Celebrities who find God
There are two things in life that terrify me. Spiders and Born Again Christians. And kinds of Born Again Christian who really give me the creeps celebrities who find God. Or a God substitute.
Now dont get me wrong, Im a Christian. I was born a Catholic and I practice my faith as best I can, quietly and in private. I have textbook Catholic traits. My kitchen drawers are stuffed with old church newsletters and Rosary beads, I constantly apologise for everything and I feel the need to confess all the time. 'Forgive me Dentist for I have sinned. It has been two years since my last dental check-up.'
But still, its a very British form of Catholicism. Quiet reflection combined with a love of God and red wine. I rarely discuss my faith openly, let alone write about it for a national publication - so Im way out of my comfort zone here. Im not ashamed, I just dont feel the need to proclaim things from the rooftops. If people are interested Ill tell them, otherwise its none of their business.
Evangelisation freaks me out, and dont even get me started on Christian Rock. Coldplay for Jesus is just wrong. Give em Blakes Jerusalem, in Latin, sung by an aging male voice choir. I happen to think that Jerusalem should be the national anthem. Not for religious purposes but because dark Satanic mills in Englands green and pleasant land whips God Save the Queen. But I digress
This morning former Eastenders actress Danniella Westbrook was on GMTV talking about her new-found Christianity and how it has helped her stay away from drugs and alcohol and turn her life around. And rather than cringing, I admired her for being, well, really brave. Because talking about faith, no matter what the religion, opens you up to unbridled criticism and that can be painful because its such a personal issue.
Here was a genuinely happy woman who wasnt telling anyone to do anything. She was just sharing her story. Okay, so she had that wild zealy look that most Born Agains get, but I think after everything shes been through Danniella is entitled to a bit of happiness. And if she wants to shout about it, then good for her shes a braver woman than I am.
Its the celebrities like Tom Cruise and Madonna who really give me the jitters. Normal everyday religions arent good enough for them, they choose to embrace meaningless, hyper-litigious cults (Scientology) and the occult (Mystic Kabbalism). And these guys are every bit as evangelical as the Happy Clap brigade. Its very creepy.
And with some celebs its difficult to take their quest for spiritual Nirvana seriously. Tiger Woods got caught with his pants down but now is embracing Buddhism but one cant help but think this has more to do with his shares than his soul.
Paris Hilton found God in prison back in 2007, but that could have been her PR machine trying to get her back into the publics good books with the Good Book.
I know its cynical to question peoples spiritual motives, but you just cant help raise eyebrows at some of these examples. And with respect to Cruise and Madonna the difference between an everyday religion and Cult Corporation Inc., is that normal churches dont come with a price tag.
So good luck to Danniella, at least shes not spouting expensive New Age nonsense. And its nice to see someone who screwed up so badly become happy again. Amen to that!
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