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About two weeks before Christmas I confronted an anti-masker at the post office, which was crowded with people waiting to mail packages. There was a masked elderly woman standing with the door propped open because she was understandably scared. I said to the maskless woman “you know you’re supposed to be wearing a mask, you’re just being arrogant.” She then proceeded to sneer “have a nice day” and then “God loves you” at me while I stared her down. It was scary, but I’m more scared of dying than of being yelled at. I double mask and wear a visor so I’m probably safe unless someone decides to fight me. Given my mood lately, I don’t know if this would be unwelcome.
My long point is that awful people are weaponizing their Christianity to excuse their reckless and incredibly selfish behavior during a pandemic. I’m sure many of you will say those people are not true Christians, and I appreciate you.
Here’s something so much worse though. Kirk Cameron held yet another maskless event with his evangelical crowd to “pray” on New Year’s Eve. This is despite the fact that California has a stay at home order and is one of the worst hit states in the pandemic with 0% ICU capacity. This complete a-hole is encouraging people to gather as an eff you to everyone trying to keep us safe and healthy, I guess. This is Cameron’s third public event. His first two were superspreader caroling events.
Kirk Cameron hosted a large gathering on a California beach on New Year’s Eve to pray “for our nation,” defying the state’s stay-at-home orders and marking the third time in several weeks he’s hosted or attended such an event amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
Cameron, 50, was joined by dozens of people at Point Mugu State Park in Ventura County for a “Sunset Singing and Prayer Event” on Thursday, and gave a four-minute speech to the crowd that was broadcast on Instagram and Facebook.
“We are inviting you to join us in prayer for our nation,” he said as a preface to the event.
Photos the Growing Pains star shared to his Instagram Story showed little to no social distancing among attendees, and no masks, despite the fact that the stay-at-home order forbids gatherings with members of other households, and requires masks.
“If you want to wear masks, we welcome masks,” Cameron said in a clip shared to his Instagram Story. “If you want to spread out with your family, there’s plenty of room here. Remember, you’re in charge of your healthcare. Use wisdom, common sense and good judgment with that.”
Cameron posted a video to his Instagram from the event. He told some story from the Bible and said “God will give us the battle plan in his word and we need to search the scriptures as God speaks to us. We need to be listening for the voice of God rather than being distracted by the noise of men. Let 2021 be a year of trumpets and shouting. Watch our Jerichos fall as we praise him with our tongues and lungs.” So does that mean God is telling them to gather and not wear masks? Like they can’t praise God from home or with their immediate family? This is beyond. He told another Bible story that ended with “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord ambushed the enemy. I believe that the Lord is ready to do the same for you and me in 2021.” It scares me that these people believe this. Are they trying to kill nonbelievers?
As I always say, these people will be immortalized in history. When this guy dies, (and I’m not wishing it on him although he seems like a candidate for covid) the fact that he held multiple public gatherings during a pandemic will be in his obituary. People who held superspreader events like Trump and Kirk Cameron are going to be immortalized as villains in the incredibly sad history of this pandemic. They are causing death and suffering by gleefully spreading the virus and disinformation about it. Thankfully so many more of us are staying home and masking up, but it’s a-holes like this who are killing people and who have helped ruin entire industries.
When God agrees with everything you think and say and do, it’s not God.
THIS
They went to skid row and sang unmasked in the faces of homeless people. They didn’t hand out coats or blankets or food. They sang and spread disease. These people are not Christians. They are cult members and very bad people.
Holy moly, that’s disgusting. So disgusting.
Reading this just made my stomach turn with rage, unbelievably selfish and wrong.
Holy hell. F him. It boggles my mind that of all the ways he might choose to stay relevant, this is what he chose.
I don’t believe in Hell, but now I really want there to be one specifically for grasping, murderous scumbag hypocrites like this one. Burn, baby burn!
I normally don’t wish death upon anyone, but this sleazebag? I hope he gets Covid and is put on a vent. Homeless populations are so vulnerable, especially now with Covid. My nephew works every day with homeless vets. Screw Kirk.
What a complete piece of shit. I’m an agnostic Jew with atheistic leanings, but right now I want SO badly for there to be a G-d if for no other reason than to strike him down in an epic way. I am SO sick of these people! My cousin’s self-righteous, judgmental, racist garbage wife OF COURSE follows him and shares his idiotic posts, gleefully endorsing this behavior. Oh, and she currently has Covid. But no worries – she’s sure Jesus will get her through it.
It was incredibly malicious for them to do that. The homeless are so vulnerable, and to target their community is unconscionable. It’s the modern equivalent to handing out small pox blankets.
pretty sure double masking does nothing – if a mask does not tightly contact your skin around its full perimeter, the air still gets in. if you are visiting high-risk environments or otherwise want/need more reliable protection, just use an N95 instead of a regular mask
Dr. Fauci double masks. Save the N95s for those who need them.
If you’re “pretty sure”, but not fully educated, you can google it before commenting & spreading disinformation. Wearing two cotton masks does provide better protection against particles, although it can make it more difficult to breath. If you have no issues breathing, then two masks is better than one (and yes, make sure the top one is tightly fitted around your nose & under your chin). If you have an N95 mask, then another mask is not needed, but most people do not have readily available access to N95s.
From WebMD: “If you’re using a basic cotton mask, wearing a second mask might indeed trap more viral particles in your breath when you exhale and might also provide better protection against inhaling the virus from the air. Recent research conducted on individual masks indicates that a two-layer cloth face mask performed better than a single-layer mask.”
I’m in San Antonio TX- this doesn’t surprise me at all. I am surprised Texas hasn’t been hit as hard with case counts, but I’m sure we will be there soon with all this anti mask nonsense -of which there is much -and it’s scary.
I think many overlook the business aspects of these “Churches”. Not paying taxes and yet receiving gobs of bail out $. Fake Christians indeed.
1) “Tongues and Lungs”…ew.
2) Who exactly are “the enemy”? Who decides that in their context?
3) I’m a Christian and I’m not about this at. all.
4) I managed all the finances for a mega church for 14 years and even though I felt it was all above-board, churches don’t have to submit any year-end tax summaries or filings outside of payroll, and I think it’s wrong. No one examines church finances and that’s not OK. There is SO much rampant abuse of that (I saw it first hand and had to fight against it).
I was raised Catholic and while I left the church long ago I feel like they at least are trying to adhere to public safety guidelines and measures. The Catholic Church is deeply problematic but on Covid they seem to mostly be reasonable.
That’s because the Catholic church (for all its many faults-non-practicing Catholic here) believes in science and currently has a leader who is actual empathetic
much to Rick Santorum’s chagrin, the Pope has a Matser’s degree in Chemistry so he not only believes in science, he has a better than average understanding of it and respect for those who have particular expertise in it
The Catholic Churches in CA have filed lawsuits against the governor because of restrictions on indoor church services. They don’t always put science and the safety of their members first.
I don’t think ‘Catholicism’ can be treated as universal. As you say, some places the Catholic church is following strict guidelines for public health (certainly where I am in Australia,) and in other places they are not. The religion of a people is just as much influenced by the people themselves as the people are by the religion. In texts as complex as the Bible its easy enough to find something to seemingly agree with whatever position you want to take on pretty well anything.
If this is against the local rules is there no recourse? Fines?
Here if you get caught you get fined with bigger fines for the organisers (like the 12 people busted playing dominoes in a restaurant at the weekend).
In Albuquerque, NM, a megachurch held massive and packed Christmas services in its multiple facilities and then posted all the pictures on social media. It was disgusting. The state did fine them (only $5000, which is peanuts to what they probably took in on collection, but at least it was something).
People openly defying orders need to be arrested. I’m sorry, but “freedumb” is killing so many people at this point.
I am not as good a person as you are, so I am very much wishing it on him. I hope he catches the virus and dies. I also want to see these people suffer long enough to realize that it was their own fault and that God won’t be there to save them from their stupidity.
Part of me thinks he’s doing this less out of good Christian fellowship (eyeroll) and more for the attention. I mean, when was the last time the media, or anyone, gave this much focus to Kirk Cameron?!
Exactly my thought and I did second guess whether I should even click on this article, but here I am…
I attended church as a kid and these are not the Christian values I learned. So these fake Christians who are causing first responders physical and emotional pain of being overwhelmed and scared for their own loved ones, not to mention keeping the rest of us locked down don’t care about anyone. Just put on the darned mask already. I just don’t get what is so hard about that.
It’s always these older white men, in my experience here in the south. They come into my urgent care clinic without masks just looking for a fight and wanting to argue about their rights, they make me sick.
F*ck Kirk Cameron and his cult members, at this point they deserve it if they get sick and have no icu beds available.
It is always these older angry white Christian-identified racist misogynists. They spout the words from the Bible but miss their meaning completely.
I just feel for you all there in the US – it must be exhausting enough dealing with the cases, let alone having to cope with these absolutely soul-less, pointless, walking self-entitled germ-spreaders, who undoubtedly would be ‘pro-life’. That’s certainly not the Christianity people like my poor old mum has had all her life, which actually meant you know, helping and caring for people other than herself.
Well there must just be a lot of “not true Christians” running around claiming they are Christians. Honestly my entire family thinks this way and takes every opportunity to mock the most basic safety measures. It’s like this nation specially breeds defensive idiots.
The US hasn’t cornered the market on these sorts of knuckles-draggers; we have lots of them north of the border as well, unfortunately. Maybe we can join forces and relocate them to a deserted island where they can all exercise their “rights” in each other’s faces.
Matthew 6:1: Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Isaiah 26:20: Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by.
YES.
HA! I came here to cite Matthew 6, too!
Also Matthew 6:6
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
WORD.
THE WORD.
Thank you, @NeedCoffee and @Enis!
Scripture is very specific about this type of “showing off”.
So people who are wearing masks, staying distanced, and protesting social injustice get tear gassed, but these people deliberately breathe into the faces of homeless people and… nothing.
Got it.
Exactly. Makes no sense, they hide behind God and think that makes it ok, it’s selfish and sickening.
Entire chunks of the Old Testament are dedicated to practices designed to avoid spreading sickness. If love your neighbor as yourself doesn’t mean wear an f’ing mask or stay home I don’t know what does. I’m the designated singer at my church, where I sing masked and far away from everyone. I also have asthma and sometimes feel like I’m suffocating but I wear the damn mask anyway.
The ENTIRE code of Jewish meat eating and dairy practices are for preventing sickness and death. No pork or shellfish? Food poisoning, so don’t eat it. As I said Kirk can DIAF.
There’s a saying by mark twain (paraphrasing) ‘I don’t wish death on anyone. But there are a few obituaries I wouldn’t mind reading. ‘ I’ve been referencing that a lot in these past months.
I need that quote on a t-shirt. Or possibly a mask 😉
He sounds like a fcking sociopath.
I have a former friend who fell down into this rabbit hole. She is a student of Ray Comfort, from whom Kirk and this group take their teachings. She and her husband go to street corners and public places to preach the “good news”. She hands out tracts and tries to convert nonbelievers. She honestly feels like this is saving their eternal lives. I asked her about a year ago why she is spending time proselytizing, rather than serving people and trying to comfort the “widow and orphan”, which has major biblical precedent. She told me that their life now is immaterial; she is most concerned with their eternal life. That conversation sheds light for me on what Kirk is doing here. He doesn’t care as much for this temporal life as he does for the next – it’s about winning souls for heaven, not keeping the living ones healthy. Further, many within this church believe we are close to the end times, so maybe accelerating ones death gets you to your eternal reward faster. I had to cut ties because my interpretation of scripture and priorities in life are SO different.
So, these people value their own afterlife more than other people’s lives here on earth? Sounds like a serial killer with a psychosis.
Good for you for cutting ties. Seriously, kudos to you & hugs.
@mm2, they also believe that if they have strong enough faith, they will be healed of affliction. So, if they DO get sick, they pray it away. And if it doesn’t go away, then they either 1. didn’t have enough faith; or 2. were called home by God and get to live in His eternal paradise (which is more important than the current world). It’s not that they want people to suffer (like Mother Teresa, who believed suffering brought people closer to God), but suffering now is somehow their current burden and they are so focused on the next life, this life is immaterial. It’s a really interesting psychology, and yes, it sounds very cult-like. I haven’t missed our friendship very much, quite honestly.
They seriously think they’ll be rewarded in the afterlife for behaving appallingly to their fellow humans in this life? I don’t remember seeing that in the Holy Writ. Of course, they elected a President who is effectively the antichrist (Mitch is a close second), so their knowledge and perspective may be a wee bit lacking.
@hoofrat, I am not sure how much you are into theology, but they are strict, literal Calvinists. Calvin believed you are saved by faith alone. Good works are good, and should be done, but good works do not earn you the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is accessed by faith alone. So, their priority is to convert non-believers, so those non-believers will go to heaven. They don’t keep track of their conversions and it’s not a competition, but they truly believe that by converting non-believers, they are doing God’s work.
I have a friend from high school, who to this day believes that if a Christian person does not believe in the EXACT teachings of his podunk Baptist church, they will go to Hell.
So basically, we are all screwed. Sorry to break the news.
If you refuse to wear a mask in public spaces (or wear it on your chin) you are saying “F U” to everyone in your community. And I can’t with people who wear masks below their noses. We’re 10 months into a pandemic ffs. You KNOW the right way to wear your damn mask.
I am a resident of Ventura County where Kirk hosted one of his events. Let me clarify for everyone right now: he is a domestic terror and part of the public health crisis. 0% ICU capacity is horrifying. My father in-law had a heart attack last week and waited hours in the waiting room of a small hospital to get help. When admitted, he was told he needed to go to a hospital in the state with a cardio unit and specialist but there was no room at any hospital in the state. He waited at that hospital for a day and a half. After hours of waiting there, he died. The hospital officials never said “We are rationing care”–they simply said, “There’s nowhere for you to go.”
Word of advice to everyone in SoCal: mask up, avoid any kind of potential danger you can, and if something happens, bring your loved one to a major large hospital, like a St. Jude or Cedars.
@readingissexy, oh god. What a terrible thing to go through. And your poor FIL and family. Ugh. My heart breaks for you, and for others who cannot receive life saving care because the hospitals are at capacity. I have no words except to say I’m so, so sorry.
Dear God. I am so utterly sorry.
This is the horrible reality of the lies they are spreading. There is no limit to the evil people will stoop to in the name of god. If there is just one thing that should be learned from religion it is the sanctity of life.
My deepest condolences.
I am so sorry to hear that! That is an absolute tragedy. People are crazy right now, and it is having real consequences on care for everyone.
I saw yesterday there were tons of Trump supporters who terrorized people at the Century City Ralph’s and the mall. They were literally CHASING people through Ralphs without masks. They were doing the YMCA in Bloomingdales.
They act so self righteous, but they look so pathetic. They are delusional, and can’t handle the fact that their candidate LOST. I wonder if we gave them participation trophies, would they go away?
I am so sorry for your loss. This is something the selfish anti-maskers and morons who keep socializing don’t seem to care about. Their behavior is putting so many innocent people’s lives at risk.
Basically im embarrassed i thought he was cute on Growing Pains. That is all.
SAME!!!!
Religion continues its murderous rampage through the ages. We’re no better off now than we were thousands of years ago. Quite frankly. Just millions more people. Better toys.
My father died of Covid on Christmas Eve morning. He was 83 and had been very careful. Apparently just a few trips to his and my mom’s doctors were enough to expose him. He still is not buried because the funeral home and cemetery are overwhelmed. He was a kind, generous, fun person who did not deserve to die in an ICU with only my mother in hazmat gear.
Antimaskers and Covid deniers can rot in hell. They have blood on their hands.
@bearcatlawyer, How awful. I’m so sorry for you, your mom, and your dad’s friends and loved ones. What a terrible, terrible way to die, and after being so careful. This virus is insidious. I hope you are able to find a way to celebrate his life and honor his contributions – I know it’s probably out of the question now – but in the future.
Bearcat- much love. As I posted before, my uncle died on Dec. 21st (not covid), and isn’t going to be buried for another week due to the mortuaires being full.
It’s a terrible terrible time.
My heart breaks for all of you. I am so sorry.
I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you and your family can find peace. I hope you find a way to honor the life of your father that helps to heal the hurt.
I dont care what any of these covidiots say. This was a life that was clearly beloved, that didn’t need to end. Brought down by a disease that shouldn’t be spreading the way it has when we have the knowledge that we do.
Stay safe everyone.
That is heartbreaking. My sincere sympathies to you and your family.
Eff the whole lot of these selfish a-holes. I’m normally a peaceful person, but I am starting to hope these so called Christians start dying in droves. If they love their God so much, let them go and meet him and have their final reckoning. Just make sure to stay out of the hospitals, since you all don’t believe in science or medical advice you can feel free to die at home alone.
Side note. I have a “friend” (once a good friend, I now have no interest in seeing him again) who has been turning into one of these right wing free-dumb jesus and guns will save us lunatics. He was all for a maskless society where the “weakest” die because apparently it serves people right for having diabetes or MS. Now his wife has been diagnosed with an auto immune disorder and suddenly we all need to take care, preserve the health care system, take care of people who are vulnerable. It was fine when our loved ones were at risk of dying, but now that it’s affecting him, suddenly we all need to be responsible. The hypocrisy of so called Christians is astounding.
Someone I know (and unfortunately must be around at times) has been a self-proclaimed “freedom guy” who has paid little attention to safety measures – even though his job would suggest he should set a good example and be vigilant. He’s repeatedly described people concerned about the virus as “panicking”. He is near if not morbidly obese and his spouse has an autoimmune disease.
Fast forward to now – Spouse has been hospitalized for 10 days. It’s now as if the virus is finally a real thing to him, after 8-plus months. “You don’t want it in your household! It’s serious stuff!”
It’s just unbelievable how dense and uncaring people can be until it is literally within their own four walls.
These types are Christian signalers. Performative Christians. They do it for themselves. Not for God. And they do more to hurt Christianity than help it. I wouldn’t step foot in a church due to all the Christians inside!
Is he still married to Chelsea Noble? My friend went to college with her, when she was Nancy Mueller. They were friends until she moved out to LA.
I have family in the UK. They wear masks and did social distancing this whole time. They thought they would get together during Christmas after taking Covid tests to make sure they are all negative. Two households got together. ALL of them now have Covid and one of them is in the ICU. All it takes is ONE time people ! I am so angry at my family for this. Sooo stupid on their part. Please people stop socializing !!!
I often wonder what it will take for the anti-maskers to “get the point.” Will they get it when they get ill? Will they get it when their partner becomes deathly ill, or their child dies?
My husband and are both essential workers, and I’ve cut my work to two days a week so that I can homeschool our children. We are petrified that one of our boys might get the post-COVID complications (brain, respiratory, pulmonary, kidneys). We are so careful to take every precaution when we’re outside of the home.
Kirk, you go ahead and rely on Jesus to keep you well. But you have no right to impose your superstitious, nonsensical BS on me. People like you are a scourge.
I’ve been on the wrong end of police repression in my country, in particular the water cannon and the tear gas the use here (likely military grade)… and boy do I wish these bioterrorists were dispersed using that stuff. I’d happily send our local ACAB force to the US and sic them on anti-maskers. ANd when I say bioterrorists it’s because they are imposing their radical religious ideology via biological violence. If a Muslim person were to do something like that, they’d get a drone strike.
So odd. Praying is one of those things ideal for doing at home alone in a pandemic.