0974930016
Hardcover
208 pages
Aug 2004
Genesis Publishing

Review  |   Author Bio  |  Read an Excerpt

Excerpt:

CONTENTS

HOLLYWOOD AND GOD . . . . . . . . . . .9

Aames,Willie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101

Affleck, Ben . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Allen,Woody . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109

Alley, Kirstie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Amos, Tori . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Anderson, Pamela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

Aykroyd, Dan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Baldwin, Alec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Basinger, Kim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Berry, Halle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Bono . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Boone, Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147

Brando,Marlon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Caine,Michael . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Cameron-Bure, Candace . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Cameron, Kirk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150

Carrey, Jim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Cash, Johnny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122

Cassidy, Shaun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Cavett, Dick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Caviezel, Jim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127

Chaplin, Charlie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Clooney, George . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93

Cole, Natalie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130

Collins, Judy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Cooper, Alice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143

Costner, Kevin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142

Couric, Katie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Cruise, Tom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127

Cyrus, Billy Ray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Diller, Phyllis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97

Dillon,Matt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123

Disney,Walt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Douglas, Kirk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Duvall, Robert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Dylan, Bob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Eden, Barbara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108

Evans, Linda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Fishburne, Laurence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Fisher, Carrie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104

Flynt, Larry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110

Foster, Jodie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Fox,Michael J. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144

Franken, Al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Gates, Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124

Gere, Richard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137

Gibson,Mel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Gifford, Kathie Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149

Glover, Danny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Griffith, Andy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147

Hawn, Goldie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142

Hayes, Isaac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117

Heaton, Patricia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138

Hefner, Hugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Hepburn, Katharine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Heston, Charlton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Houston,Whitney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117

Ireland, Kathy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93

Jackson, Janet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Jackson, La Toya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Jackson,Michael . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Jackson,Victoria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131

Jennings, Peter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Jesus of Nazareth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157

Joel, Billy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Jones, Dean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151

Joyner-Kersee, Jackie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

King, Stephen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Lennon, John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Lewis, Jerry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103

Lucas, George . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

MacLaine, Shirley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Madonna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Maher, Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132

Mandrell, Barbara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130

Manson,Marilyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118

McGraw, Dr. Phil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100

McLeod, Gavin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140

Miller, Dennis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Minnelli, Liza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112

Mr. T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125

Moore,Michael . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101

Nicholson, Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Nimoy, Leonard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Nolte, Nick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Norris, Chuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

O’Hara,Maureen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

O’Donnell, Rosie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141

Parton, Dolly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Peck, Gregory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Pitt, Brad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Reagan, Ronald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129

Reese, Della . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96

Reeve, Christopher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113

Reynolds, Debbie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Rooney, Andy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

Rooney,Mickey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126

Russell, Jane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Ryder,Winona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148

Schwarzenegger, Arnold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Shatner,William . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Sheen,Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139

Shriver,Maria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Simon, Neil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102

Sinatra, Frank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Spears, Britney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151

Steiger, Rod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Stern, Howard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Stewart, Jimmy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Taylor, Elizabeth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112

Taylor, James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Teller (of Penn & Teller) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Tesh, John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Tomlin, Lily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149

Travolta, John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Urich, Robert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120

Washington, Denzel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120

Wayne, John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Welles, Orson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Whelchel, Lisa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Wilder, Gene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Willis, Bruce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Winfrey, Oprah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121

Young, Loretta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173

SAVE YOURSELF SOME PAIN . . . . . . . . .175

PSALM 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193

NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195

 

HOLLYWOOD
AND GOD

Despite what the press may convey, America is not antagonistic toward the things of God. According to a March 2004 Associated Press poll, an incredible 87 percent of respondents wanted “under God” kept in the Pledge of Allegiance.1

Contrary to expectations, the blockbuster movie The Passion of the Christ grossed hundreds of millions of dollars in its opening weeks, proving that Americans have a strong interest in God. A Gallup poll shortly after the film’s release found that three in four Americans have seen it or expect to see it.2

The New York Times reported, “As the overwhelming success of The Passion of the Christ reverberates through Hollywood, producers and studio executives are asking whether the movie industry has been neglecting large segments of the American audience eager for more openly religious fare.”3

What Hollywood Believes explores an area that has been neglected in the past—the religious faith of the famous. It is a sad irony that when legendary filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille (director of the epic movie The Ten Commandments) first came to California in the early 1900s, he settled in a small town that was giving away free land to anyone willing to build a place of worship. The town, said to be a “Christian” settlement, had a picturesque name—Hollywood.

 

Yet through the years the famous town has come to bear little resemblance to middle America. For example, a survey conducted among the 104 top television writers and executives found only 49 percent consider adultery to be wrong—which means 51 percent believe adultery is morally right. Meanwhile 85 percent of the rest of America believes adultery is wrong.5

When asked about their religious affiliations, 45 percent of Hollywood executives said they had none, while the general population citing no religious affiliation was a mere 4 percent. Gallup polls reveal that over 90 percent of Americans believe in God, with as many as 40 percent attending worship services regularly,6 yet America’s true religious nature hasn’t been reflected in television shows or movies.

While I had a wonderful time researching for this book, discovering the stars’ beliefs was arduous and time-consuming. Because Hollywood has for many years been under the illusion that America isn’t interested in God, many celebrities hide their spiritual beliefs for fear of jeopardizing their careers. (Some of the quotes are therefore very short, for which I apologize.7) Each time I uncovered something a famous person believed about spirituality, it was like finding a golden needle in a huge haystack of information.

So what you are about to read is unique. The spiritual beliefs of the famous have not often been published—especially in a single resource such as this book. The utmost care has been taken to cite all sources of information, in the belief that each of the sources is accurate.

These findings are both fascinating and informative. Not surprisingly, celebrities expressed a wide range of views. One star thinks God is a woman, while others believe they will be reincarnated.

Some beliefs are a little off the wall; others seem to make sense . . .but who am I to say who is right and who is wrong? However, if I were researching the thoughts of famous football players on how the game should be played, and found conflicting beliefs on how the players should line up for the snap, it would be sensible for me to go to a respected source of information—the standard for football plays. I would use that as a plumb line to compare how far to the left or right each player stood.

That’s what I have done with this book. In it you will find extremes. So I have gone to the most respected source for spirituality, not only for Jews and Christians but also for many other major religions. I have compared the beliefs of the famous to the bestselling Book of all time, the Book that has stood the test of time—the Bible. This is because I don’t want What Hollywood Believes to be merely informational. I want it also to be educational—so that each of us can think beyond what the celebrities say and perhaps even beyond our own beliefs. And the best way to do this is to consider these beliefs in view of a plumb line.

We’ll be in good company as we do so. Many of our country’s great leaders have looked to the Bible as an educational tool as well as a source of wisdom.

Theodore Roosevelt firmly believed, “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”8 Dwight D. Eisenhower stated, “The Bible is endorsed by the ages. Our civilization is built upon its words. In no other Book is there such a collection of inspired wisdom, reality, and hope.”9 John Quincy Adams had similar convictions: “The first and almost the only Book deserving of universal attention is the Bible . . . It is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue.”10 His father, John Adams, said simply, “The Bible is the best Book in the world.”11

Commendations for the Bible aren’t limited to presidents. The “Father of Science,” Sir Isaac Newton, asserted, “We account the Scriptures of God to be the most sublime philosophy. I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatsoever.”12

With these thoughts in mind, I hope you will find this publication more than titillating. I trust it will help you to see that many of those celebrities to whom we look up are also looking up . . . toward the heavens. Although they are rich, famous, successful, and seemingly self-sufficient, they have the same fears, doubts, and aspirations as the rest of us.

In these pages I have also attempted to address some of the difficulties and objections raised by celebrities as well as others—such as the issue of suffering, proof that God exists, why we should believe a Book that is full of strange stories, who made God, etc.

Researching the content for this book has caused me to not only be more educated about other people’s beliefs, but it has helped me to grow in my own faith. I hope it does the same for you. So let’s now look at the faith of the famous, and see what they believe.