God's Next Army

God's Next Army

2006, Religion  -  Playlist 132 Comments
6.35
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Ratings: 6.35/10 from 26 users.

God's Next ArmyGod's Next Army investigates Patrick Henry College (PHC), set up five years ago in Virginia, near Washington DC. Its mission is to train young fundamentalist Christians to become the next generation of America's cultural and political leaders. Though the separation of church and state is enshrined in the US Constitution, with financial backing from the evangelical community the college aims to rechristianise America; to preserve the world from the sinfulness of man.

PHC students are an isolated group who come from close-knit communities where everyone prays together and shares moral certainties. Most have been educated at home and have had no contact with either the social diversity or the political and intellectual cut and thrust of mainstream schools. Derek Archer, a prospective PHC student believes home - schooling has protected him from the 'moral decay of the world'.

Once at the college, the students ceremonially sign a covenant which commits them to a strict behaviour code: no alcohol, drugs or obscene literature; sex will be reserved for marriage; personal conflicts will be resolved biblically; the students will be above reproach, will uphold the tenets of evangelical Christianity and lead the nation for Christ.

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Ken
Ken
4 years ago

Religion is the ruin of the USA. This documentary is a lie. The Bible is book of myth not truth. These students in this video are home schooled so they are lacking the most important part of education. An educated person always asks questions about everything. Yes that includes the BIBLE and the adults that tell you what to believe. This video is a lie.

Rob
Rob
5 years ago

It’s about time Christians did this

jj
jj
7 years ago

"We don't need the world's knowledge" -- Apparently not.

jj
jj
7 years ago

Well, they're in the White House now. Pence is their leader. American Taliban.

Mike
Mike
7 years ago

I encourage everyone to read two books; "The Christ Conspiracy, The greatest Story Ever Sold" (Acharya S) and Cesar's Messiah.

Christianity like all the other 3000 or so religions is a complete fabrication. Christ never existed and was literally written into existence.

There is only Truth. Everything else is just a waste of time. Seek the truth.

Mike
Mike
7 years ago

So sad. I grew up Southern Baptist, so I know how completely brain washed these children are. Ignorant bigoted adults should not have children. Home schooling should be against the law. This is what happens. A complete brainwashing of young minds. They are so helpless and are being raised by complete idiots. They will not be prepared for life. If only they had a chance to live and learn and be happy and not carry around some ridiculous guilt of supposed original sin. A belief in some creepy God that is always spying on them and judging them for their thoughts. A creepy God that plans to torture them for all of eternity if they do not repent of their sins. Christianity is laughable when considered by adults who have never heard of it. However when it is presented to a three year old along with the Easter bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Santa Clause as true and Mom and Dad believe it, then it becomes reality. It is brain washing, plane and simple. I feel sorry for this girl.

Sandy
Sandy
7 years ago

Good to know Washington won't run out of closed-minded jerks. Do they also offer a graduate program in fantasy-based bigotry?

DocHollywood_2
DocHollywood_2
8 years ago

While not a very balanced investigation of the college (see how majors issues are addressed and classified which wouldn't be found in a liberal college review) radical socialists democrats did the same thing in the 60's and 70's which gave us Obama and Clinton, so this is just the other side of the same coin

Maxine Godfrey
Maxine Godfrey
8 years ago

disturbing on so many levels. what a misuse of minds, diabolical even. how dare they presume to opine about same-sex marriage -- where is their base of knowledge about homosexuality? mom and dad? that'll work ... NOT! this is a massive big tent of arrogance on the scale of a 3-ring circus maximus. they are so certain of their certainties that they absolutely need to make them my certainties, too. so much dystopian speculative fiction is based on religious fervor, and PHC will be supplying the dybbuks.

coryn
coryn
9 years ago

I wish all 'God Believers' would be kind enough to offer some proof for their 'deity' before they decide that their 'God' should tell an entire population how to act. Your fantasized 'perfect God', omniscient and omnipotent, has created a world where nearly every creature, to survive, must kill and eat other creatures, usually alive. And the millions of children killed by tsunami's and hurricanes is 'God's Will'? You must be delirious to think that a 'perfect God' would, or could, create three different religions with 3 different 'Holy Books', 'Holy Books' that tell each who they are to kill, and who they are not to kill. Tell me, seriously, if you were a 'God', would you 'create' a universe such as we see around us? Are you aware that God's chosen people, the Americans, dropped more bombs on Laos during the 60's/70's then they did on both Germany AND Japan during the WWII? Laos wasn't even officially part of the war!

ukulunga
ukulunga
9 years ago

this video is quite disturbing. I am Christian but to see fellow Christian's faith get twisted and turned to the undisguised horror I see before me is unforgivable. Sadly, these people are convinced that its GOD's will to lie, go to war, and destroy. This John Henry college is a den of vipers. a warrior of GOD is a person of faith, knowing that GOD will use all (good and evil) to accomplish his will. But to see GOD's name use in this way is like watching the American version of Islamic Madrasa being played out on US soil. Ugly and disturbing. Jesus would have to be crucified thousands upon thousands of time and yet not enough to wash the sins of these so-called Christians.
To the tall lanky blonde kid in the documentary and those of his like mind, if the Earth belongs to GOD, then why is it that the conservatives and GOP have the most wealth and material possessions? R u saving it for GOD or for your selfish personal use? HYPOCRITES.

Brogan
Brogan
9 years ago

Oh Lord, you creep me out when you let these sick fanatics speak in your name!! I pray that you open their minds and end their bulls*it - please allow reasoning minds to rise up and lead America, instead of these backward m*rons!!

Tom
Tom
10 years ago

Groomed to do the bidding of the GOP, Koch Brothers, and so on, and not so much as a reach-around.
Pathetic.

Sarmoun Darq
Sarmoun Darq
11 years ago

Fascinating! I once wanted to be a wolf in sheep's clothing, a Viper(to use John the B and Jesus' terms for these kind of people). But I am a Christian and follow Christ. I am not a disciple of Ciaphas or Saul(though I was certainly tempted to be for a while), there but thru the Grace of God, go I. I shall pray that they repent and turn to Christ

jazzdawg
jazzdawg
11 years ago

Poisoning the nations well one soul at a time - A tragedy of epic proportions.

Bentley Bogle
Bentley Bogle
11 years ago

Personal conflicts will be resolved biblically. Will they stone adulteresses?

Dawn Hendsbee
Dawn Hendsbee
11 years ago

So the earth belongs to the lord, not the state? Does that mean all these Christian politicians and fundies are going to give up their properties? You know, since the earth can't belong to any man...

rzm1234
rzm1234
12 years ago

Creationism? I cannot believe those professors consider themselves "college" professors. Pathetic. Teaching theorys as fact without evidence. Talk about a bunch of m*rons. No sex and rated R movies? Half the educational films I watch IN the classroom are R. These poor kids will grow up learning nothing but silly christian rhetoric that will hinder their chances of embracing all walks/aspects of life.

Tina Kimbley
Tina Kimbley
12 years ago

Why does the English keep doing documentaries on the U.S.? Does nothing interesting happen in their own country anymore?

JR
JR
12 years ago

they home school them to brain wash them....****** crack heads

Karen Wilde Hvidding
Karen Wilde Hvidding
12 years ago

same old ideas, hating queers etc. do any of these kids know any glbt people? No. Their parents likewise wouldn't touch glbt people with a 10 ft pole. and what does that have to do with the unconditional love/grace message of Jesus Christ? nothing...

Jonathan Castro
Jonathan Castro
12 years ago

What are these kids going to do when they (hopefully) discover that the earth is actually about 4,500 million years old (and I'm not even talking about evolution)? It's one thing to believe abortion and homosexual practices are wrong (which I also do), but to sweep all of science under the rug and attempt to create a kind of political theocracy is just absurd. These folk may be well meaning but they are shooting themselves in the foot. Morality is important, but to attempt to moralize society is ridiculous, and actually goes against the Bible.

soldieroflight777
soldieroflight777
12 years ago

Enlightenment???! Don't be a fool. People who believe in that have small minds. Enlightenment is a hoax created by the enemy to fool the weak masses. In the end God will send a great delusion so it will be impossible to accept him. Accept him now before its too late.

Guest
Guest
12 years ago

Wondering if this was a critic or a propaganda! Sort of a 2,000 modern Dr. Goebbels movie. Thank for the infos extremisms can exist anywere on planet earth.
It's about those creationist evangelics who decided to send their kids into a specialized school connected on the US white house.
No democracy here. Not a bit if you see what I mean.
No wonder what runs the USA.

A bit scrary to see these youngsters being flooded by religious propaganda just like those islamic ones. Not much difference as these youngsters sink into sort of a secondary state while singing like zombies.

I used to wonder how a US-Army copter GI could fire on human beings even thought he knows, he sees that it's only unarmed childrens and women.
Now I know, as mention in this doc. :- "I got told to" !!!
None of these youngsters have a their own personality, they are endoctrined. Since their talk come from "Other's brains", they are extremely dangerous zombies. Sort of individuals who couldn't care less about triggering a string of killings in the name of a cause.

Everything considered, it take one to tell another one what's God's way?
A sickness.

Pierre.

harry nutzack
harry nutzack
12 years ago

this is probably one of the more frightening concepts i have ever seen... balkanized, brainwashed children being groomed for surgical insertion into the political process.... that the process is already underway is horrifying... "manchurian candidates" of a doomsday cult... just say no, kids... loudly

Achim Steigert
Achim Steigert
12 years ago

In non-existent little goddie we distrust!

andy thompson
andy thompson
12 years ago

A waste of time if you ask me, the college is. To focus your efforts strictly on politics and religion in this country is not only contradictory but also impractical. Nobody's gonna vote for people like this. They're narrow-minded, intolerant, and aren't independent in thought. Behind each smiling face I see a person who deeply wishes he or she could experience all that life has to offer. I feel bad for these kids. If one of them gets elected president count on another war overseas somewhere that doesn't fit into their idea of a christian world. first it's "we want a christian nation" and next it'll be "we want a christian world".

robertallen1
robertallen1
12 years ago

@C' Aira Carter

Try telling Palin or Bachmann that.

C' Aira Carter
C' Aira Carter
12 years ago

The goal of this school is unconstitutional. This is not a christian nation. The idea that we have to move our nation "back" into christianity is absurd. who says christianity is right or that its moral standards are right? we as americans have rights not to be forced into any religion and to practice what ever religion we want or not to practice at all. if you want to live as a christian then by all means do that, but to have a goal to change our society to fit your beliefs is just wrong.

Karen Fontana
Karen Fontana
12 years ago

we are all born sinners only one was not a sinner and that was Jesus Christ and the only way to not be a sinner on our way to hell is to repent and ask Jesus to come in our hearts, minds, lives and serve him. If we reject him we will fall into Gods wrath and be cast into hell. I believe the bible is the word of God and those who don't well all I can say Is I pray for you and one day we all will find out won't we? YES we will Gods word is true and his word will and is coming to pass, we are in the last days turn to Jesus while you still have time.

0zyxcba1
0zyxcba1
12 years ago

Bad people will behave badly.
Good people will behave well.
However, it takes religion to make otherwise good people behave badly.

robertallen1
robertallen1
12 years ago

I do not see how PH could have become accredited, as it goes against everything that education and scholarship stand for. From what I have read about the institution, especially the article on Wikipedia, it seems that its status is more the result of politic connections than excellence.

I wonder about the caliber of, for example, its biology classes taught from a creationist (read non-scientific) point of view and for that matter, the quality and qualifications of its professors who sign an oath of allegiance to Christianity and the Bible. On the other hand, I learned from Wikipedia that a number of them have recently left in protest against the policies of PH, but that these have been quickly replaced by other hacks.

I wonder if the college offers any courses in biblical history (scholarship) to counteract the continuous stream of religious drivel.

I wonder how mathematics is taught, when the concept of the infinite goes against most evangelical (creationist) teachings

As a matter of fact, I wonder if any of its courses can be regarded as scholastic.

I wonder why PH culls primarily from the homeschooled.

In short, PH is merely a bastion of ignorance, dogma and superstition masquerading as an institute of higher learning.

Christina
Christina
12 years ago

A note to others: Not all homeschooled kids are like this. Not every one of us ends up a religious wacko, whether or not our parents try to make us into one. We all have different reasons for why we were homeschooled: Mine was that the public schools in my area did not meet my parents' expectations as far as quality education and good teachers (both in their teaching and the way they deal with their students), so they homeschooled me. Religion didn't even become a factor until later on, which is another story. Point being, I find the view that the narration and the homeschoolers themselves take on homeschooling a bit more slanted than it ought to be. Just my humble opinion.

Christina
Christina
12 years ago

Ugh. Used to be friends with someone who ended up at PHC...he turned out to be such a snake! He wants to be a politician, go figure! We were both homeschooled, and couldn't be more different, nowadays! I hope to transfer to Berkeley someday, and he ended up at PHC...some days, I can't believe we were ever friends. I guess I'm glad he found a place for nuts like himself. Good riddance, I don't have to deal with him anymore, and soon, won't have to deal with any more fundies, if I can help it!

Sieben Stern
Sieben Stern
12 years ago

this always puzzles me - they want to train chrisitans to lead the country, but in the end they are republicans that just push policies that don't help the poor and vulnerable, like jesus would have done. 'rechrisitanize' just means banning abortion and gay marriage, not actually making this world a better place to live.

David
David
12 years ago

Christian future terrorists and fundamentalist - - - - One more proof that religion is so out of touch with reality, and tolerance - - - - Preaching one thing, doing another - - - all brainwashed idiots, with self righteous attitude are to be despised, and locked up in a nut house - - - -

Wyatt
Wyatt
13 years ago

separation between Church and State is not in the constitution. It was written in a letter by Jefferson. Church and State was not meant to keep the Church out of government, but to keep government out of the Church.

Matt
Matt
13 years ago

Looks like a bunch of scared white people.

eugler
eugler
13 years ago

Tragic, sad and alarming...

Lary Nine
Lary Nine
13 years ago

Achems Razor~
This is your last warning. Your user name is incorrectly spelled. It should be written as follows: OCCAM'S RAZOR.
That's Occam's Razor. Please change it or there will be consequences.
Thank You,
Lary9

Lary Nine
Lary Nine
13 years ago

I couldn't help but notice how lovely and hopeful these kids seem to be...and how repressed they seem to be as well. It surely is the weight of constant self-scrutiny and purgative confession that results in such a dampening effect on those so young. It almost seems to me like a form of “experiential bulimia”---gorging on forbidden behaviors and then vomitting it all back up along with undigested chunks of ‘mea culpas’. Of course, it is precisely during this exuberant, curious period of young adulthood when life and spontanaeity should BE IRREPRESSIBLE. So I’m saddened that fundamentalist, Uber-Christian parents are robbing the life passage of youth from their own children. They are a cult of disfunctional zealots bent on reaching a personal paradise and unconcerned about what or who [including their own children] gets destroyed in that quest. They are as pitiful as Wahabbist Muslims at a beheading.

Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus
13 years ago

@Gonzo
I feel like I am in Nazi-Germany!

The United States of America has devolved into a full-fledged fascist state replete with Germany's Ermächtigungsgesetz (Enabling Act) of 1933, Called here Patriot Acts I & II, a well equipped, well trained 'Gestapo' (Homeland Security) with the infrastructure of detention camps at its disposal, and censorship (as is frequently witnessed even here in the discussion forums of this website).

"Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power."
~ Benito Mussolini

Gonzo
Gonzo
13 years ago

Does anyone else feel like they are in pre-nazi Germany right now? Watching all of the fear, and ignorance, fed by a completely corrupt government. I almost feel a need to jump ship and watch it go down from the other side of the ocean.

Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus
13 years ago

Who here might recall one of the opening remarks from 'Zeitgeist - The Movie':

"They must find it difficult...
"Those who have taken authority as the truth,
"Rather than truth as the authority"
~ G. Masset, Egyptologist

It is not simply religion which is the problem: all faith-based epistemologies are equal in their toxicity.

Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus
13 years ago

In addition, I find it startling that a 121 word comment posted by Mike Manners, opening with the salutation "You Anti Christian bigots," and concluding with the valediction, "One Word. Hypocrites," is NOT awaiting moderation.

Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus
13 years ago

I find it truly remarkable that recommending a 'Top Documentary Films' documentary to a fellow contributor elicits immediate attention from those monitoring this website to the effect that: "Your comment is awaiting moderation." The comment in question consists of but three words, namely: "An excellent documentary." It would be interesting to learn how such a comment might be 'moderated'.

Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus
13 years ago

@Mike Manners
"You Anti Christian bigots..."

How very 'turning-of the-cheek' of you!

Mike Manners
Mike Manners
13 years ago

You Anti Christian bigots really astound me. You really are amazingly ignorant and arrogant.

You are all so angry at the students and faculty of PHC?
Oh..so where is your "Tolerance" and "Respect" that you scream about so much? What about the Freedom to think what you want without people labeling you with bigoted religious slurs?

Why don't you go after the Radical Madrassas with equal vigor? Hummmm?

Where is your Indignation at Female Circumcision/Mutilation? Where is your indignation at all of the be headings and killings of Christians and Jews because they are infidels?

Where is your self righteous, smug, self satisfied righteous indignation when that nut tried to blow up times square?

One Word. Hypocrites....

Atte Mede
Atte Mede
13 years ago

"my Kingdom is not of this world"( Jesus Christ, AD 0031") was the response to those who wanted Christ to do exactly what PHC is attempting to do--and in Christs' name.

"Salt and Light" to the world? I see nothing in scripture to suggest that individual Christians, apart from the Church, are to conspire ways and means to eventually become the salt and light-or to completely skip over that part and implement a faster and more effective means of providing the attributes of Salt and Light-which is the pattern I detect. It's like an electrical short-circuit--whether by accident or intent, the result of a "short-circuit" can be tragic and the result of PHC and its future is out of line with the intent of Christianity--and it doesn't matter how sincere everyone is or appears to be. Anyone can be grossly wrong and entirely sincere at the same time.

Within a hundred years I expect PHC will either be no different from what any other ivy league college presently is. They might be packaged differently and there will be divisions, disputes and splits throughout its history.
If that doesn't occur its history will be very short. That's the example provided by history.

E. David Quammen
E. David Quammen
13 years ago

The following amplifies what Jefferson TRULY meant in the excerpt given above:

"We have solved....the great and interesting question whether
freedom of religion is compatible with order in government, and obedience to the laws, And we have experienced the quiet as well as the comfort which results from leaving every one to profess freely and openly those principles of religion which are the inductions of his own reason, and the serious convictions of his own inquiries."

- Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Baptists, 1808.

"I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling in religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises."

- Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Miller, 1808

"Religion is a subject on which I have ever been most scrupulously reserved. I have considered it as a matter between every man and his Maker, in which no other, and far less the public, had a right to intermeddle."

- Thomas Jefferson to Richard Rush, 1813

"The clergy, by getting themselves established by law, and
ingrafted into the machine of government, have been a very
formidable engine against the civil and religious rights of man."

- Thomas Jefferson to Jeremiah Moor, 1800

"I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another."

- Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 1799

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the
propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical."

- Thomas Jefferson: Statute of Religious Freedom, 1779

Our founders didn't want a corrupt government using the "church", or visa-versa, to enforce tyranny. As had been the case for CENTURIES in Europe. Most of the U.S. educational systems have perverted and subverted the ACTUAL meaning of what was INTENDED by the founders.