acted out." Those punishments could be hours of manual labor, exercising, or actual physical beatings, which they called "swats."

That was the program. All of that stuff is in their handbook. Then there was so much physical and emotional abuse that went on besides that, combined with a generally oppressive atmosphere of conformity and helplessness. These kids were afraid to speak out, afraid to tell their parents about was was going on, and as a result a lot of them just felt helpless and alone, like they were stuck in this horrible place with no one to talk to and no one to help them.

What can viewers expect from the film?
Viewers can expect to be consistently shocked. Shocked at the fact that these camps exist, shocked that they are making money from the systematic abuse of teens, and shocked that nobody is doing a thing about it. But it's also a story about a community rallying around a friend and neighbor to help him out of the camp when he's at his most helpless and alone.

What are you hoping to accomplish with the film/what do you want viewers to take away?
We hope viewers will come out of the film outraged and ready to fight for these teens, knowing that it can be done from the story in our film. There's almost no regulation for these programs -- even for ones that are based in the U.S.; teens have died and continue to die in these camps, and the ones that don't are traumatized. We want viewers to come out set on making sure none of that happens to any teens ever again, and ready to engage with their senators or representatives to make sure legislation is passed to regulate this industry.

For more information on "Kidnapped for Christ" or to contribute to the project, visit the film's Kickstarter campaign.

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby drawscore » Sun Dec 15, 2013 8:25 pm

Christianity is not the problem. The problem, is how certain people and sects interpret and practice what they believe to be Christianity.

Drawscore

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby Jason Toddman » Mon Dec 16, 2013 10:43 am

drawscore wrote:Christianity is not the problem. The problem, is how certain people and sects interpret and practice what they believe to be Christianity.

Drawscore

The pigs are flying again. Drawscore and I actually agree! At least as far as what he said here is concerned.
Christianity is not the main problem here, though the way some so-called Christians act I can see how one might get that impression. But I'll take the Christians over the Islamics any damned day. However, that said, I'll take my fellow non-militant agnostics (or even the more militant Richard Dawkins style atheists) over any religion! Agnostics and atheists are, imo at least, generally more rational and thoughtful abiout certain matters such as one's beliefs and lifestyle choices.
Anyway, the problem really relates to the specific culture. The Dominican Republic is notorious for being so intolerant to gays that many gay teenagers have been kicked out of schools and even their own homes, and endure bullying to a horrifying degree. Gayness still carries as strong a stigma there as was ever present anywhere else in the 20th century in any western culture (other than, say, Nazi Germany). And that's where the real problem lies; at least within this particular news story.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby NemesisPrime » Sun Dec 22, 2013 2:29 pm

This sounds like "Jesus Camp" bad.

I had no idea these things exist though I was aware places like this tend to be pretre dishes for rather extremist Christian sects to experiment on or punish gay people with ways they can't normally do acoording to US law.

I'm an Atheist and gay but these guys really give Christians a bad name so I can understand why people would hate them.
Everyone speaks in multiple languages...But gag talk is universal and a sock in your mouth is the perfect translator!

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby MHW » Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:43 pm

Any parent who sends their child away to something like this deserves to be set on fire. Just their arm or something, to show them what pain feels like, because the children certainly felt their share of it.

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby mikeybound » Fri Jan 31, 2014 9:52 pm

This is allowed? Here, and now, in this progressive era of history? Disgusting.

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby Jason Toddman » Fri Jan 31, 2014 10:05 pm

mikeybound wrote:This is allowed? Here, and now, in this progressive era of history? Disgusting.

This era of history isn't as progressive everywhere. Some parts of Europe are actually more progressive than we are in the US. But this is the Dominican Republic we're talking about; a country where religion is still important to a majority of the people there. And no, i am sure that this is not a coincidence. Quite the reverse.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby capturedsuperhero » Sat Feb 01, 2014 2:01 pm

drawscore wrote:Christianity is not the problem. The problem, is how certain people and sects interpret and practice what they believe to be Christianity.

Drawscore



I'm a Christian and I wholeheartedly agree with this statement.

Religion as a whole has it's heart in the right place, but there have been MANY instances throughout history where misguided people have used it as an excuse to push their own agendas.
Arrogant Superhero here, Looking for a Nasty Villain!!!!

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby Jason Toddman » Sat Feb 01, 2014 2:18 pm

capturedsuperhero wrote:Religion as a whole has it's heart in the right place, but there have been MANY instances throughout history where misguided people have used it as an excuse to push their own agendas.

Not just in history either. There's still a whole lot of that going around today as well. Though i'm not a militant atheist like Richard Dawkins, I think he has many good points when he says that today religions do more harm than good.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby skybird137 » Sat Feb 01, 2014 2:45 pm

Does anyone expect bad things not to happen when you have organisations that demand blind and unconditional obedience?
Calling Fifty Shades of Grey a Bondage Story is like calling Titanic an Iceberg Movie...

http://skybird137.deviantart.com

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby alebcay » Sat Mar 15, 2014 6:01 pm

I'll go ahead and make a note here:

The intentions of an entire group of people - in fact, the largest religion in the world, last I checked; maybe it is second or third now - cannot hinge on the actions of a minority of the people.

In the most respectful way possible, I will use the Muslims as an example. Within the United States, especially post-9/11, the general public essentially created a correlation between Muslims and terrorism. Most Muslims will tell you about how Sharia law is supposed to be optional, among other tidbits. The things that are shown on media are typically done by extremists or radicals. Why? Because exciting stuff sells. If the media has your attention, then they have their revenue.

I feel that the situation here is similar. Is it a good thing to discriminatorily disrespectful towards the LGBT community? No. Do I, and the majority of Christians, want gay people to die? No. While many people share the notion that homosexuality is morally wrong, they do not feel that homosexuals should be forced to change. I think that the parents that send kids off to these camps are making a horrible mistake. You try to teach the love of Christ to your child; how ironic that it should be at a place where they are despised and rejected!

---

If you stuck with me through this entire post, thank you. It's hard to get your point across when you're not done with the first sentence and someone screams "Stone the homophobic guy!"

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby Jason Toddman » Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:02 pm

Stone the homophobic guy!!!
Just kidding.
Make that, "Get stoned, homophobic guy!" As in, mellow out. Until you wrote that last line, I wouldn't have figured you for a homophobe. At worst, just someone whose (evident) attitude about gay marriage was quite typical until very recently.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby alebcay » Sun Mar 16, 2014 6:05 pm

Its very strange. I live in the Southeastern US, but I live withiin a large city. So my state is regarded as a hardline conservative state, and yet here I am wondering how that ever came to be.

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby Jason Toddman » Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:57 pm

alebcay wrote:Its very strange. I live in the Southeastern US, but I live withiin a large city. So my state is regarded as a hardline conservative state, and yet here I am wondering how that ever came to be.

Two words: Bible Belt.
The fact that the more conservative places are also the places where the Bible is taken more literally than elsewhere is not a coincidence.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby alebcay » Mon Mar 17, 2014 6:06 pm

Jason Toddman wrote:
alebcay wrote:Its very strange. I live in the Southeastern US, but I live withiin a large city. So my state is regarded as a hardline conservative state, and yet here I am wondering how that ever came to be.

Two words: Bible Belt.
The fact that the more conservative places are also the places where the Bible is taken more literally than elsewhere is not a coincidence.


Yeah, I know about that. My state has quite a reputation. The juxtaposition between what I see and the reputation is quite unnerving at times, though.

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby Jason Toddman » Mon Mar 17, 2014 9:13 pm

alebcay wrote: My state has quite a reputation. The juxtaposition between what I see and the reputation is quite unnerving at times, though.

if by that you mean most of the Christians don't live the life they preach, I know what you mean. Lived in Nebraska for over two years and attended a Fundamentalist Baptist Church there. Some were okay people I guess but many of them were such arrogant, smarmy a**holes that it was the beginning of the end of my religious faith. I now identify as a Deist.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby mikeybound » Mon Mar 17, 2014 10:03 pm

alebcay wrote:I'll go ahead and make a note here:

The intentions of an entire group of people - in fact, the largest religion in the world, last I checked; maybe it is second or third now - cannot hinge on the actions of a minority of the people.

In the most respectful way possible, I will use the Muslims as an example. Within the United States, especially post-9/11, the general public essentially created a correlation between Muslims and terrorism. Most Muslims will tell you about how Sharia law is supposed to be optional, among other tidbits. The things that are shown on media are typically done by extremists or radicals. Why? Because exciting stuff sells. If the media has your attention, then they have their revenue.

I feel that the situation here is similar. Is it a good thing to discriminatorily disrespectful towards the LGBT community? No. Do I, and the majority of Christians, want gay people to die? No. While many people share the notion that homosexuality is morally wrong, they do not feel that homosexuals should be forced to change. I think that the parents that send kids off to these camps are making a horrible mistake. You try to teach the love of Christ to your child; how ironic that it should be at a place where they are despised and rejected!

---

If you stuck with me through this entire post, thank you. It's hard to get your point across when you're not done with the first sentence and someone screams "Stone the homophobic guy!"

I think you just may be the most polite homophobe of this generation. cheers
As a homosexual, I think I have a bit more experience on the topic than most naysayers. That being said, I wish everyone had such a grounded view on this topic. Sometimes it isn't even about faith or God. People hate us, and they don't even seem to have a clue why.

Re: Kidnapped for Christ

Postby Jason Toddman » Mon Mar 17, 2014 10:16 pm

mikeybound wrote: As a homosexual, I think I have a bit more experience on the topic than most naysayers. That being said, I wish everyone had such a grounded view on this topic. Sometimes it isn't even about faith or God. People hate us, and they don't even seem to have a clue why.

I think most such people (who hate people just because they're gay) don't have a clue... period.
Even when i was religious, i never understood the concept of hating people as a group regardless of how different they were from me, unless they were patently evil (like terrorists, muggers, or rapists). I never saw other groups like blacks, jews, Indians, gays, or whatever as being that much different from myself. I was never taught to hate anyone, and i never did hate anyone unless they did something to me personally (like try to beat me up). so many other people though are taught to hate blacks or gays or what-have-you by their parents or friends or others they look up to, and that's just plain wrong. I could never understand such impersonal hatred of other people who never did me (or anyone else) any harm, and i hope i never do.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...