Celebrity
religious fashions hypocritical, trendy
Tim Aylsworth
Fashion is of utmost importance. How can anyone carry on day-by-day without knowing
what trend is all the rage in Paris or New York? Fortunately, there are valiant
leaders who show the average folk what’s
hip and what’s not.
The brave souls on the frontline of this eternal pursuit of trendiness are celebrities.
Celebrities can influence what clothes we wear, what accessories we use, what
neighborhoods we live in and even which political candidates we support.
But is this really enough? In the past there was a significant portion of everyday
life that just wasn’t invaded by celebrity style: religion.
But even religion has become a celebrity trend. At long last, celebrities have
shown us that inner peace is futile unless it helps your image.
People these days are hung up on serving God and finding eternal happiness. Why
are they so occupied with asking what they can do for God, when they should be
asking what God can do for their careers?
Just look at the press given to Tom Cruise, Isaac Hayes, John Travolta and Lisa
Marie Presley when they discovered what the Church of Scientology could do for
them. Not only does Scientology bring its believers a sense of well-being, it
provides its believers a little extra air time and a few more shots in People
magazine.
That sounds pretty convincing, but before running off to join the Church of Scientology,
check out other religions that Hollywood has to offer. Kabbalah is back in a
big way. Historically, Kabbalah was merely a school of thought within Judaism.
Since the creation of the Kabbalah Center in Los Angeles, this religion has gotten
quite a makeover. It is now home to such A-list names as Madonna, Demi Moore,
Mick Jagger and Britney Spears.
After watching VH1’s “The Fabulous Life,” one might be led
to believe celebrities have it all. The media has dressed up celebrities as gods
among men.
They are richer, they are better looking, they are well-liked and now they have
inner peace too.
This myth is disastrous. It makes a complicated topic even more difficult, and
it reeks of hypocrisy.
These people are not role models. They are not philosophers. Their publicity
stunt religions are a mockery of mankind’s search for truth.
They tell impressionable people they are truly happy and they have the bank accounts
to prove it. Religion should not be about trends. It ought to be a personal journey
taken seriously. These religions are slowing that journey and making it much
less appealing.
This article originally appeared in the Battalion at Texas A&M.
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