List of born-again Christian laypeople
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Disclaimer: The following individuals are listed on a self-determination basis. Virtually all Christian denominations consider all true Christians to be born again (thus making 'born-again Christian' technically a tautology). As not all Christians agree on just how a Christian is to be defined, and as some individuals styling themselves "born-again Christians" may not be universally recognized as such by other Christians, this article is simply a list of prominent people who call themselves born-again Christians, without passing any judgment on the claim one way or the other.
Note: This list also contains a number of individuals who have made a profession of being a Christian, but who have since either recanted, joined another faith, or (in the view of some) not conducted themselves in accepted ways within the Christian community. Again, this list passes no judgment on an individual's words or deeds one way or the other. The reader may make that determination if so desired on their own.
Note also that this list does not include names like Martin Luther or Billy Graham - it is a list of self-declared born-again lay-people, and as such excludes pastors, priests, evangelists, and missionaries. (See also: List of Evangelical Christians)
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Political leaders
United States of America
- John Ashcroft - Attorney-General of the United States, former Governor of Missouri
- George W. Bush - U.S. President (2001-present)
- Jimmy Carter - U.S. President (1977-1981)
- Eldridge Cleaver - (1935-1998) - Black Panther turned evangelist.
- Charles Colson - chief counsel for U.S. President Richard Nixon (1969-1973)
- Tony Hall - Democrat member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio (1978-2002)
- Dan Quayle - Vice President of the United States (1989-1993) [1] (http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0154_Dan_Quayle_1988.html)
- George Wallace (1919-1998) - former Governor of Alabama
Other countries
- James Ah Koy - Fijian politician.
- John Anderson - Deputy Prime Minister of Australia (1999-present)
- Mangosuthu Buthelezi - South African politician; leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party
- Frederick Chiluba - President of Zambia (1991-2001)
- Stockwell Day - former Canadian leader of the opposition and former leader of the Canadian Alliance party [2] (http://www.times10.org/edit92000.htm)
- Peter Garrett - member of Australian parliament; singer of Midnight Oil
- Keir Hardie - 1856-1915 - founder of the British Labour Party
- Ratu Josefa Iloilo - President of Fiji (2000-present)
- Mathieu Kérékou - President of Benin (1972-1991 and 1996-present; former Muslim and Marxist)
- Charles Habib Malik - former president of the United Nations General Assembly
- Daniel arap Moi - President of Kenya (1978-2003)
- Efraín Ríos Montt - former President of Guatemala
- Olusegun Obasanjo - President of Nigeria (1976-1979; 1999-present)
- Marc Ravalomanana - President of Madagascar (2002-present)
- Jim Reiher - Senate candidate for the Australian Greens [3] (http://www.evangelicalalliance.org.au/election/hPartyPolicies.htm)
- Syngman Rhee - President of South Korea (1948-1960)
Actors and media personalities
United States of America
- Kim Alexis - supermodel
- Willie Aames - actor who now tours as Bibleman
- Stephen Baldwin - actor (brother of Alec)
- Jodi Benson - actress and singer
- Pat Boone - actor and singer
- Gary Burghoff - actor (Radar in M*A*S*H) [4] (http://www.peoplejustlikeus.org/Tv_and_Movies/Gary_Burghoff.html)
- Gary Busey - actor [5] (http://www.who2.com/garybusey.html)
- Kirk Cameron - actor (Growing Pains)
- Duane "Dog" Chapman - Bail Bondsman and Bountyhunter. Noted for catching cosmetics heir and rapist Andrew Luster
- Larry Flynt - pornographer, converted in 1977 but gave up after one year
- Tonya Flynt-Vega - daughter of pornographer Larry Flynt
- Jane Fonda - actress (http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/j/janefonda.htm)
- Tom Hanks - actor, was converted at age 14 [6] (http://film.guardian.co.uk/The_Oscars_1999/Story/0,4135,36640,00.html)
- Johnny Hart - cartoonist (B.C. and The Wizard of Id)
- Bil Keane - cartoonist (The Family Circus)
- Richard Kiel - actor (Jaws from James Bond)
- Linda Lovelace - former porn star. [7] (http://www.nationalreview.com/script/printpage.asp?ref=/comment/comment-briggs042502.asp) Star of Deep Throat
- William J. Murray - son of atheist activist Madalyn Murray O'Hair
- Chelsea Noble - actress
- Chuck Norris - actor and martial arts competitor
- Jennifer O'Neill - actress
- Rollen Stewart (aka The Rainbow man) - known for holding up John 3:16 during sports broadcasts.
- Laurence Tureaud - actor (a.k.a. Mr. T)
- Hunter Tylo - soap opera actress (The Bold and the Beautiful). Previously held some Hindu beliefs.
- Lisa Whelchel - actress (The Facts of Life)
- Heather Whitestone - first deaf Miss America title-holder (Born again as a teenager)
International
- Leigh Hatcher - Australian News Reporter (Sky News)[8] (http://www.anglicanmedia.com.au/index.php/article/articleview/924/1/54/)
- Paul Jones - singer and radio presenter
- Simon Mayo - British disc jockey
- Jeremy Vine - UK TV/radio presenter/journalist
Musicians
United States of America
- T-Bone Burnett - musician and songwriter [9] (http://www.jesusjournal.com/jj_culture/music/music_burnett.html)
- Glen Campbell - Country and pop singer and songwriter; experienced conversion around early 1990s and has released Christ - centered lyrics in his work since then (not exclusively, however)
- Johnny Cash (1932-2003) - Country music singer and songwriter
- Alice Cooper - singer and songwriter
- Bob Dylan - singer and songwriter
- Jeremy Enigk - singer for Sunny Day Real Estate
- Mark Farner - singer, guitarist and songwriter from Grand Funk Railroad
- Dave Mustaine - singer/guitarist/founding member of Megadeth.
- Richie Furay - singer, guitarist and songwriter for Buffalo Springfield
- Bryan MacLean - rock guitarist and songwriter from Love
- Mase- rapper
- Barry McGuire - singer and songwriter
- Ron Reyes - former singer for Punk band Black Flag (a.k.a. Chavo Pederast)
- Brian Welch (a.k.a. Head) - former guitarist from Korn
International
- Dave Dobbyn - New Zealand singer and songwriter
- Tommy Emmanuel - Australian guitarist [10] (http://www.nucountry.com.au/articles/diary/september2004/040904_tommyemmanuel.htm)
- Samantha Fox - British glamour model and singer
- Ben Lumis - 2003 New Zealand Idol winner
- Cliff Richard - singer
- Guy Sebastian - 2003 Australian Idol winner
- Helen Shapiro - British singer
- U2 band members Bono, Edge and Larry Mullen Jr.
- Yuri - famous Mexican diva
Sportsmen and -women
United States of America
- Tully Blanchard - former professional wrestler
- Michael Chang - former professional tennis player
- Ted DiBiase - former American professional wrestler
- Dave Dravecky - former Major League Baseball player
- Julius Erving - former professional basketball player (a.k.a. Dr. J.)[11] (http://www.peoplejustlikeus.org/Sports/Erving.html)
- George Foreman - former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
- Joe Gibbs - NFL Head Coach
- Jeff Gordon - NASCAR driver [12] (http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0105/22/lkl.00.html)
- Michael Hegstrand (1957-2003) former American professional wrestler
- Evander Holyfield - former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
- Marty Jannetty - professional wrestler
- Ivan Koloff - former professional wrestler
- Nikita Koloff - former professional wrestler
- Tom Landry (1924-2000) - NFL coach [13] (http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Landry_Tom.html)
- Meadowlark Lemon - former Harlem Globetrotter
- Carl Lewis - former Olympic athlete[14] (http://www.gospelcom.net/realgold/en/Testimonies/170.shtml)
- Tommy Maddox - NFL Quarterback and 2001 XFL MVP
- Shawn Michaels - professional wrestler
- Darrell Porter (1952-2002) - former American baseball player
- David Robinson - former NBA player
- Sting - former professional wrestler
- Darryl Strawberry - former American baseball player [15] (http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/167857p-146717c.html)
- A.J. Styles - professional wrestler
- Johnny Tapia - boxer
- Herschel Walker - former NFL and USFL Running Back
- Kurt Warner - NFL quarterback
- Reggie White (1961-2004) - NFL player
International
- Gary Ablett - former Australian Rules Footballer
- Darren Beadman - Australian jockey
- Margaret Court - former Australian tennis player and 3-time Wimbledon winner. Now in Christian ministry
- Hansie Cronje (1969-2002) - former captain of South African cricket team
- Betty Cuthbert - 1956 and 1964 Olympic sprinting gold medallist
- Michael Jones - former New Zealand rugby player
- Bernhard Langer - golfer
- Eric Liddell - 1920 Olympic 400m gold medallist and missionary to China
- Tim Mander - Australian rugby league referee
- Steve Mortimer - former Australian Rugby League player [16] (http://www.anglicanmedia.com.au/index.php/article/articleview/1312/1/58/)
- Dan O'Brien - Canadian Olympic decathlete
- Jonty Rhodes - former South African cricket player[17] (http://www.thegoal.com/players/cricket/rhodes_jonty/rhodes_jonty.html)
- Jason Robinson English dual-code rugby winger.
- Vai'inga Tuigamala - former New Zealand rugby union and rugby league player
- Kepler Wessels - former Australian and South African cricket player
Business people
- S. Truett Cathy - founder of Chick-fil-A restaurant chain
- Rich DeVos - cofounder of Amway
- Bernard Ebbers - founder of WorldCom
- Robert Laidlaw - founder of New Zealand department store Farmer's
- Dave Thomas - founder of the Wendy's restaurant chain
- Jay van Andel - cofounder of Amway
Scientists and inventors
- James Irwin (1930-1991) - Apollo 15 astronaut
- Roy Peacock - British-born professor of engineering at Pisa University in Italy. He is one of the few academics affiliated to a secular university who publicly supports creationism rather than evolution.
Prison converts
- Susan Atkins - Former member of the Charles Manson "family" and participant in the Sharon Tate murders in 1969. Claims to have been born again since 1974.
- David Berkowitz - Serial killer "Son of Sam", converted in prison and now works as prison Chaplain. Opposed own parole
- Jeffrey Dahmer (1960-1994) - serial killer, apparently converted and baptized before being murdered in prison
- Terry Nichols - Oklahoma City Bomber with Timothy McVeigh. Converted after being incarcerated [18] (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/columnists/cw_gusewelle/8965956.htm?1c)
- Karla Faye Tucker (1959-1998) - Convicted murderer. Became Christian while on death row
Others
- José Padilla - Was a Pentecostal child preacher [19] (http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=343&sid=194455) who later converted to Sunni Islam. Currently held by the U.S. without trial as an "enemy combatant" despite being a U.S. citizen arrested in the U.S.
- Rachel Scott (1981-1999) - Columbine High School massacre victim. Allegedly stood up for her faith before being killed
- Mordechai Vanunu - Former Israeli nuclear technician who publicly exposed Israel's possession of nuclear weapons in 1986
The problems of fame and faith
It has been proposed that this subsection be merged into Born again. This request may be discussed on the article's talk page.
When a well-known person claims to be a "Born again Christian", they can quite often be unprepared for the expectations of the Born again community, and the criticisms of the wider world. There is a temptation amongst the Born again community to look up to and view these people as leaders in the faith, when the fact might be that the famous person's faith might be subject to the same doubts and fears as ordinary people. Consequently, they may fail to live up to the expectations of the born again community, as well as be seen as hypocrites or opportunists by the wider community outside the Christian faith.
Perhaps the best known example of this is Bob Dylan. Dylan reportedly underwent a conversion experience during the 1970s, and some of his albums (such as Slow Train Coming) seem to reflect this new found faith. He was encouraged to use his fame to spread the gospel, and many of his concerts subsequently became de-facto evangelistic meetings. This prompted disparagement from critics and fans alike. Since the early 1980s, however, Dylan has no longer used his concerts for religious outreach, and many of his songs since then are no longer as explicit in Christian content as his late 1970s works. As a result, many Christians now see Dylan as having "fallen away" or, at best, as a "Carnal Christian". In recent times, however, Dylan has been seen as expressing Christian messages in such albums as 1997's Time Out of Mind where his lyrics state "God is my shield. He will not lead me astray" and "I know the mercy of God must be near" (Becky Garrison, The Door). These references, however, may also be attributed to his renewed interest in Chasidism since the 1980's. (God as the shield of Abraham is the final line of the daily Avot prayer.) To further complicate any reading of Dylan's true thoughts, in a 2004 autobiography he disclosed that he purposely took positions that he thought would stop people from thinking of him as a prophet or as "the voice of his generation".
Charles Colson is another example of a person who has used his fame to spread the gospel message, albeit a fame that is not necessarily approved of by all. Colson became a Christian before being sent to jail during the Watergate Scandal. Many critics saw this move as a cynical attempt to gain support from the Born Again community. There is no doubt that Colson's conversion did have an impact on his life, but the fact that he uses his position to support some conservative political issues has helped to link the Born again community to right-wing politics (in the USA at least). Critics still believe that Colson has not come clean on Watergate, a belief that has hindered his influence in more liberal political circles. Colson's conversion experience came about before his plea of nolo contendere for his involvement in Watergate - and was ridiculed by several editorial cartoonists at the time. (Born Again)
This link (between the evangelical faith and conservative politics) is also present in the decision of actor Stephen Baldwin to announce that his supporting the Republican party is less about politics and more about religion. [20] (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/03/1093939115353.html) It is not, however, unusual for Christians to associate with left-leaning parties, as proved by the examples of Keir Hardie, Peter Garrett and Jim Reiher above.
See also
List of Christian entertainers List of Evangelical Christians
Sources/external links
(Pertaining to the problems of Fame and Faith)
- Garrison, Becky, "All Along Dylan's Watchtower." The Door Magazine, September/October 2004, pp. 19-20. Also obtainable via this site (http://www.thedoormagazine.com/marshall.html).
- Colson, Charles W. Born Again. Revell, 1996 (20th anniversary edition) ISBN 0800786335