>> ^HollywoodBob:
So is the point to scare non-christians into converting, or preventing christians from leaving? Cause I can't see any non-christian going there and thinking anything other than "Those crazy bible-thumpers."


Probably the latter.

The description on RichardDawkins.net reads: "A Letter From Hell

You've heard of the "Jesus Camp" and "Hell House" scare tactics used on children? Well, here's another addition to this unfortunate list. My 12 year old son (a non-believer all by himself, without any help from me) was given this link by a school friend who's going around trying to convert his classmates to Christianity. This video "A Letter From Hell" is a truly frightening, scare-the-kids-into-believing 'message'. A warning: It will both anger and sicken you.

Humbly submitted for your viewing displeasure,
~Carmine Bello
(Double Bass Atheist)"

Pretty lame that kids are sending this to kids. Can't they just be left alone until they are old enough to make up their own minds.

I'm not sure if he's actually trying to convert people. Converting seems like the mainstay of religion to me. He seems to be saying here's my opinion and think about it. If they don't change sides, oh well. Sending them to a hell house for atheism won't be in their future if they don't see the science.

To jump in on the conversation...

I think this goes beyond indoctrination. Sure, some of these kids will grow up, spark up their first jay, and realize that the world isn't quite so serious, but many of them won't. I make it a hobby of mine to converse with evangelical types wherever I run across them and try out logic on them. It generally doesn't work regardless of age. And this is all even more frightening if you watch the rest of the interview with the camp leader on the movie's website - www.jesuscampthemovie.com - basically, the woman is training Christian suicide bombers. (a slight exageration... but only slight)

Along the lines of daphne's computer comment... Think of brain cells as being able to connect a limited amount of synapses with each other. With repetition, these connections become more and more effortless to the point where it is habitual. As these are more and more embedded in the brain, it becomes harder to form new synapses and break old ones without some sort of event triggering the release of the old ones. My point being, they hard wire the brain to accept only certain synapses while rejecting others. I'm sure memes fit in here somewhere...

or maybe its too late and im rambling at this point. but it's the internet, and im anonymous. so i don't mind.

long story short - this looks like a great movie. Also check out Hell House http://www.hellhousemovie.com/hellhouse/index.html if this topic (christian fundie indoctrination) fascinates you.

Southern Fundamentalists have such a gloomy and violent worldview. I don't know that all the kitten videos in the world would change it. I will try to find a higher quality clip of HELL HOUSE soon.

Hell House is so very great. Maybe a clip exists out there

omg, go rent "Hell House" it is the scariest documentary I've ever watched.