Anyone ever spent time at a bible camp?
January 10, 2015 at 3:49 am
(This post was last modified: January 10, 2015 at 3:51 am by DeadChannel.)
I had to go for three summers in a row.
First one was around the time I was getting into dystopian fiction (that is, 1984, Brave New World, Animal Farm, Fahrenheit 451, odd bit of cyberpunk etc.), and the similarities with that type of stuff are striking.
Non Christian music was basically banned, interacting w/ opposite sex was discouraged. Got chewed out for spending the whole time reading books that weren't the bible. Spent several hours a day worshipping an asshole in the sky. After which, we spent an absurd amount of time doing bible study (gamified by a petty "how much can you memorise" competition). Everyone was expected to be biblical literalists. We were told that "the bible doesn't lie".
Mosquitoes were pretty bad and some people only had sandals. The walk to worshipie place was quite a way, and the mosquito bites turned into pretty nasty blisters for some. They were still forced to walk there because "one should go to any length to worship god".
We were made to memorise propaganda songs. Councillors walked around during worship and criticized people who didn't look sufficiently into it. That is, hand raised in a pseudo connection to god. Eyes closed. Swaying back and forth. Generally looking like you're on an LSD trip. Not sure if this is an actual thing, but some people started doing it. Was very Nazi-salute like.
Authority spent 24 hours a day with you. Ate meals with you. Watched you while you worshiped. Watched you (and tried to engage in conversational zealotry) while you rested. Watched you (from a sufficient number of beds away, wouldn't want to be gay) while you slept.
Man, this year I'm going to a fucking film school.
First one was around the time I was getting into dystopian fiction (that is, 1984, Brave New World, Animal Farm, Fahrenheit 451, odd bit of cyberpunk etc.), and the similarities with that type of stuff are striking.
Non Christian music was basically banned, interacting w/ opposite sex was discouraged. Got chewed out for spending the whole time reading books that weren't the bible. Spent several hours a day worshipping an asshole in the sky. After which, we spent an absurd amount of time doing bible study (gamified by a petty "how much can you memorise" competition). Everyone was expected to be biblical literalists. We were told that "the bible doesn't lie".
Mosquitoes were pretty bad and some people only had sandals. The walk to worshipie place was quite a way, and the mosquito bites turned into pretty nasty blisters for some. They were still forced to walk there because "one should go to any length to worship god".
We were made to memorise propaganda songs. Councillors walked around during worship and criticized people who didn't look sufficiently into it. That is, hand raised in a pseudo connection to god. Eyes closed. Swaying back and forth. Generally looking like you're on an LSD trip. Not sure if this is an actual thing, but some people started doing it. Was very Nazi-salute like.
Authority spent 24 hours a day with you. Ate meals with you. Watched you while you worshiped. Watched you (and tried to engage in conversational zealotry) while you rested. Watched you (from a sufficient number of beds away, wouldn't want to be gay) while you slept.
Man, this year I'm going to a fucking film school.