The UK-based formerlyChristian rapper Jahaziel has renounced his Christian faith.
The rapper, who won a MOBO award for Best Gospel Act in 2008, took to Facebook on 22 December to announce his decision to turn away from the Christian faith, listing a long stream of reasons why he could no longer keep his faith and his integrity, including the Church's involvement in the slave trade and plagiarised Bible stories.
I need not explain myself to anyone but I feel the need to make a quick statement. A short while ago I turned away from...
Posted by Jahaziel on Tuesday, 22 December 2015
"A short while ago I turned away from 20 years as a professing Christian. I had a good job with a church organization, a house provided by the church, a large social circle of likeminded people, a career in gospel music, a worldwide fan base, a respected reputation & status within Christian and non Christian circles," Jahaziel wrote on Facebook.
After a large reaction on social media, with 905 comments currently on his first Facebook post, Jahaziel posted a follow-up post clarifying his position.
"You can believe the bible and its God all you want but to me he just demands my fear because he cannot earn my respect. I cannot possibly agree that he is love unless I ignore all the men, women and little children he has slaughtered throughout the entire bible," he wrote.
"But maybe some peoples Christian lenses won't allow them to see that - cool. Mine didn't either for s (sic) long time. I have tasted and seen - and my conclusion is that Christianity (it's flawed book, bloodthirsty god and mythical savior) i have found unsatisfactory and unworthy of my allegiance or worship unless by threatening to kill me if I don't - as Christianity does."
Throughout the posts, Jahaziel insisted that it was not Christians he rejected, but the religion of Christianity. On New Year's Eve he posted a photo, with the hashtags: #LoveDontNeedNoReligiousTitles #NeverHasNeverWill:
Instead, he said that he desired to return to "the love, truth and wisdom my Afrikan ancestors lived and practiced for 1000's of years prior to Judaism, Islam or Christianity. Principles based on the elements of nature, humanity, universal laws, the stars, true science..."
New pilgrimage route follows in the footsteps of the Manx Bible translators
Survey finds Gen Z most likely to identify as religious
Christian social worker returns to Court of Appeal in dispute over withdrawn job offer
Australia's anti-therapy laws harm the most vulnerable - Britain should not copy them
Edinburgh University ends divinity programmes as theology faces a changing future
What links Tommy Robinson, Andrew Tate and the CofE’s newest diocesan bishop?
Third of young people now turning to AI for friendship, research finds
Why the Archbishop of Canterbury’s award controversy matters
Catholicism in France has 'collapsed'
From Genesis to Revelation: The ambitious AI project turning the Bible into music
Album review - Heads Up by Jahaziel
Sadie Robertson and Lecrae help more than 900 students decide for Christ
Lecrae tells his story of abuse, drugs and depression in new book
Dove Awards: Critic says Lecrae is not a real Christian rapper and did not deserve award
The problem is not the recognition that there is more to life than what we can see; Christianity agrees that there is. The question is where we go looking for answers.
US Protestant churchgoers who hold evangelical beliefs are more likely than their non-evangelical counterparts to express confidence in the Bible and its continuing authority, according to new research from Lifeway Research.
Rising living costs are forcing many UK parents to reduce activities for their children and, in some cases, use child benefits to cover household essentials, according to new research from Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG).
A new report has questioned Morocco’s claims to religious tolerance, arguing that laws relating to Ramadan observance, burial and conversion continue to limit freedom of religion despite constitutional protections.
