Although it’s impolite to debate religion over dinner, it plays a significant role in the lives of many individuals. While some celebrities keep their religious preferences and beliefs relatively hidden, others are very outspoken and upfront about them. It’s a very private choice that was made as a result of a marriage, a traumatic experience, or a quest for purpose.
Which famous people have changed throughout the years? Find out here…
Sinéad O’Connor – Islam
According to the BBC, the Irish singer, who achieved fame for her 1990 version of the song “Nothing Compares 2 U,” declared her conversion to Islam in 2018. The natural outcome of any intellectual theologian’s journey, she claimed, was her choice. Shaykh Umar Al-Qadri, a Sunni Islamic theologian, officiated during the wedding in Ireland. She adopted Shuhada’ Davitt as her new name.
Sinéad O’Connor – Islam
Karlie Kloss – Judaism
The supermodel converted to Judaism after she became engaged to Joshua Kushner. Kloss started dating Kushner, a businessman and investor in 2021, and on July 24, 2018, one month after she converted to Judaism, Kushner announced their engagement. On October 18, 2018, the couple exchanged vows in upstate New York.
Karlie Kloss – Judaism
Tom Cruise – Scientology
After his first wife Mimi Rogers introduced him to Scientology in 1986, Cruise grew to be a vocal supporter of the Church of Scientology in the 2000s. His participation in the group was made public by the tabloid Star in 1990, and in a 1992 interview with Barbara Walters, he openly acknowledged being a Scientologist.
Tom Cruise – Scientology
Katie Holmes – Scientology
In April 2005, Holmes and actor Tom Cruise started dating. Holmes, who was brought up as a Catholic, started learning about Scientology not long after the pair started dating. Only seven weeks after meeting, in June 2005, they became engaged. After five and a half years of marriage, Holmes filed for divorce from Cruise in New York on June 29, 2012. Holmes’ close friends claimed that she was afraid of being intimidated by the Church of Scientology after the announcement.
Katie Holmes – Scientology
Zooey Deschanel – Judaism
The actress, who was raised by a Quaker and a Roman Catholic, later converted to Judaism. This is because Deschanel’s husband at the time, Jacob Pechenik, is Jewish. Deschanel has spoken about how she was happy to convert to Judaism for her husband and for their family.
Zooey Deschanel – Judaism
David Chappelle – Islam
Chappelle became a Muslim in 1991. In May 2005, he reportedly told Time magazine: “I don’t normally talk about my religion publicly because I don’t want people to associate me and my flaws with this beautiful thing. And I believe it is beautiful if you learn it the right way.” Chappelle makes an appearance in a video outlining the spiritual background of Mecca’s Well of Zamzam.
David Chappelle – Islam
Madonna – Judaism (Kabbalah)
Prior to being heavily immersed with Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah, the well-known musician was raised as a Roman Catholic. Her study of the Kabbalah can be seen in Madonna’s music, such as albums like Ray of Light and Music. Speaking of religion in a 2019 interview with Harry Smith of Today Madonna stated, “The God that I believe in, created the world […] He/Her/They [sic] isn’t a God to fear, it’s a God to give thanks to.”
Madonna – Judaism (Kabbalah)
Julia Roberts – Hinduism
Despite being brought up as Catholic, Roberts finally embraced Hinduism. In 2010, Roberts stated that she had converted to Hinduism for “spiritual happiness.” Roberts converted to Hinduism after seeing a portrait of his master Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji). When Roberts was filming Eat, Pray, Love in Pataudi in September 2009, Swami Daram Dev of the Ashram Hari Mandir gave her children new names based on Hindu deities: Laxmi for Hazel, Ganesh for Phinnaeus, and Krishna Balram for Henry.
Julia Roberts – Hinduism
Mike Tyson – Islam
It is said that during his incarceration, Tyson converted to Islam and took the Muslim name Malik Abdul Aziz (though some sources report the adoption of a different Islamic name, Malik Shabazz). Even though Tyson claimed to have converted to Islam prior to going to prison, he did nothing to dispel the false information that had been spread by the media.
Mike Tyson – Islam
Bob Dylan – Christianity
Dylan and his family were raised in the small, close-knit Jewish community of Hibbing, Minnesota, and Dylan had his Bar Mitzvah in May 1954. Dylan changed his religion to Christianity in the late 1970s. Dylan attended Vineyard Bible study sessions in Reseda, California, from January to March of 1979.
