Denzel Washington - 'I read the Bible every day'
by Kevin Donovan
Posted: Thursday, November 29, 2007, 17:44 (GMT)
Music star Carrie Underwood and award-winning actor Denzel Washington lead the way for Hollywood celebrities who are devoted Bible readers, according to this week’s issue of celebrity magazine Us Weekly.
Celebrities Joel Madden and Heidi Montag also made it to the list, although the two have no prominent past history of sharing their faith openly and have lifestyles that many might describe as far from biblical. Underwood and Washington, on the other hand, are different cases.
In a poll compiled by BeliefNet.com, Washington, 52, came in as the second ”Most Powerful Christian in Hollywood” after Mel Gibson.
He also played the voice of Solomon in the audio Bible "Inspired by: The Bible Experience."
"I read the Bible every day," the married father of four said in a new interview with Reader's Digest. "I'm in my second pass-through now. It's better the second time around."
Similar remarks were made by country singer and American Idol star Underwood, who has often expressed her faith through her music, such as hit single “Jesus Take the Wheel.”
"I keep it on the bus," the 24-year-old songstress said, according to Us Weekly. "It's always there."
Meanwhile, Montag of the MTV reality TV series “The Hills” says she owes all her success to her faith.
"I'm reading the Bible beginning to end," Montag, 21, said. "I'm very religious. That's how I've gotten to where I am."
In Madden’s remarks, the 28-year-old frontman for rockband Good Charlotte said, "I read the Bible a lot."
"I'm a pretty conservative guy in the way I live," claimed Madden, who has a tattoo of Jesus on his arm and is expecting a baby with girlfriend Nicole Richie.
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Saturday, December 22, 2007, 18:18 (GMT)
the only thing that concerns me with this is that the man from Good Charlotte is having a babywith his girlfriend not his wife. Other than that I think this is awesome. I have never met anyone who reads the bible daily that is not a christian. If they are not a christian all they got to do is open their minds because it is set out in fron of them.
Ben Sherman, Billings MT
Added: Saturday, December 1, 2007, 13:11 (GMT)
I personally think it's quite nice that there is a wealthy, handsome successful actor in Hollywood who is willing to stand up and say unashamedly 'I read the Bible every day'. I wonder how many other celebrities in Hollywood can say the same thing?? I think he can only be a positive influence on other celebrities who are engaging in less savoury past times and I think he's a good example for all other 'Christians' who DONT read their bibles every day. I didnt know this about Denzel before so I am glad i do now.
Jesus said "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."
I'm glad that there is a light in Hollywood thanks to Denzel and I'm very happy some of that light shone into my life today and encouraged me.
God bless everyone :)
sarah m, stirling, Scotland
Added: Friday, November 30, 2007, 3:57 (GMT)
i'm flabbergasted by this article. just because someone claims to read the Bible--that doesn't mean they are a Christian. how did this article even make it on 'Christian today'? i don't know much about this website, but i'm starting to wonder now. is that all 'today's' Christians think you need to do to be a Christian?
amy, DFW, TX
Added: Thursday, November 29, 2007, 18:02 (GMT)
This is quite encouraging news. I'm glad to see some press of the more Christian aspects of Denzel's work mentioning The Bible Experience. It's a great audiobible and really having listened to the Bible Experience and seen American Gangster, it balances it all out. I just wish there wasn't so much hype about American Gangster and that it's glorifying bad guys.
Julie, Grand Rapids, USA
