Celebrities and their beliefs

Talking about the beliefs of celebrities is always attractive to the media. Debates are generated for or against the ideology they practice and above all, armies of fans come to their defense. Likewise, it is interesting to observe how these famous people succumb to the same ideas as ordinary mortals. These beliefs generally become part of the popular imagination and ordinary citizens perfectly remember their name and even, on many occasions, what their beliefs are.

There are celebrities of all kinds, from athletes to actors, singers or politicians. Anyone who has visibility is quite susceptible to falling in love with any ideology.

MadonnaFor example, she was attracted to Kabbalah, a mystical current of Judaism, very difficult to understand, excessively mystical and far from the singer’s peculiar profile. Tom Cruiseactor, Chik Koreapianist (musician) and many other actors and actresses were linked to Scientology from a very young age, a religion based on the teachings of LR Hubbard. Oprah Winfrey (Communicator) has always stated that she embraces a non-religious spirituality, a mixture of Christianity, positive thinking and new spiritual currents. Come on, today I am from Mars and tomorrow from wherever I am. justin bieber (singer) is an evangelical Christian and usually talks constantly about his faith; Evangelical Christians are quite common, although they have a multitude of different religious movements with that meaning, some more radical than others. Richard Gere, (actor) defends Tibetan Buddhism led by the famous Dalai Lama tooth and nail, without exercising zero self-criticism on a religion that kept the Tibetans little less than a religious vassalage in the modern age; However, this actor has provided enormous economic dividends, especially by giving up his image and expressing his belief whenever he has had the opportunity.

Gwineth Paltrow, (actress) has always maintained an alternative spirituality, close to NEW AGE, she meditates, channels positive energies and works on holistic well-being. Will Smith, (actor) also embraces that hodgepodge of ideas about positive thinking and spiritual good vibes. Shakira, (singer) although she can be traced back to her interest in Eastern philosophies and non-dogmatic spirituality, she forgets that as a young woman she embraced beliefs in Marian apparitions that occurred in her land, radical and dogmatic beliefs. It never hurts to evolve.

Keanu Reeves (actor and singer and…) when he has time he approaches agnosticism, but he defines himself as a reflective person with philosophical ideas about life and death. Albert Camus (to quote a famous intellectual) he always considered himself an existentialist, although he never considered himself a militant atheist.

Some celebrities embrace their sociopolitical ideas as if they were a religion and become extravagant defenders of social, environmental or political ideas as if they were a religion. Leonardo DiCaprio, (actor) is an environmental activist with a strong belief that fighting climate change will change the world. Taylor Swift, (singer) is a fervent defender of the rights of the LGBTQ+ movement, she openly advocates for equality and political participation; It is very likely that if it showed affinity with a religious organization, it would end up gaining millions of followers around the world, because it itself has become, not only a POP icon, but also a quasi-religious reference for many people. When admiration becomes effervescent it becomes veneration, such was the case at the time and still continues in the case of the footballer. Diego Armando Maradona, who was elevated to the altars as if it were a minor god. Something similar to what happened to the politician in Venezuela Hugo Chavez, who once died became a deity of Venezuelan Santería, with deep roots among the most disadvantaged classes. The case of Elon Muskfor example, is quite curious, as he combines libertarian ideas, his way of acting is certainly somewhat anarchic, but nevertheless he is a fervent defender of futuristic ideas and a lover to the point of exhaustion of technology that can help us, for the moment, colonize Mars. Perhaps he could be defined as a scientific Transhumanist.

There are thousands of celebrities who speak openly about their beliefs, without them generating any type of controversy, except in those moments where religion can be used as a fuel to achieve certain objectives: personal conflicts, television talk shows, etc.

However, it is very easy for us ordinary citizens to theorize and demonize these movements, and automatically define them as sects, based on our biased vision of them. Starting in the 90s, it became fashionable to make lists of “sects” and if we adjective them as “destructive” better. I myself made very probably the largest list (55) of sectarian movements of the late nineties published in the press; list that unfortunately has lasted until today. Groups like Jehovah’s Witnesses and others, such as Scientology or Baha’i, continue to be stigmatized without any type of proof.

To call them sects, personal perception is enough. For example, last week on a nightly program on the TELE 5 network in Spain (De Viernes) a journalist, already of a certain age to have left behind old prejudices, called the poor Baha’i sectarians, describing them as a sect, for the mere fact that a first husband of hers abandoned her. to go with a sect called Baha’i. The same thing has happened with evangelicals, with Protestants in the 80s, and even with members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses who were converted into a destructive sect by the previous regime. These ideas lasted well into democracy in Spain, where many of its young members ended up in prison for refusing to perform military service.

Times change, and the ways of understanding beliefs are very diverse. That famous people embrace according to their beliefs is always a good idea, as long as they do not force us to think that said belief is the best in the world. Let us remember that a personal perception is just that, just a personal perception.