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Celebrities have never felt particularly welcome to discuss religion in Hollywood. Many celebrities choose to remain silent about their beliefs out of concern for offending fans.
In spite of this, a number of well-known people have opted to openly discuss their religious beliefs because they are so fervent about them. As a result, they have established themselves as spokespersons for the faiths to which they belong. Tom Cruise is a great example of someone who has embraced the role of being the face of Scientology and hasn’t tried to disguise his connection to the divisive organization.
While some celebrities were raised in a certain faith and still are, others have changed their religious beliefs as a result of enlightenment or spiritual awakening. These religious superstars do what they preach, whether it be Christianity, Hinduism, or, of course, Scientology, and they don’t give a damn if the rest of the world finds out.
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise is one of the most well-known celebrities who are dedicated to their faith. The Top Gun actor is a staunch Scientologist and has been for decades. He first joined the Church of Scientology in 1986 when he was introduced to the religion through his first wife. It has been reported that his marriages to Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes went sour due to his strong beliefs and affiliation with Scientology.
Chris Pratt
The Hollywood funnyman is as religious as it gets. Chris Pratt has openly praised God and famously said “God is real. God loves you, and God wants the best for you. Believe that; I do” during his MTV Awards speech in 2018. His openness about religion has led some to believe he was associated with Hillsong Church, which counts many celebrities like Justin Bieber as members. In 2019, the Marvel star was called out by actor Elliot Page for being associated with a church that has anti-LGBTQ+ leanings.
Candace Cameron Bure
It’s not a huge surprise that the wholesome queen of Hallmark movies is outspoken about her religion. The Full House actress identifies as Christian and her belief system caused more than a few heated moments during her time as a co-host on The View. In contrast to her mostly liberal co-hosts, Bure clashed with them on a variety of social issues due to her conservative Christian views.
Justin Bieber
Based on his past behavior, you wouldn’t peg Justin Bieber as a religious person, but it appears he’s turned a new leaf. The pop star was once associated with Hillsong Church and was a close friend of its New York City pastor, Carl Lentz. The “Sorry” singer often mentioned God in his social media posts and credits his faith with the many positive changes in his life, including his wife Hailey. Bieber distanced himself from Hillsong after they were embroiled in scandal.
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg earned a reputation for being a bad boy in his youth but he’s now known for being a devout Catholic. The former rapper stated that he starts every day with prayer, reading the scriptures, and regularly attends mass. Wahlberg is so invested in the Catholic faith that he hopes to blend his movie career with his religion to make faith-based content.
Orlando Bloom
The Lord of the Rings actor isn’t as overt about his dedication to faith, but he’s well known for following the Buddhist religion. Bloom practices Soka Gakkai Buddhism and has stated that he uses the religion’s philosophies to bring peace to his hectic lifestyle. More recently, the actor elaborated on his daily routine, which includes reading Buddhist scriptures and reciting a 20-minute Buddhist chant to soothe his daughter.
Mayim Bialik
It may be hard to reconcile Mayim Bialik’s background in neuroscience with her faith but the actress feels like there’s room for both. Bialik has been vocal about her Jewish faith over the years and opened up about how it helped her get through the pandemic. She observes Shabbat every Friday by shutting down electronics and focusing on those around her. She’s also been known to practice modesty and dresses accordingly on red carpets.
John Travolta
Recent reports suggest that John Travolta is distancing himself from the Church of Scientology. The longtime member has been a prominent figure within the organization since 1975 and has spoken openly about his dedication. After the tragic death of his son Jett in 2009, Travolta spoke about how the church supported him and his family during their grieving period.
DJ Khaled
DJ Khaled admits he’s not a perfect Muslim but his faith plays a huge role in his life. The musician is loud and proud about the religion he grew up with, and spends much of his time praying. While he doesn’t go into great depth about his everyday practices, he identifies as a practicing Muslim and has gone as far as to credit Allah as an executive producer on his album.
Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington is so passionate about his religion that he considered becoming a Pentecostal preacher. The Pelican Brief star is also not shy to discuss his spiritual encounters with the Holy Spirit. Washington is probably one of the most outspoken stars when it comes to discussing Christianity and is only becoming more connected to his faith as time goes on.
Stephen Baldwin
In the early 2000s, the actor left a scandalous Hollywood lifestyle behind to follow God. The youngest of the Baldwin brothers hopes to inspire youth to do the same. Baldwin speaks openly about being a born-again Christian following the 9/11 attacks and insists that his life and values have completely changed since he found God. He’s even started a youth ministry that preaches about God and reaches youth through skateboarding, motocross, and bikes.
Priyanka Chopra
We probably know a lot more about Priyanka Chopra’s fun-filled marriage to Nick Jonas but she’s also spoken on occasion about religion and spirituality. Chopra’s persona isn’t defined by her religion but she’s indicated that she identifies as a practising Hindu. The Quantico star grew up in a spiritual household and despite her fast-paced Hollywood life, she makes time to pray and even has a temple in her home.
Chad Michael Murray
You might be surprised to know that Chad Michael Murray, a former teen heartthrob who has starred in his fair share of scandalous scenes, is quite religious. The One Tree Hill actor has even spoken candidly about turning down roles that didn’t align with his Christian values. He’s also spoken about his dedication to a daily routine that includes reading the Bible and devotionals before going to work.
M.I.A.
British rapper M.I.A. has always been known for her revolutionary music and eclectic style, but most recently, she’s become a born-again Christian. She described a moment in 2017 when she had an encounter with Jesus that completely turned her world upside down. The “Paper Planes” singer has also lamented that her new-found love for God may cost her fans, but has reconciled with that possibility.
Carrie Underwood
Country singer Carrie Underwood has always been unapologetically religious. She was raised in a Baptist family who regularly attended church and embodied strong Christian values. Her own love of music is rooted in her early experiences of singing in the church choir. Today, the country music star hasn’t forgotten where she came from. During the pandemic, Underwood released a gospel album full of songs she sang at church in her hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma. She’s also discussed how she and her husband try to instill those same Christian values in their children.
Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh is another celebrity that is devout in her practice but doesn’t often speak publicly about her religious beliefs. The action star was raised with Buddhism and often practises its teachings through chants and prayer. She recently shared her morning routine with the New York Times that involved repeating a Buddhist mantra meant to keep her safe and blessed. Yeoh has also stated that Buddhism helps keep her grounded and is one of the reasons she’s always striving to learn and grow.
Reba McEntire
She’s an icon to many but Reba McEntire only worships one entity: God. The country music legend is not shy about discussing her faith. In fact, she credits much of her lifetime of success to God and continues to be inspired by her Christian faith. In 2017 she released a gospel album titled Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope and in 2022, released another faith-based album and DVD called My Chains Are Gone: Hymns and Gospel Favorites.
Richard Gere
Richard Gere has a lot of famous friends but not all of them hail from Hollywood. Gere is also a longtime friend and pupil of the Dalai Lama. The connection is due to his devotion to Buddhism, which was sparked in his early twenties. Since then, the Pretty Woman actor has taken in wisdom from several Buddhist teachers and studied meditation and Zen at length. Short of becoming a Buddhist monk, the handsome actor has proven he’s one of the most serious and consistent Buddhist followers in Hollywood.
Kirk Cameron
Like his sister Candace, Kirk Cameron is also religious, and his conservative views have ruffled a lot of feathers over the years. The former teen actor left Hollywood after his breakout role on Growing Pains to pursue his true calling and is currently an evangelical Christian. Cameron and his wife Chelsea Noble live a low-key life away from the spotlight while working on producing faith-based content.