I remember Prince for his risque lyrics and videos back in my middle school and teen years, when “Purple Rain” was his claim to fame. My mother forbid me to see the movie and listen to his music, at least while she was around to stop me.
Times have changed for this miniscule musician, it seems, and so have his views about sex and religion–at least according to Claire Hoffman’s recent, controversial New Yorker article, “Soup with Prince,” that’s taking the gossip columns and blogs by storm. Hoffman’s feature spills a good deal of ink on Prince’s faith life (he’s now a Jehovah’s Witness)–and this “Artist Formerly Known As” does not come across as very, well, sympathetic. In fact, he sounds rather idiotic:
“Seven years ago, he became a Jehovah’s Witness,” writes Hoffman. “He said that he had moved to L.A. so that he could understand the hearts and minds of the music moguls. “I wanted to be around people, connected to people, for work,” he said. “You know, it’s all about religion. That’s what unites people here. They all have the same religion, so I wanted to sit down with them, to understand the way they see things, how they read Scripture.”
(My commentary: Um, so Prince thinks religion is what unites people in LA. Huh? Since when is everyone a Jehovah’s Witness in L.A.? I must have missed that bulletin….)
Here is where Prince’s comments have gotten him some seriously bad press–and I can’t say that I’m surprised by the negative reaction:
“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.’ ”
Fans of The Artist are shocked by what looks like his anti-gay marriage stance, and the blogosphere is abuzz about his apparent door-to-door “spreading the word” activities of late. Everyone from The New York Post to Perez Hilton has picked up the story.
What would you do if Prince came by a-knocking? Would you hear him out? Slam the door on his alleged anti-gay-marriage opinion? Or just pull out your old copy of “Purple Rain” and ask for an autograph?
posted November 20, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Hmm…____Prince has always been a bit of a whackjob, even for a musician. But I see that his interest in the Jehovah’s Witnesses began shortly after the death of his son, and breakdown of his marriage. I think this kind of tragedy can cause someone to look for answers wherever they can find them. ____I loved his music – prior to his conversion, and if this gives him comfort, then I bear him no ill will, even if I do not agree with his views.
posted November 20, 2008 at 4:34 pm
The big difference between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christians is that the Watchtower Society’s central core creed proclaims Jesus second coming in October 1914.
They sometimes try to obscure this failed prophecy,and say that he came ‘invisibly’.Yes,all other Christains are awaiting Jesus return,the JW say he ALREADY came back in 1914 and is only working through their Watchtower society.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have lost membership in all countries with major internet access because their false doctrines and harmful practices are exposed on the modern information superhighway.
The Watchtower is a truly Orwellian world.
–
Danny Haszard
posted November 21, 2008 at 7:52 am
I wish more celebrities would “find religion.”
I applaud his search for higher meaning in life. I just wish he’d looked somewhere besides a cult such as the Jehovah’s Wittnesses.
The only way to heaven is by the saving Grace of Jesus Christ.
posted November 21, 2008 at 8:49 am
I shall only add one small comment. It isn’t worth a lot I don’t guess, but its what I see in this fellow.
SELF DECEPTION! I AM THE CENTER, AND WHAT HAPPENS AROUND ME IS THE ONLY REAL THING IN THIS LIFE.
The big problem with self deception is this. IT IS VERY LONELY. YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THERE!!!
posted November 28, 2008 at 10:36 am
I do believe a cult is an organization that is a closed society. You will not find them going door to door preaching the good news as Jesus Christ did. I am not a Jehovah Witness. I call it like I see it. God’s name is Jehovah look it up in your encyclopedia. Christmas was a pagan holiday to celebrate the sun god, look it up too. The only birthday mentioned in the bible was when they granted the birthday wish of John the Baptist head on a platter. The bible says people will hate you on account of my name and as far as I can tell the Jehovah Witnesses are the most hated religious group. What does this tell you.
posted December 6, 2008 at 2:23 am
Your Name, your comment is the truth. Thank you.
posted December 6, 2008 at 5:59 pm
[I do believe a cult is an organization that is a closed society. You will not find them going door to door preaching the good news as Jesus Christ did. I am not a Jehovah Witness. I call it like I see it. God's name is Jehovah look it up in your encyclopedia. Christmas was a pagan holiday to celebrate the sun god, look it up too. The only birthday mentioned in the bible was when they granted the birthday wish of John the Baptist head on a platter. The bible says people will hate you on account of my name and as far as I can tell the Jehovah Witnesses are the most hated religious group. What does this tell you.]
Your Name, thanks for your comment about JWs. I made a mistake in my message above this one, by not inserting my BN name. Sorry, jklace
posted December 15, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Renee, Jehovah’s Witnesses do believe in Jesus. He is their Lord and Savior, the only mediator between mankind and His Father, Jehovah. Jesus is ‘Mighty God’ Isa 6:3 Jehovah is ‘God Amighty’ Ex6:3
HalleluJAH Praise Jehovah Rev 19:1-6
Gray
Graham Mewburn
Australia
g.mewburn@bigpond.com
posted April 1, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Prince is not a true Witness. Being that is my former religion I know that if he were he’d have given up his music career. As my memory serves he wrote and publicized a gay bashing song.
He is just part of the big hypocritical gene pool.
posted November 4, 2009 at 2:39 am
Prince can have hip surgery without blood transfusion but the fact he thinks he can’t….
is telling on how indoctrinated the Jehovah’s Witnesses are on the Watchtower society’s ever changing blood prohibition.