The Spiritual (And Professional) Rebirth Of Controversial Comic Russell Brand

Not only has he courted controversy with his political punditry, British actor-comedian Russell Brand has also weathered a serious attack on his reputation in the form of sexual abuse allegations he emphatically denies.

He’s managed to hold on to a loyal, albeit smaller, audience … and now he’s looking forward to a new chapter in his personal life.

A journey of discovery

Although spiritual faith is nothing new to Brand (he’s previously identified as a Buddhist and expressed interest in the Hare Krishna movement), he announced a reawakening late last week as a follower of Jesus Christ.

In a social media video, he confirmed his intention to be baptized into the faith, describing it as an “opportunity to die and be reborn.”

He incorporated a bit of his trademark wit in the announcement, particularly in discussing the possibility of “taking the plunge” in the River Thames, which has been found to contain potentially dangerous levels of the E. Coli bacteria.

“I may be leaving behind the sins, but I might be picking up some pretty serious viruses,” he quipped.

His latest spiritual step

Those who have been watching his videos over the past several months have noticed his increasingly firm embrace of Christianity — from wearing a cross around his neck to his declaration that he realized he was missing “a personal relationship with God.”

Now, Brand is embarking on the next stage with a public profession of his faith, describing baptism as “an opportunity to leave the past behind and be reborn in Christ’s name, like it says in Galatians — that you can live as an enlightened and awakened person.”

As for the complaints that derailed his career last year, Brand acknowledged at the time that he had been “very, very promiscuous” but insisted his sexual encounters were “always consensual.”

Chris Agee April 29th, 2024

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