As I watch the twelve-part serial starring Harry Carey produced in 1932 of James Fenimore Cooper's classic novel I observe three troublesome things: First, there is the minister traveling with the British general's daughter, a ludicrous caricature of impractical unmanliness. Quite different from the real life frontier gospel ministers who were universally acclaimed for their courage, for their leadership skills, and for their civilizing effect on all who knew them. Second, the hero Hawkeye (played by Harry Carey) is shown to be a brave and principled frontiersman. However, throughout the movie he displays a dismissive and contemptuous attitude for spiritual things, for the minister, and for the Word of God. Third, the Bible is treated as an impractical and utterly useless book, beneficial only to stop an arrow meant for the minister, whereupon Hawkeye comments, "That is the first time you've put that thing to good use."
It saddens this gospel minister to see the nation he loves slipping into corruption, bloodthirstiness (unabated abortion), and increasing international insignificance. Of particular concern to me is that the moral slide producing these effects has been the result of an ongoing propaganda effort in Hollywood and the education establishment that has convinced the ignorant and unconverted that God' men are effeminate and useless, that God's Word is impractical and unhelpful, and that God can be casually dismissed without consequence.
It saddens this gospel minister to see the nation he loves slipping into corruption, bloodthirstiness (unabated abortion), and increasing international insignificance. Of particular concern to me is that the moral slide producing these effects has been the result of an ongoing propaganda effort in Hollywood and the education establishment that has convinced the ignorant and unconverted that God' men are effeminate and useless, that God's Word is impractical and unhelpful, and that God can be casually dismissed without consequence.
