Answer: Yes
Disclaimer: It is not our role to determine whether or not somebody is a Christian. We just use our discernment based on the evidence we have found on the internet to come to a likely or best-guess answer. Our answers do not actually determine who is or is not a Christian and it is ultimately between the person and God. Not us.
James Earl Jones born January 17, 1931, is a versatile American actor distinguished by his iconic voice, which has made him one of the world’s most gifted voice actors. Jones has been pointed out for his outstanding performances as Darth Vader in “Star Wars” and Mufasa in “The Lion King.”
The nonagenarian has starred in a truckload of movies and his golden voice has been his signature. With a career of over 60 years, Jones has achieved success across multiple entertainment fields. He is one of few actors that have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and EGOT Awards.
With years of diligent service on stage and screenplays, his closet of awards is beautifully decorated. He is an inductee into the American Theater Hall of Fame and holds an honorarium with the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honor, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, and the Honorary Academy Award.
As a child, the Mississippi-born actor had issues speaking fluently. It is revealed that acting and poetry helped him outgrow the problem. He worked with the US Army during the Korean War and before his discharge, was promoted to first lieutenant and then a pre-med major before leaving for acting. Making his debut in 1957, he has since starred in multiple plays and films.
With his rave of affluent success and golden voice, Jones has been in the midst of various religious conversations and has been linked to several religions including Christianity. This article will lend an answer to the persistent question of James Earl Jones being a Christian.
Is James Earl Jones Religious?
Religion often involves cultural beliefs, worldviews, texts, prophecies, revelations, and morals that have spiritual meaning to members of a particular faith, and it can encompass a range of practices, including sermons, rituals, prayer, meditation, holy places, symbols, trances, and feasts. A religious person is therefore someone who believes in and worships God or gods and openly expresses his beliefs in a particular religious group.
As an actor, Jones has played several religious characters. He played the role of Stephen Kumalo, a pastor in “Cry, the Beloved Country” and has received accolades for swiftly interpreting the role. His effortless execution of the role alludes to his religious slant.
With his master stroke voice, Jones has read the new testament of the Bible and arguably prescribed it to give more meaning to the scriptures through careful reading and an interesting voice. The voice actor is equivocal in lending his voice to the growth of his religion; a right he acquired from birth.
Raised in a religious home, Jones revealed that his grandfather’s kindness and heart for mentorship came from his strong faith, which Jones witnessed every Sunday morning.
“He was short and he had a prodigious amount of energy. He even built a church to please Grandmother, a fervent worshiper of the Lord,” Jones said. “All sorts of people were invited to our little church; white, black, and American Indian came together in a nondenominational fellowship. Granddad’s Irish heritage came out in his love for language; during the week he used “everyday talk,” but on Sunday he spoke only the finest English.”
Does James Earl Jones Believe in God?
The belief in a god is the focal point of most religions. The reflection on the order of nature has been of great importance for the development of the belief in God, side by side with the advancement of the social order. According to Aristotle, God is pure form without matter, pure activity without passivity and change; but such Form is only pure thinking, which again has only itself as its content.
In an editorial for Guideposts in the late 90s, Jones disclosed how a retired college professor who resided in a Mennonite neighborhood introduced him to God.
“He never even pressed us with religion but figured if we did wake up we would find God, find our calling and, in so doing, find life,” Jones narrated.
Donald Crouch was the man referred to by Jones. His reflection hinted at his sojourn on his spiritual growth, as he learned more about God while serving in the Army. While expressing his content and reason for lending his voice for an audio recording of the scriptures he credited the now-deceased Crouch as his inspiration.
“It was in the Army that a Jesuit chaplain helped me understand who God was and opened the door to which Professor Crouch had led me. So when I was asked to record the New Testament, I did it for a tall, lean man with gray hair who had not only helped to guide me to the author of the Scriptures but as the father of my resurrected voice, had also helped me find abundant life.”
Is James Earl Jones a Christian?
Christianity is the world’s largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.4 billion followers, representing one-third of the global population. The doctrine is tailored to the teachings of Jesus Christ whose birth, life, and death form a significant hallmark to the believers of this faith.
James Earl Jones was raised in a Christian home. While his father was chasing a career in the theater, he was left to grow up with his grandparents who started a small church with a congregation of white, blacks, and American Indians. Below is Jones’ description of his grandfather:
“He was short and he had a prodigious amount of energy. He even built a church to please Grandmother, a fervent worshiper of the Lord. All sorts of people were invited to our little church; white, black, and American Indians came together in a nondenominational fellowship. Granddad’s Irish heritage came out in his love for language; during the week he used “everyday talk,” but on Sunday he spoke only the finest English.”
His audio reading of the new testament is so passionate, with comments by listeners such as, “If a non-Christian were to make a recording of the Bible, their work might be non-emotional, very bland…I feel that someone who believes what they are reading will make it more interesting-make the words come alive.“
James Earl Jones is a Catholic. He converted to Catholicism while serving in the army. James Earl Jones had a stint in the army in 1953 during the Korean War and vacated as a first lieutenant. He was made a mouth-watering offer of applying for captaincy which he traded for his acting career. He recounted his experience with Helen Dudar of the New York Times in a special feature of Fences, the voice actor said about his Catholicism faith:
“The only thing I had that was not geared toward the art of killing was the Catholic Church, to which I had converted in the Army, and the complete works of Shakespeare,” he said.
“And so, when I was asked to record the New Testament, I did it for a tall, lean man with gray hair who had not only helped to guide me to the author of the Scriptures but as the father of my resurrected voice, had also helped me find abundant life.”
Is James Earl Jones Baptized?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, baptism is a Christian religious rite of sprinkling water onto a person’s forehead or of immersing them in water, symbolizing purification or regeneration and admission to the Christian church. It is an initiation into the Christian fold.
Jesus Christ, the central figure and founder of Christianity gave the charge for baptism. Matthew 28:19 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
At the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus chose to be baptized.
The deep voice actor has acknowledged his Catholic faith. As predominant with the faith, baptism is performed after birth and the child is given a baptismal name. Adults who have not yet received the Sacrament of Baptism must go through instructions in the Catholic Faith to receive Baptism. This will often take the form of RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and is compulsory for members.
Since he grew up in a Christian home and is a Catholic, it is believed that the actor is baptized.
What did James Earl Jones say about Jesus?
Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christians. He is ascribed as the foundation of Christianity and revered as the savior of mankind through his sacrificial death on the cross.
The great commission is one of the significant instructions given by Jesus to his disciples. Matthew 28:19-20 reads: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The Bible scripture above charges Christians to propagate the spread of the religion as a true test of faith. Jones, in a bid to talk about Jesus, has fulfilled his religious obligation by using his deep-resonant voice to read the new testament and has addressed Jesus as having abundant life. He expressed this while thanking his mentor, Professor Donald Crouch. In his words:
“And so, when I was asked to record the New Testament, I did it for a tall, lean man with gray hair who had not only helped to guide me to the author of the Scriptures but as the father of my resurrected voice, had also helped me find abundant life.”
Conclusion
The 92 years old Mississippi-born actor is a legend in his lane. With a smooth transition from the army to the entertainment industry, his unique voice created a niche for him which he has dominated with style. The American voice actor is a proud Christian.
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