PRAYER CURED ME: VAL
Relives cancer battle
Val Kilmer is living on a prayer. The actor, a devout Christian Scientist, told fans during a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” exchange on Tuesday that love and religion helped cure his cancer.
“I am very grateful for all the prayers and good thoughts from around the world,” Kilmer (inset), 57, wrote in response to the question, “What would you want fans to know about having, and beating, the Big C?”
“People that know I am a Christian Scientist make the assumption that I have somehow endangered myself. But many, many people have been healed by prayer throughout recorded history. And many, many people have died by whatever was modern medicine.”
Adherents of Christian Science, begun in 19th-century New England by Mary Baker Eddy, avoid most medical treatment in favor of prayer.
The “Tombstone” actor was spotted at UCLA Medical Center in 2015 and mentioned “briefly” being in the hospital in his Reddit post, saying several doctors there prayed for him.
He also said he met the creator of the defibrillator, Dr. Bernard Lown, who told him that love was the most important medicine, Kilmer added.
“He started to weep without his voice wavering and he leaned into me and said, ‘Fluff their pillow. That’s what I tell all the interns. LOVE. Love heals. More than any other skills, I urge them to LOVE the life they are entrusted to save.’ Well that’s what is at the heart of Mrs. Eddy’s understanding of the teachings of Jesus,” Kilmer wrote.
The actor says he knows some people think his views are extreme, but they’ve got it all wrong.
“Maybe they mix it up in their minds with extremists. People screaming with signs in front of Planned Parenthood or something. That’s not my sense of Christianity. Or most people’s. regardless of their religion. Any more than a Muslim identified themselves with the madness of a suicide bomber spreading fear in the name of Allah,” he wrote.
Online fans appreciated the “Batman Forever” actor opening up about his beliefs.
“I just have to say that this is the best AMA I’ve ever read,” user EditingAndLayout replied.
Kilmer came forward last month about his battle with oral cancer, after first denying it when fellow actor Michael Douglas broke the news last year.
The star said he held Tuesday’s question-and-answer session to celebrate the 31st anniversary of “Top Gun,” in which he starred as Tom Cruise’s rival, Iceman.