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Kirk Cameron: "I've Become Concerned About the World Our Kids Are Growing Up In"
Townhall.com ^ | March 27, 2012 | John Hanlon

Posted on 03/27/2012 6:35:54 AM PDT by Kaslin

Growing Pains actor Kirk Cameron thinks that America is off track. He’s concerned about our country’s future and he believes that we have to look to history to find “the secret sauce” that made our nation so great in the first place. With that in mind, his new documentary Monumental focuses on Cameron’s attempt to retrace our Pilgrim’s journey in order to better understand how our nation came into being.

I recently had a chance to talk to Cameron about his new movie and the reasons he made it.

Cameron’s reason for making the film is evident even in the movie’s trailer where he states that “something is sick in the soul of our country.” But when I talked to him, the discussion became very personal. He told me that as a father of six, he’s “become concerned about the world that our kids are growing up in.” He said that when we look around the country, we see “16 trillion dollars in debt, and you see families falling apart, you see homelessness and teenage pregnancy, and suicide and crime…”

Some see such problems and play the blame game but Cameron had another idea. “Instead of listening to everyone blame one another with the right blaming the left and the left blaming the right,” he decided to search for the keys to our nation’s greatness. He retraced the "escape route of the Pilgrims" and talked to historians about the tremendous obstacles that stood in their path as they fought for freedom. And as he notes in the film, the Pilgrims were far more courageous and resilient than many people give them credit for.

Cameron hopes that the film gets viewers more interested and excited in the history of our country. When I asked about his goals for the movie, he said that he wants "people’s eyes to be opened to the real history of our country.”

“I want people to understand the recipe for freedom and blessing and prosperity and I want people to be inspired by the stories of courage and sacrifice and selflessness,” he added.

And he was quick to note that “the history of the world is the story of people getting off track” so we are not facing a unique situation. History is full of people who took their history and freedom for granted, he said. And he argued that we can’t ever take those things for granted and we can’t wait for others to solve our own problems.

“We shouldn’t wait around and wait for the government to fix the problems of our country…we should fix them ourselves.” And as a born-again Christian, he added that faith in God is a good place to start.

In publicizing the film, Cameron has faced some tough questions about his own faith. While on Piers Morgan’s show a few weeks ago, the actor was confronted with questions about morality, homosexuality and abortion. And Cameron told me that he was unprepared for such questions and he was surprised how “disingenuous Morgan was.” Cameron told me that he went on the show to talk about his movie, not his personal religious beliefs.

His appearance and his statement that homosexuality is “unnatural” caused a lot of controversy but when I talked to Cameron, he was more focused on his film but he noted that as a Christian, he’s “called to love all people and not hate anybody and I don’t.”

Cameron’s new movie Monumental will be screened tonight in limited theaters as a one- night engagement. Click here to find a theater closest to you and also make sure you check out Townhall.com’s own Daniel Doherty interview Cameron at CPAC 2012.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: christianheritage; documentary; hollywood; kirkcameron; monumental; moviereview
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To: Thane_Banquo

Both were unbelievers. He was driven to repentance. She never was driven to repentance. There is not a single part of the movie that indicates any repentance on her part for her sins, even after they got back together, even after they had a second “wedding” ceremony. Everything is brought to a “happily ever after” moment, without the pre-condition of her repentance. It creates the illusion that she wasn’t equally at fault. But her sins were of the same kind as his: Her planning to have an affair with a doctor while still married was the same sin as him looking at pornography. It’s called lust. But it’s okay for her to do it, because her subjective emotional desires weren’t being met.


He became a believer, then followed his dad’s advise aided by scripture. I don’t remember her turning to God either, but, like his father prayed for him, he would pray for her redemption.

We are called to forgive EVEN when no one tells us THEY are sorry. I think this was a movie aimed at men to give it all to God and not expect anything in return. Jesus forgave, even as the nails went into his hands and feet, he said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing”.

I think lots of people would have liked to see the wife say she was sorry and wrong. Maybe that is how much God wants us to stretch for HIM. Right now men are writing these stories and are aiming at men to do the right thing, even if women don’t. When we don’t forgive, unless we hear I’m sorry too, have we really given it all to God?


41 posted on 03/27/2012 8:00:00 AM PDT by Linda Frances (Only God can change a heart, but we can pray for hearts to be changed)
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To: This I Wonder32460
Since when are firemen poor?

Poor in comparison to doctors. They aren't poor, you're right. They make a good living.

42 posted on 03/27/2012 8:02:19 AM PDT by Thane_Banquo (Support hate crime laws: Because some victims are more equal than others.)
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To: Thane_Banquo
Wow. Just wow.

I see you continue to ignore the point that all of this 'emo-porn' happened BEFORE the wife came to Christ, and the humility her Christian husband exhibited was to win her to Christ.

No point in continuing this. You're convinced, and ignoring the information that doesn't fit your template.

Just for the record, I only saw the movie because it was on TV. Not a fan of this kind of movie. But in seeing it recently, I know for a fact that your opinion is exactly opposite of the reality of the film.

43 posted on 03/27/2012 8:02:56 AM PDT by ohioWfan (Proud Mom of a Bronze Star recipient!)
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To: Thane_Banquo

You’re right about pornography. I’ve had problems there as well. But what about the emotional pornography sold to women in the form of romance novels and Lifetime Network and all that? It’s a kind of pornography where women are allowed to fantasize about a man keeping her in a constant and eternal state of emotional ecstasy. It demeans men by making women believe that the entire reason a man exists is to fulfill a woman’s subjective and selfish emotional desires. The church actually encourages this kind of pornography, with Christian booksellers churning out tons of Christian romance novels and movies. This is porn for women, pure and simple. Both are based in lust, but the lust expresses itself in different ways. We wink at one form while rightly condemning the other. Why?
***Interesting point, one that I hadn’t thought of.


44 posted on 03/27/2012 8:09:01 AM PDT by Kevmo (If you can define a man by the depravity of his enemies, Rick Santorum must be a noble soul indeed.)
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To: Thane_Banquo

The respect someone receives is the respect they earn. If your wife is disrespecting you, what have you done that has hurt her and crippled her ability to respect you and to treat you differently then she currently does? You probably don’t even know you are doing it or think what you have done shouldn’t make her feel the way she does and react the way she does to you and not give you the respect you crave. Respect is not a given, it is an earning. We reap what we sow and most often it is the man who needs to learn how change his way, in order for his wife to be drawn toward him rather then turned away from him, as he is source of her sorrow and self-shame. I suggest two books by Gary Smalley “If only He Knew - What No Woman Can resist” or “For Better or For Best - Understand Your Man.”


45 posted on 03/27/2012 8:10:23 AM PDT by This I Wonder32460
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To: Linda Frances
1) You're mistaking forgiveness with continuation of the marriage.

2) There are tons of Christian resources "aiming at men to do the right thing, even if women don’t." Why are there no Christian resources criticizing women for the emotional form of lust they practice, but rather there are Christian romance novels and romance movies that encourage it? Men are constantly told to "man up" in the face of unfaithful women, but rarely do we see Christian leaders informing women that the purpose of marriage isn't to meet their selfish emotionalistic desires. Rather, I see that view encouraged in discussions of "Christian" marriage. It is a view entirely at odds with the Bible, but the view underlies Fireproof.

46 posted on 03/27/2012 8:11:50 AM PDT by Thane_Banquo (Support hate crime laws: Because some victims are more equal than others.)
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To: This I Wonder32460

Yeah, I also used to believe that “it’s always the man’s fault” baloney too. Then I learned the hard way that women, like men, are actually capable of serious sin.


47 posted on 03/27/2012 8:29:19 AM PDT by Thane_Banquo (Support hate crime laws: Because some victims are more equal than others.)
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To: ohioWfan
“I want people to understand the recipe for freedom and blessing and prosperity and I want people to be inspired by the stories of courage and sacrifice and selflessness,” he added.

He understands 'character' is the difference.

48 posted on 03/27/2012 8:35:00 AM PDT by GOPJ (Democrat-Media Complex - buried stories and distorted facts... freeper 'andrew' Breitbart)
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To: GOPJ
He understands 'character' is the difference.

Yes, he does, and that America cannot survive without it.

And thank you for getting back to the article and the point of this thread.

Methinks it's being hijacked by a single disgruntled freeper!

49 posted on 03/27/2012 8:45:17 AM PDT by ohioWfan (Proud Mom of a Bronze Star recipient!)
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To: Thane_Banquo
1) You're mistaking forgiveness with continuation of the marriage.
2) There are tons of Christian resources “aiming at men to do the right thing, even if women don’t.” Why are there no Christian resources criticizing women for the emotional form of lust they practice, but rather there are Christian romance novels and romance movies that encourage it? Men are constantly told to “man up” in the face of unfaithful women, but rarely do we see Christian leaders informing women that the purpose of marriage isn't to meet their selfish emotionalistic desires. Rather, I see that view encouraged in discussions of “Christian” marriage. It is a view entirely at odds with the Bible, but the view underlies Fireproof.

1) We are called to forgive 7 times 77; which I think we both agree on. As far as the continuation of marriage we know that God’ hates divorce. I assume you mean that the fact that she was divorcing him was wrong. She was not a believer, so she does many things wrong. If you mean he should divorce her because she was about to have an affair—she did and did not. In the worlds eyes she did not, but she lusted after a man so in God's eyes she did. He too was having an affair- online: “If a man looks at a women with lust in his heart, he has already committed adultery with her.” And no one has to stay with an unfaithful spouse. God might speak to your heart and tell you to stay in the marriage, but scripture says we don't’ have to stay, so that's a choice many have to make. Give up your pride and obey God or do what you want.

2)I don't know any Christian women who read romance novels or watch romance movies that makes them lust after the man. Women sometimes like to see a chick flick to hear a story of true love; but I can't imagine a Christian lusting after the man in the story. Is that what you mean?

I think you see many things aimed at men doing the right thing because they are suppose to be the head of the household. Men do not have to stay with a unfaithful wife, but maybe God will call him to for His reasons. My son's first wife cheated on him 3 times before he finally divorced her. He was not walking with God and she had issues from her childhood. After my son filed for divorce and seen his life was falling apart, he returned to God. He then seen that even though she cheated, he had done many things that were wrong in their marriage. He was partying with his friends instead of taking his wife out,.....God took him though a slow process of seeing where he was wrong. A few years after the divorce my son called his x to apologize for his part in the marriage breakup. God had been dealing with her and she cried to him that it was all her fault and not his at all. His x had remarried, so their was no hope of reconciliation. My son did not call to reconcile and really did not want to unless God put that on his heart. My son has been married to a beautiful girl who is a Christian. He leads bible studies and has cell group meetings in his home. He is the happiest man I know, next to my husband.

50 posted on 03/27/2012 9:21:56 AM PDT by Linda Frances (Only God can change a heart, but we can pray for hearts to be changed)
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To: MrB

“escatology”

You mean eschatology, of course.


51 posted on 03/27/2012 11:35:11 AM PDT by Owl558 ("Those who remember George Satayana are doomed to repeat him")
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To: Thane_Banquo

“Until the rise of feminism, hypergamy was recognized by human civilization for thousands of years as a common moral weakness in woman...”

Bless you. I’m not disputing any of your points, however, your statement above regarding hypergamy is not correct within my understanding of the word.

Hypergamy was a common practice throughout the world until being largely replaced by the notion of romantic love in the modern, western world. From christian Europe, to hindu India, to buddist China, diverse cultures used their girls to marry into other clans clans and form webs of alliances - to “trade up” in your vernacular.


52 posted on 03/27/2012 12:13:15 PM PDT by Owl558 ("Those who remember George Satayana are doomed to repeat him")
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To: Kaslin
I saw the movie last night. I liked the message in the movie. I believe if we followed the movies advice, we could get our Nation back on track. Faith, morality, law, justice, education, and liberty. The people who first came to America knew what they should build upon. God bless them for running their part of the relay race and enduring the evil that tried to stop them. May we have the Lord's courage and strength to run our part of the race as they did.


53 posted on 03/28/2012 5:10:00 AM PDT by do the dhue (WARNING: this site is not liable for the things I say)
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To: All

If you are given the chance to see this movie, please do so.


54 posted on 03/28/2012 5:21:28 AM PDT by do the dhue (WARNING: this site is not liable for the things I say)
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To: do the dhue

We went to see Monumental last night. It is an awesome
documentary about what the separatists (aka pilgrims) had to go through
in order to have religious freedom.


55 posted on 03/28/2012 1:51:19 PM PDT by fulltlt
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To: Kaslin; 444Flyer

Watched Monumental, was impressed with the history lesson and to again be reminded about the Godly roots and strong character our nation was founded on. Our country has strayed so far from the intent of our foundation, truly sad and scary. As we dismantle and restructure our foundation, it’s difficult to think we can achieve the same prosperous results.


56 posted on 03/28/2012 6:58:07 PM PDT by HollyB
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To: fulltlt; do the dhue

The Puritans/pilgrims were truly comitted to their purpose and faith. Had no idea they spent 12 years in Holland before leaving on the Mayflower. I may have missed that part in history class. The explanation about the statue was awesome. The other thing was how Harvard changed their motto, taking God out. The modern leaders and politicians of this country have ruined the meaning of our constitution and our foundation.


57 posted on 03/28/2012 7:09:02 PM PDT by HollyB
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To: This I Wonder32460

Bravo. When a woman truly feels loved and charished, and trusts her husband, she gives her all in return. A woman needs to trust her heart is safe and when that trust is broken because of hurts, it truly causes walls to separate the two. So often in relationships we give, but give what we think is important. But, what someone wants to give and meeting a need of what is important to the other person are sometimes two different things.


58 posted on 03/28/2012 7:39:10 PM PDT by HollyB
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To: HollyB; fulltlt

It was awesome. I did not know they spent 12 years in Holland too.

The thing I hope for is that we can get back to our roots and change things. Our course has been altered and we need to get back on track.


59 posted on 03/29/2012 5:36:12 AM PDT by do the dhue (WARNING: this site is not liable for the things I say)
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To: HollyB
We know there is only One answer to America's, more specifically, each individual American's afflictions , as well as that of the world's itself. Amen!:)

Can America be rebuilt?

60 posted on 03/29/2012 9:46:35 AM PDT by 444Flyer (~Leaning on the everlasting arms~ (Deuteronomy 33:27) (John 3))
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