Baby Bible Bashers!

Samuel Boutwell is a seven-year-old preacher. He takes his vocation to save sinners from rotting in eternal hell extremely seriously.

"Most Saturdays he stands in front of his local abortion clinic in Jackson, Mississippi and, bible in hand, bellows:

‘Don’t kill your child! Repent! God loves the little children!’.

"Baby Bible Bashers follows the extraordinary stories of three of the Lord’s ‘chosen children’, and their relationships with God, their families and their congregations.

In addition to Samuel, we meet nine-year-old Florida firebrand Terry Durham, who likes nothing more than to don his oversize blue suit and alligator shoes, and whip the crowd into a frenzy. Terry holds the honor of having been the world’s youngest ordained minister at just six.

Brazilian sensation Ana Carolina Dias began preaching at just three years of age and regularly commands TV audiences of millions. Her mission: to save the hardened gang members and drug dealers of Rio’s shantytowns.

This film by BAFTA award-winning director Amelia Hann, follows these pint-size preachers as they go about their missionary work spreading the word to ‘drunkards, adulterers and thieves’ and uncovers the unsettling and often disturbing truth behind child evangelism.

Seven-year-old evangelist Samuel Boutwell began preaching when he was just a toddler. Sinners he has to convert include drunkards, liars, fornicators, adulterers, thieves, homosexuals, blasphemers, hypocrites and money-lovers.

Samuel descends from a long line of preachers - his parents are unrivalled in their commitment. The film follows Samuel and his family on their crusade across America to save as many souls as they can."

"Terry’s congregation believe he has a direct link with God and can channel supernatural powers. Terry’s father has a master plan for his son’s rise to stardom. “In the next few years, I’m seeing Terry pastoring a 30,000-member church,” he says."

"Samuel and his family reach New York. Displaying signs that condemn most people to hell, including homosexuals, they soon spark a reaction - but in Samuel’s eyes, these people are rejecting God and embracing the Devil."

"Despite their differences, these three children are united by an overwhelming fear of the Devil. Obeying their parents is their best bet of escaping an eternity in hell."

"Samuel’s father is already planning new mission trips, despite the reaction in New York. “If you don’t repent, you’re going to hell - and like I say, worms will be eating you,” says Samuel."

My Commentary:

I can really sympathize with the argument that these poor kind are a victim of child abuse. Obviously in these cases the abuse is psychological and not physical. None the less it is my opinion that these poor kids are suffering long term damage that will culminate into them becoming dogmatic Christian fundamentalists. Meantime what sort of childhood do you think these kids are having? Young Samuel pictured above is convinced that worms will be eating people in hell and Terry is being exploited for profit by his own mun and Dad.
I believe these children are being brainwashed from an early age and are not being taught to evaluate evidence. The damage already done to young Samuel is evident from the program and it is clear that he will grow up encased in dogma and fundamentalism and therefore sadly won't be able to practice what is of most important in religion. Compassion. Of course his parents will argue that they are being compassionate by ensuring that Samuel is on a fast track course to heaven and that they are doing there very best to ensure others follow this program also.
However as this young man is being home schooled he will never understand another religion, won't be able to evaluate evidence and will never understand that he can't prove that heaven exists and because it says so in a book, doe's not make it so.

Closing arguments:

Watching this documentary was like watching a car wreck. You know you shouldn't but you just can't turn away. This pro gramme was disturbing and I wonder how many other children across the U.S. are being indoctrinated in this manner. I fear for these children I really do and feel very sorry for them. Instead of worrying about a heaven or hell or about a holy book, these kids should be enjoying a normal carefree childhood. Instead they are being put through rigorous and systematic psychological child abuse.

Related Web Links:

Baby Bible Bashers
A Look At Child Evangelists