Hard as Nails Ministery

Ok so I saw this documentary awhile back called 'Hard As Nails' which showcased the ministery Hard as Nails started by Justin Fatica. Now it really took me by surprise as a very different take on christianity. At one point the minstry went to a local high school to speak and had one of thier teenage members stand up infront of all the students as they called her fat, ugly and continued screaming at her. I suppose it is meant to harden the followers. They were then told by the school they were not able to come back because they scared the other students to the point of tears.Anyways they have some extreme tactics to make thier followers understand the ridicule and pain jesus went through. Below is thier website. My question is some are claiming Justin, is brainwashing his followers and causing serious damage to them.. so what do you think? Would you allow your young child to be apart of this mistry?

http://www.hanm.org/home.html

here is one rather funny comment i found on IMDb :

Freak Show

by lhartley2323 (Wed Jan 23 2008 07:41:54)
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Sorry if it offends you christians out there; however this dude is unstable and needs to be shut down before he inflicts some serious damage like Jim Jones did. His tactics are ridiculous, simply brainwashing and scaring the hell out of teenagers. Seriously if I were a believer in Christianity I would be immensely scared that this man was the second coming of the antichrist.

I don't think I would let my kid be a part of this, unless they wanted to. I do plan on taking my child to church, but this 'hard as nails' thing is a little too extreme for me

absolutely not.
I think the root of Christianity comes from compassion and forgiveness. And while most people perceive Christians as hypocritical, it's not always true. I think that reaching out to people without condemning them or judging them is the correct way. The tactic he used for that particular school would have worked much better if it were in a church of people who truly understood what had happened, not to kids who may not know about Jesus.

Hmmm.. Sounds similar to the tactics the military uses to get the service members up to par.

If James wanted to join, I would let him. That is his choice and his choice alone to make, but I won't let him try to push any beliefs on me.

Quoting Melinda.:“ Hmmm.. Sounds similar to the tactics the military uses to get the service members up to par. If James ... [snip!] ... to join, I would let him. That is his choice and his choice alone to make, but I won't let him try to push any beliefs on me.”

ya he compared himself to a drill sergant

Quoting Ms.Melody(Sept22/0 :“ ya he compared himself to a drill sergant”

I haven't gone through bootcamp myself so anything I have to say about it is all second hand but my husband said that they completely berate you and humiliate, dehumanize you so they can build you up to their standards.

Makes sense. I'm not sure that I necessarily agree with that, but to each their own.

Quoting Melinda.:“ I haven't gone through bootcamp myself so anything I have to say about it is all second hand but my ... [snip!] ... can build you up to their standards. Makes sense. I'm not sure that I necessarily agree with that, but to each their own.”

ya he pretty much does that.. to teens. Another one of his tactics was to make the kids carry a heavy cross like jesus while the other kids yell and throw things.

He hugs them at the end though...  

Quoting Ms.Melody(Sept22/0 :“ ya he pretty much does that.. to teens. Another one of his tactics was to make the kids carry a heavy ... [snip!] ... the kids carry a heavy cross like jesus while the other kids yell and throw things. He hugs them at the end though...  ”

Lol.

Tough love!

Well, I guess if you want to be that hardcore about your beliefs and want to feel the pain that the person that supposedly died for your sins felt.. More power to them..?

To me, berating teenagers (most of which don't have much self worth to begin with) falls completely out of line with what Jesus would have wanted. He doesn't want anyone to understand the pain of his time with the cross by making them bear their own crosses publicly. He didn't want to do it himself, he begged God to take it from him..unless it was his will..and then he'd do it anyways. I think THAT'S what people are supposed to take from the Passion story..that things happen and they HURT very badly..but to go to God and accept it. Not "take center stage and be embarrassed into faith".

Admittedly, I'm not much of a Christian. I'm a spiritual person, instead of a religious person. I did have Religious Studies as my minor in University..and I did do alot of bible study. His message may be good..but his tactics are a bit over the top. I'm not going to push my child into ANY religion. I'm going to wait till he chooses one. If he decides to choose one. And if he's taken in by this kind of faith, then all the best to him! I just hope it doesn't ruin his self-esteem simultaneously..