Chuck Norris Highlights the Deep Faith of Apollo Astronauts
By Movieguide® Contributor
As the U.S. returns to the moon for the first time in 50 years, Chuck Norris is reflecting on the faith of the astronauts who led the original Apollo missions.
While most Americans recognize Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins as the crew of Apollo 11, the mission that first brought man to the surface of the moon, many Americans do not realize that these men had deep ties to religion.
“The truth is, Armstrong was a Christian (not a Muslim as some falsely reported), Collins was a nominal Episcopalian, and Aldrin was an elder at his Presbyterian Church back in Houston,” Norris explained.
Even more shocking and underreported, Aldrin took communion before he and Armstrong left the lunar module to take the historic first steps on the moon.
“Before Armstrong and Aldrin actually stepped on the moon, they made another historic step. While Collins stayed back in the lunar module, Armstrong looked on respectfully as fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin performed a communion ceremony before the two set foot on the moon,” Norris said.
Aldrin did not keep this moment to himself either. While removing his communion elements, he spoke to Mission Control, encouraging everyone listening to take a moment to thank God.
“Houston, this is Eagle,” Aldrin said. “This is the LM pilot speaking. I would like to request a few moments of silence. I would like to invite each person listening in, whoever or wherever he may be, to contemplate for a moment the events of the last few hours, and to give thanks in his own individual way.”
“In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup,” Aldrin later recalled.
Aldrin went on to read Jesus’ words in John 15, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit,” along with Psalm 8:3-4, “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?”
Norris believes we are underserving the younger generation when we leave stories like this out of history class. Many great men and women throughout U.S. history relied on their faith. It is a disservice to our children to lead them to believe that our country is not founded on and fueled by the work of Christians.
The Apollo program was, in fact, saturated with Christians who were adamant about making faith a highlight of their mission. During the first manned mission that orbited the moon, the Apollo 8 crew read Genesis during a broadcast of their orbit. Microfilm Bibles were also aboard the Apollo 12, 13 and 14 missions.
“I’d bet my Texas ranch that your child or grandchild will not learn the above sacred and historical facts today about the Apollo missions in any public school. How sad,” Norris said. “It’s going to take us patriots to educate our posterity and others about the Creators influence in that first moon landing.”
Movieguide® previously reported:
Both Norris and Reagan had careers in Hollywood, but what Norris appreciated most about the 40th President of the United States was his faith in God.
Norris cited a Washington Post article that talked about how Reagan’s mother, Nelle Wilson Reagan, became the catalyst for her son’s great faith.
“In a 1937 letter to the family of her former pastor, Nelle assured them that her radio-announcer son, who just landed a seven-year movie contract with Warner Brothers, would not be influenced by ‘such a wicked place as Hollywood,’” Norris wrote.
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