The End of the Celebrity Christian

Celebrity entertainers have always consumed the public’s attention. There’s a psychology behind idolizing public figures, called “celebrity worship syndrome.” Psychologists have theorized why we tend to idolize well-known people. Some call it cognitive “dissonance and nostalgia.” A mix of factors may include the desire for connection, the need for self-esteem, or an admiration for talent or achievements. We expect such adulation for entertainers, but within the Christian community such forms of idolatry tend to be shunned.

Which makes it ironic that celebrity worship appears to have bled over into the Christian world. An expanse of Christian social media and broadcasting channels expanded the public’s familiarity with previously unknown personalities. Pastor Rick Warren rose to fame following his bestselling book,“The Purpose-Driven Life.” Years ago, popular figures like Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker and Pat Robertson dominated Christian television, but in the beginning of the 21 st Century a preacher named Joel Osteen emerged within the megachurch world espousing a “feel-good” form of Christianity that appealed to millions.