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Seven years ago Prince became a Jehovah’s Witness. Though to the best of my knowledge, most people had stopped talking about Prince by then so it didn’t exactly make headlines. The New Yorker has an interesting short interview with him where he talks about his religion and how it applies to his life. Turns out Prince isn’t one of those fancy, spoiled celebrity Jehovah’s Witnesses who thinks he should be treated better than everyone else. Granted there aren’t a whole lot of Jehovah’s Witnesses that are celebs (the Jackson family comes to mind, but that’s about it), but Prince gets out there just like everyone else is supposed to.
YES, that’s Prince going door-to-door in LA to preach the word of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The purple-loving pop star tells this week’s New Yorker that since he joined the Christian denomination two years ago, he’s started leaving his gated community to knock on doors and proselytize. “Sometimes people act surprised, but mostly they’re totally cool about it,” says Prince. The “When Doves Cry” singer adds that he sees his conversion as more of “a realization. It’s like Morpheus and Neo in ‘The Matrix.’ “
[From Page Six]
I’ve got to admit I’d find it pretty funny if Prince came to my door. And while I generally won’t listen to anyone interrupting me at home to talk about religion, I’d probably let the guy in out of sheer curiosity. I don’t imagine he gets turned away nearly as often as other people do. I’d also have to make some really bad “Purple Rain” jokes, ‘cause it’d be pretty hard to resist.
Prince talked a bit more about his religious and social views, and the difference between red and blue states.
Recently, Prince hosted an executive works for Philip Anschutz, the Christian businessman whose company owns the Staples Center. “We started talking red and blue,” Prince said. “People with money—money like that—are not affected by the stock market, and they’re not freaking out over anything. They’re just watching. So here’s how it is: you’ve got the Republicans, and basically they want to live according to this.” He pointed to a Bible. “But there’s the problem of interpretation, and you’ve got some churches, some people, basically doing things and saying it comes from here, but it doesn’t. And then on the opposite end of the spectrum you’ve got blue, you’ve got the Democrats, and they’re, like, ‘You can do whatever you want.’ Gay marriage, whatever. But neither of them is right.”
When asked about his perspective on social issues—gay marriage, abortion—Prince tapped his Bible and said, “God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, ‘Enough.’ ”
[From the New Yorker]
I don’t think that last part is going to make him many new fans. Prince is a conundrum. He seems like the sort who’d be open-minded and liberal, but that quote certainly doesn’t come off that way. In the context of the article it also doesn’t come off as excessively judgmental or anything, but it’s still not what I expected to hear the guy say. He holds some unusual views that could make him quite unpopular in Hollywood. That and the knocking on people’s doors at dinnertime. Neither will make him a lot of friends.
Here’s Prince during London fashion week in 2007. Images thanks to PR Photos.
Written by JayBird
20 Responses to “Prince preaches as a Jehovah’s Witness door to door in LA”
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I live next door to a Jehova’s Witness church. They seem to be a very dedicated people, because that place is always hoppin’.
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Oy Vey.
(with apologies for repeating my Helen Mirren comment).
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When I read the headline, I thought, well, that’s ONE JW I’d let in the door!
But after I read the article and his “opinions”, I’d tell him the same thing I tell any other Witness that rings my doorbell… I have my own God, I don’t need yours.
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The only thing more irritating than a Jehovah’s Witness is an Amway salesman. I wonder if they still sell that shit.
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You know, if he wants to “repent” on his own time to whatever god he wants, fine, but I find it totally hilarious that after a career built on every type of explicit sexuality imaginable, he wants to go out like this. I’m afraid that quote about sticking it wherever sounds pretty judgmental to me. How come you’re the only one who got to sow wild oats, P?
I want the old Prince (or even “the artist”) back. His music was way better, and I prefer up-front freaky sneaky over repression every time.
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Yanno, this is exactly why I hate religion. Stupid shit that comes out of people’s mouths. The last thing he said just pissed me off so much. You don’t want a gay marriage? Don’t have one. Ignorant.
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He also sides with those Prop 8 scumbags.
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I have had 2 friends, through our careers, who were Jehovah’s Witnesses and they were both fun loving music lovers, great dancers, sports minded and fashionable.Wonderful, supportive loyal friends to boot.JW’s are just regular folks. Prince is just walking his walk. I don’t understand it but respect it.
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*I know I posted this before, but it’s topical and worthwhile, so here it is again.*
It’s Kevin Smith speaking to an audience about the time Prince commissioned him to make a religious documentary in the Twin Cities. It is fantastically engrossing.
The video is in three parts - first part, here.
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RReedy@ I disagree completely. I was raised a ‘dub’ finally left the faith when I was 29. In fact I wrote my doctorate on the religion, its being published. This is not an innocuous, harmless religion. JW’s seem wonderful unless you have to live life by their rules. I’ll tell you what, you go ’study’ with them, attend meetings and live life by their rules for a year, no nominal participation allowed. Then we’ll chat, I think your opinion would be somewhat different.
Out out out and never going back!
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Wait a minute.
Why’s Prince harping off on homosexuality?
Why’s Prince harping off on sexuality in the first place, seeing how he exploited his in the past?
I wonder how his god would feel about him in the 80s?
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I respect all religions but these ones lost it when they let people die than have blood transfusions.
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Wait, Prince is not gay? WTF I thought all along that he was, the way he always dresses and looks.
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I’m with Kim
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I’ve always loved Prince… I think I’d probably let him in just to understand his conversion. Conversions deserve respect because they usually are more real than being born and bred into a religion. I probably wouldn’t understand his take on things but I still respect him. Democracy is also about respect for all folks from different walks of life, not just for the ones who agree with us.
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I had one of my most painful life experiences because of the JWs. I know a lot about their ways and have absolutely no respect.
That being said…when Prince “converted” to the JWs he realized the way he was living his life was “wrong.” And, apparently, like other HoHo’s he believes that the rest of us are living our lives incorrectly. He seems most judgmental, like most JWs.
These people make me very angry and at the same time very sad.
p.s. Venus & Serena Williams are also “Celebrity” HoHos…
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all this time i thought for sure he was gay.
prince i hope you understand that for most people who are not too knowledgeable about you, you are an inspiration for gay sexual freedom! irony… -
Sad to see so many negative comments about a man who learns something that he really believes in, then has the strength to make changes in his life. That takes alot of courage. Why don’t you just ask him what he believes and why. I’m sure he has a website that allows for comments or communication. In my dealings with JWs, I’ve only seen them teach from the Bible, not there own thing. And the only one’s I’ve seen that really do practice what they preach according to “accurate Bible teachings”. Not “there own” or some “Religous Teaching” thats not really taught in the Scripture. I hope that people respond nicely to Princes efforts
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Jehovah’s Witnesses differences
Debunking the Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs:
A) They are at your door to recruit you for enslavement to their watchtower corporation,they will say that “we are just here to share a message from the Bible” this is deception right off.
B) The ‘message’ is their false Gospel that Jesus is ruling in heaven already since 1914.The problem with this is it’s not just a cute fairy tale,Jesus warned of the false prophets who would claim “..look he is here in the wilderness,or see here he is at the temple”
C) Their anti-blood transfusion ban has killed hundreds if not thousands D) once they recruit you they will “love bomb” you in cult fashion to also recruit your family & friends or cut them off. There are many more dangers,Jehovah’s Witnesses got a bad rap for good and valid reasons.
99% of the world has rejected the teachings of the Watchtower Jehovah’s Witnesses as a ‘joke’ but the darker truth is they are a destructive and oppressive organization.
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Danny Haszard Jehovah’s Witness X 33 years
what is ever.:
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this guy is so closeted its ridiculous
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