What is your opinion of celebrities preaching religious and political views?

I encourage it. Makes it easier to whittle down the number of people I give my time and money to.

I’m

It’s ridiculous. Keep your religion to yourself. I’m fine with people wearing religious jewelry, like a cross, or wearing clothing that might indicate their religion, but during a thank you speech ditch the religious talk. You can thank God privately. However, if they want to do it, they have every right to thank whomever they want.

@JLeslie Reminds me of Britney Spears’ acceptance speech of the MTV Europe Music awards back in 1999.

“Ah would lack to thank Gawd”

Its like ok, we get it you’re a Christian. But what has this to do with pop music exactly?

Tons of the singers thank God. They’re more likely to be Christian I guess. You have the country music group, and a good percentage of black people in music. Both groups are heavily religious Christians in America. They are told to talk about God, to “witness,” whenever they can get a chance. More than that they do believe their faith helps them in their career. They are grateful to God.

Celebrities are people. While some may pay more attention to their political and religious beliefs than to those of the lesser known, everyone has the right of free speech.

I think it’s fine for celebrities to show their allegiances. They’re not just plastic people and why not use their fame to promote their causes? I respect those who do and even for people like Caitlyn Jenner, whose support of Rafael Cruz I don’t understand, at least you know where she stands.

When (mostly) US sports people claim their faith helped them & or their team win, I nearly puke.

@ucme Like Tim Tebow? I remember a while back when he made news for praying on the football field.

@NerdyKeith It’s like, oh okay, so your god chose sides?

Just some more people forcing their belief into others. The only difference is that more people can hear them.

Well, obviously, when I agree with them, I think it’s great.
When I disagree, I think they should just STFU about it.

Talk trash about Trump? “Right ON!”
Extol the virtues of a Cruz presidency? “Turn the channel – I’m not watching that pig on TV!”

In all seriousness, if given a soapbox and a fervent belief, how many of us would feel it was our responsibility to stay silent?
Trump is an excellent case in point – many people who would normally feel constrained to remain neutral feel compelled to speak out against him because they fervently believe he is wrong for the nation.
I predict that another result of the current US election cycle is that we’ll see a lot more celebrities more openly engaged in a lot more social activism.

I was fine with John Lennon and George Harrison espousing various Hindu beliefs. And I’ll even put up a bit with entertainers telling their story.

I just don’t want to hear it from smarmy politicians.

I hardly think the three seconds it takes to say “Thank God” can be construed as “forcing their belief on to others.” People thank those they feel they owe thanks to. Hardly a case of preaching and telling people to “worship as I do.” And as for Mr Tebow, Speculation as to what he’s saying is all you can be said to be doing. He may just be praying to play well and safely. That seems more likely to me than a juvenile “let me win!”

Because Mr. Tebow seems truly to be a Christian, I seriously doubt he asks God to let him win. But since I don’t know him personally, I can’t ask him.

I have no idea who this Tebow guy is, never heard of him, I was referring to those cited in my first answer who not only ask for divine intervention before they compete, but claim that very thing as a contributory effect after a win.

Can’t blame them for using the soapbox they were given. Just don’t pay them anymore mind than I do anyone else.

Most of them can kiss my hind end.

@ucme Ah ok, I get ya.

For @ucme
I don’t think thanking God is preaching. Christianity teaches that God is to be praised for the gifts in one’s life. I don’t know that sports players would think their god chose a winner so much as they are grateful to their god for keeping them healthy, and strong to be able to face their opponents.
I guess it is kind of like an artist being praised for their beautiful sculptures saying they were lucky to have found a perfect piece of stone. They are not crediting a quarry with their talent, they are just glad to have found good material to use their talent with.
I think most of us would like to have a bigger voice sometimes. I can’t fault those who do have opportunity for making use. Most seem to use quite a lot of restraint, really.

Oh but they do, basketball & (US) football players frequently state their god was looking down on them & their team & helped them win…horsehit!
Nothing wrong in asking for protection or even using their faith to help motivate them, but claiming divine intervention actually took place where he/she/it chose sides is ridiculous.

It’s to be expected. The mob always craves the opinions of its heroes, and this will never change, The percentage of those “heroes” who recognize the frenzy for what it is, probably reflects the same statistics as those of that ability in the general population.

Maybe Yahweh had a lot invested in his fantasy football league.

I actually quite enjoy it sometimes, especially when they get it wrong. I love for the hypocrites among us to expose themselves.

I’m in no way “a believer”, and in fact I have not read much of The Bible. However, when I was a boy I was raised in an Episcopalian household, by parents whose own parents were fairly religious and very familiar with Biblical teachings. And just before I quit it entirely, I was, in fact confirmed in the church. One of my favorite birthday gifts when I was young, in fact, was an illustrated Bible for Children. I read that book… ahem… religiously. So I am at least passing familiar with most of the grand sweeps of the novel and a lot of the plot and characters, even if I can’t name all of its chapters or quote more than a few lines from time to time. Thank God (so to speak) for online concordances to check chapter and verse and various translations.

So aside from the pure waste of time that most athletes, politicians and celebrities expend when they expound as they do from time to time (I’m thinking, “Yeah, yeah, god and all… great. But how did you think to throw ‘that curve ball’ to strike out the other team’s slugger in that crucial spot?”), it can be entertaining to see them misquote, misinterpret fairly obvious lessons, and engage in the hubris that others have cataloged above when they “praise God for this victory”. (I don’t think God is actually a fan of the New York Yankees, or the Red Sox, either, for that matter.)

That mostly reminds me of Mark Twain’s War Prayer. But we don’t actually see much of that in sports; not nearly as much as in politics.

On the other hand, many of them – celebrities and athletes, anyway – actually do get it right, and simply give thanks to their god – as they see it – for their ability to do what they like and to be able to do it at all, and never mind the pride they feel in having done it for human recognition and millions of dollars. That is, they attempt to downplay the pride that they might be filled with and deflect the praise for the achievement – again, as they see it – “upstairs, where it belongs”. Publicly, anyway.

Mostly it doesn’t bother me much.

I think the most embarrassing case of a celebrity preaching, is actually not a Christian. But everyone’s favourite scientologist haha. Mr Tom Cruise.

I actually still really like him as an actor. But off camera he is an over controlling douche. Its no wonder his last two wives left him.

They can do what they want.

Politicians preaching, on the other hand, kind of make me sick.

@Dutchess_III I think the term “preaching” was used in the OP to mean espousing their views and surely politicians should be allowed to state their views. At least, that was my reading of the OP.

They can do what they want.

They have as much right to espouse their views as anyone else does, even if I don’t agree. Obviously, I have less of a problem when someone’s views align with my own, but even if they don’t I usually don’t mind if they hold differing views then mine. Even when it’s part of their work, depending on how it’s presented.

Case-in-point: industrial/neofolk band Current 93, who’s driving force (and only permanent member) David Tibet (nee: Bunting) is a devout Christian, and his beliefs very much infuse his work. Obviously, I’m not a Christian, but C93 are one of my favorite bands. I will say, however, that listening to Tibet’s music and words gives one the impression that whatever church he attends (if he attends one) must lace the Eucharist with LSD. But David Tibet is never preachy, never condemnatory, never pushy. It’s simply part of who he is and his creative output reflects that as much as many genuine artists’ works reflect their particular obsessions.

I think we should have an open season on them. ;)

By and large, I don’t appreciate anyone preaching religious and political views at me.

That said, I’d pay money to see Roseanne Barr take on Donald Trump.

@Here2_4 re: Your link

When I was in the Catholic boys’ high school, the sports conference we played in consisted, in part, of other Catholic high schools. When the basketball team played, each time there was a time out, or other occasion for the team to gather ‘round for a coaching conference, you would hear each team finish the huddle with a loud “AMEN!” as each team prayed for victory.

I’d hope they were also praying for the safety of all the players.

They have no right to force their beliefs upon anyone. They have freedom of speech, but that has limits. When they are on the job, they have no right to use the time for expressing personal opinions. That is stealing from the employer to annoy millions of people and lose money for their employers from massive boycotts by people who do not want to hear them. . Using awards shows, football games, etc. to preach their views on such subjects is violation of our rights to not have them forced upon us, and we have the right to boycott them. Some of them evidently imagine that their opinions will influence many people. Well, it influences me to boycott their work.

They have the right to talk. People don’t have to listen. They are always on the job. Just turn them off if you don’t like what they have to say. Boycott their work if you want. So far, regarding trump, I whole heartedly agree with them. Here is a speech by Robert De Niro. I love it. “The guy is a fucking fool.” Amen to that.

People have a right not to have political views forced upon them. Robert de Niro was caught using child prostitutes. He has disgraced himself, as do so many celebrities. I do not watch Emmys, Oscars, talk shows, etc. or NFL, since dumb politics has taken them over. Trump is a genius in IQ, so only an uninformed person calls a genius a fool.

Talking is not forcing. They can’t _force_you to have the same political views. That’s a decision you make. You can watch something else.

I can’t find any evidence that De Nero was involved with child prostitution.

Trump’s IQ is probably about 65, which is educable retarded. He is worse than a fool. He’s a fool with nuclear weapons at his disposal.

Forcing your opinions upon captive audiences is evil. Politics has no place in the movie industry or sports. Many people are boycotting Hollywood and the NFL for their forcing their naïve political views upon all viewers. I hope both became bankrupt as they deserve.

They aren’t captive, silly! It’s called changing the channel, or getting up and walking out. If you continue to watch that’s on you.
You seem to have a problem with our Constructional right to Free Speech.

“Robert de Niro was caught using child prostitutes.”

NOTE: Taxi Driver is not a documentary.

Forcing your opinions upon captive audiences is evil.

Trump is a genius in IQ, so only an uninformed person calls a genius a fool.

Oh ok…

“People who boast about their IQ are losers.” – Stephen Hawking

Many people love sports, so they are captive audiences. I advocate boycotting the NFL. Freedom of speech does not cover such situations as this. Forcing your views upon people violates their freedom not to hear it. Whoever says “Taxi Driver” is a documentary is retarded, and whoever needs to say it s not is even more retarded. Some people need to tell of their IQs because morons call them retarded.

Many people love sports, so they are captive audiences. I advocate boycotting the NFL. Freedom of speech does not cover such situations as this. Forcing your views upon people violates their freedom not to hear it. Whoever says “Taxi Driver” is a documentary is retarded, and whoever says it s not is even more retarded. Some people need to tell of their IQs because morons call them retarded.

@SimpatichnayaZhopa
Many people are boycotting Hollywood and the NFL for their forcing their naïve political views upon all viewers.

By boycotting the Hollywood and the NFL they are exercising the same rights exercised by those in Hollywood and the NFL players.

It’s called The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

“Forcing your views upon people violates their freedom not to hear it.”

There is no right to not hear things you don’t want to. Part of living in a society that values freedom of speech means that sometimes we hear things we don’t like.

And way to miss the sarcastic joke about Taxi Driver there. But I’m not surprised that it flew over your head.

Me thinks he’s a bit confused as to what free speech is and what a “captive audience” is. If you can get up and walk out, you’re not captive.

I turn off the radio, or change the station in the car every time I hear Trump’s voice, even though I’m “captive” in my car.

Athletes and actors imagine their audiences are captive, but they are being proven wrong lately. I am not American, so I know nothing about “Taxi Driver”. I suppose it stars Robert de Niro from your usage, but I have never seen it. No, the actors and athletes imagine people cannot live without them. I turn off the TV if I see Hillary or Obama.

Yes, it’s a movie. Directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster as a 12 year-old prostitute. Released in 1976. You don’t to have to be an American to have seen it.

I was not even born in 1976, and I did not come to the USA until much later. I have seen some movies on DVD but not that one. I am a refugee since Russia attacked my homeland.

You don’t need to have been born by 1976 to have seen it ether. I mean, like I’m not Russian and I wasn’t alive in 1972, but I’ve still seen Solaris.

I am not Russian. Russia invaded my homeland while I was in Italy. Luckily I have an influential Italian friend who provided a refuge fro me. I have a good Japanese friend too. I have seen more movies from their countries.

JUST GO RENT THE MOVIE @SimpatichnayaZhopa!!

I have seen “La Vita E Bella” an Italian classic and “Kunoichi Ninpo Cho San: Higi Densetsu no Kai” from Japan.

Spoiler: De niro rescues a child from prostitution in that one…

This starts to have less to do with free speech vs propaganda or knowledge about American cinema and more to do with @SimpatichnayaZhopa being unable to accept that everyone is different.

I spent some time looking at her history and she seems to think that anyone who doesn’t think the same way as her is evil or stupid or forcing their belief onto others. This attitudes spans from political view to mundane things like movie taste. Seriously, this is one of the reasons for wars in the first place! But then again she said she is a Soviet woman so…

I specifically brought that attitude into attention with my last post, but it seems to fly over her head too, just like Darth’s joke about Taxi Driver.

And also one does not even have to watch a movie from start to end to know what it is. Where is Wikipedia and IMDB when you need them?

Why, it’s right here @Mimishu1995!

One person’s truth might be another person’s propaganda.

@Strauss That’s a slippery slope as we see in “fake news” America.

The actual truth is always the truth.