Posted on 01/08/2013 5:40:50 AM PST by BO Stinkss
Rapper Eminem is known for his edgy music, which generally includes explicit lyrics and controversial themes. That’s why last week’s media report alleging that the performer has become a born-again Christian sparked so much interest.
While it was enticing for many to pounce on the idea that the formerly-troubled star would have a “come to Jesus” moment, the entire notion of an intense spiritual transformation is based on an unnamed source who was cited on the web site AllHipHop.com.
“I heard a doozie recently and I’m not sure that I can believe that its completely true,” the article announcing the rumor about the purported conversion read. “On the flip, I wouldn’t be shocked if it was. Eminem has been evolving a lot over the last few years. We’ve seen it. Maturity. Sobriety.”
The rumor, based on a source from Detroit, Mich., claims that the rapper is removing himself “further from the depths of the music industry.” This action, which has purportedly had an impact on his business ties and the acts he works with, is allegedly predicated upon the conversion to Christianity in which the rapper is said to have turned his life over to God.
This story wasn’t only reported on the hip hop blog, though. Other outlets like The Christian Post and the blog and opinion section of The Huffington Post also explored the alleged faith transformation. Following the story’s circulation, TheBlaze decided to investigate the shocking claim. We made several calls and sent e-mails to an Interscope Records representative who work with “Slim Shady” (one of the rapper’s stage names). After repeated attempts to receive an answer, the publicist offered a brief response when asked if the singer is now a born-again Christian. ”He is not,” the message back to TheBlaze read, thus debunking — at least until we hear a response from the rapper himself — the notion that has has personally embraced Jesus Christ’s teachings.
Rumors and intriguing theories surrounding Eminem’s faith are nothing new. As USC Annenberg communications professor Marcia Dawkins writes:
Conspiratorial theories asserting that Mathers is either a Satanist or an Illuminati pawn have reached a broad, mass audience through the Internet. Now, a new meme has been added to the rapper’s spiritual story. Rumor has it that Mathers is now a Born Again Christian. According to rap’s and religion’s insiders, Eminem has “turned his life over to Christ,” and is “building a relationship with God and using that to help him spiritually, and with his addiction problems.”
It is impossible to know, with any accuracy, the truth about Mathers’s spiritual journey. However, the fact that God and Devil worship rumors abound makes it important to examine his public endorsements in lyrics as a meaningful way to draw audiences in through passionate condemnation.
Either Eminem has not yet announced to his record label that he has converted or the notion, itself, is an unfounded rumor. Or — perhaps he’s still in the process of figuring out his spiritual journey. Regardless, the rapper’s turn from a controversial figure touting questionable themes to a gospel-driven performer would certainly be fascinating to observe.
After repeated attempts to receive an answer, the publicist offered a brief response when asked if the singer is now a born-again Christian. ”He is not,” the message back to TheBlaze read, thus debunking — at least until we hear a response from the rapper himself — the notion that has has personally embraced Jesus Christ’s teachings.
Rumors and intriguing theories surrounding Eminem’s faith are nothing new. As USC Annenberg communications professor Marcia Dawkins writes:
Conspiratorial theories asserting that Mathers is either a Satanist or an Illuminati pawn have reached a broad, mass audience through the Internet. Now, a new meme has been added to the rapper’s spiritual story. Rumor has it that Mathers is now a Born Again Christian. According to rap’s and religion’s insiders, Eminem has “turned his life over to Christ,” and is “building a relationship with God and using that to help him spiritually, and with his addiction problems.”
It is impossible to know, with any accuracy, the truth about Mathers’s spiritual journey. However, the fact that God and Devil worship rumors abound makes it important to examine his public endorsements in lyrics as a meaningful way to draw audiences in through passionate condemnation.
Either Eminem has not yet announced to his record label that he has converted or the notion, itself, is an unfounded rumor. Or — perhaps he’s still in the process of figuring out his spiritual journey. Regardless, the rapper’s turn from a controversial figure touting questionable themes to a gospel-driven performer would certainly be fascinating to observe.
After repeated attempts to receive an answer, the publicist offered a brief response when asked if the singer is now a born-again Christian. ”He is not,” the message back to TheBlaze read, thus debunking — at least until we hear a response from the rapper himself — the notion that has has personally embraced Jesus Christ’s teachings.
Rumors and intriguing theories surrounding Eminem’s faith are nothing new. As USC Annenberg communications professor Marcia Dawkins writes:
Conspiratorial theories asserting that Mathers is either a Satanist or an Illuminati pawn have reached a broad, mass audience through the Internet. Now, a new meme has been added to the rapper’s spiritual story. Rumor has it that Mathers is now a Born Again Christian. According to rap’s and religion’s insiders, Eminem has “turned his life over to Christ,” and is “building a relationship with God and using that to help him spiritually, and with his addiction problems.”
It is impossible to know, with any accuracy, the truth about Mathers’s spiritual journey. However, the fact that God and Devil worship rumors abound makes it important to examine his public endorsements in lyrics as a meaningful way to draw audiences in through passionate condemnation.
Either Eminem has not yet announced to his record label that he has converted or the notion, itself, is an unfounded rumor. Or — perhaps he’s still in the process of figuring out his spiritual journey. Regardless, the rapper’s turn from a controversial figure touting questionable themes to a gospel-driven performer would certainly be fascinating to observe.
After repeated attempts to receive an answer, the publicist offered a brief response when asked if the singer is now a born-again Christian. ”He is not,” the message back to TheBlaze read, thus debunking — at least until we hear a response from the rapper himself — the notion that has has personally embraced Jesus Christ’s teachings.
Rumors and intriguing theories surrounding Eminem’s faith are nothing new. As USC Annenberg communications professor Marcia Dawkins writes:
Conspiratorial theories asserting that Mathers is either a Satanist or an Illuminati pawn have reached a broad, mass audience through the Internet. Now, a new meme has been added to the rapper’s spiritual story. Rumor has it that Mathers is now a Born Again Christian. According to rap’s and religion’s insiders, Eminem has “turned his life over to Christ,” and is “building a relationship with God and using that to help him spiritually, and with his addiction problems.”
It is impossible to know, with any accuracy, the truth about Mathers’s spiritual journey. However, the fact that God and Devil worship rumors abound makes it important to examine his public endorsements in lyrics as a meaningful way to draw audiences in through passionate condemnation.
Either Eminem has not yet announced to his record label that he has converted or the notion, itself, is an unfounded rumor. Or — perhaps he’s still in the process of figuring out his spiritual journey. Regardless, the rapper’s turn from a controversial figure touting questionable themes to a gospel-driven performer would certainly be fascinating to observe.
Who cares?
It might be worth repeating, but geez!
I wonder if God will forgive his sins,
I guess it depends whether he stops killin his girlfriends. </old eminem lyrics>
Remember that Jane Fonda became a born-again Christian. It was the reason Turner wanted a divorce. It didn’t change her much. And a lot of black rappers are believing Christians and that doesn’t mean much either.
Having said that, I hope its true too and he changes for the better.
Jesus cares and so should every Christian. Praise God!
Pray for America
“Who cares?”
God
:) I know the lyrics, good one.
I have been praying for this guy for some years now. I like him, and yes, God is going to forgive him all of his sins.
Anyone who turns to God with an open heart, to repent and seek forgiveness, is going to find forgiveness and acceptance and warm love. Without a question asked.
Praise God for this young man. I pray for him. May he be a bright light for the word of God.
Kid Rock is almost there.. and he is next up. Take heed, Kid. ;)
:) I know the lyrics, good one.
I have been praying for this guy for some years now. I like him, and yes, God is going to forgive him all of his sins.
Anyone who turns to God with an open heart, to repent and seek forgiveness, is going to find forgiveness and acceptance and warm love. Without a question asked.
Praise God for this young man. I pray for him. May he be a bright light for the word of God.
Kid Rock is almost there.. and he is next up. Take heed, Kid. ;)
Dislike rap/hiphop music (whatever the difference is) and the culture that seems to surround it. But..
The thought of anyone turning their life around, being saved, and inspiring others to do likewise... I’ll call it a win.
I read an interesting interview with Eminem in Rolling Stone about a year ago. Mrs WBill used to work in the music industry and got a lifetime subscription back in her college years.
Anyhoo, this interview really drew me in. It was obvious that the interviewer came into the project with one mindset, and left with a very different one. As I recall, nothing was mentioned about spirituality. However, the author of the piece was expecting to find sex, drugs and rock n' roll....and wound up finding a very quiet, thoughtful, and troubled young man, instead.
It wasn't a sympathetic piece, either. The author WANTED the sex drugs and rocknroll (I suppose that it sells more magazines!). Instead, they found a man who attends AA meetings, calls his kid, and goes to bed early. Not exactly a wild lifestyle.
Great post.. I like eminem minus the killing lyrics. His pop stuff is pretty good. Like it or not, he is a forceful communicator. Let’s hope that force is for Christianity now. Woohoo if true! I think Christians forget who Saul truly was.
As a lifelong Christian, I have observed that many come to faith who are either rich enough or too poor, as well as those in between. My grandmother once told me I would work in Holland and become preacher. After her death, I did go to Holland to work out of the blue, but haven’t had the calling to preach.... At the time I told Grandma that I was not kind of guy to become preacher to which she winked and said she wasn’t always my sweet old grandmother either, and with a glimmering smile she said she put the “roaring” in the Twenties!
Through his videos and lyris one can see a man who makes a satire of the sex, drugs, and rock and roll and tries to be a family man. He also seems haunted by his childhood family life, and uses it as part of his inspiration to succeed. He also fought against reverse racism to succeed. He mocks a lot of what is wrong with soiety and seems to express a desire for positive change in the world around him. He is anything but superficial, he is deep. Lastly he is distrustful and thinks for himself, he doesn’t just accept views prescribed to him.
I remember when Jeremy Enigk of Sunny Day Real Estate became a Christian, hopefully Eminem will end up the same.
And yes, Soundbombin’ II was the greatest rap album/compilation ever made.
“He seems haunted by his childhood family life..”
Eminem’s early development years were horrible. Actually, I respect the man for this reason: instead of turning to violent crime, he focused on succeeding in his life. Now, I’m not saying the music industry makes you a success.. what I am saying is he had a natural talent and used that talent to get out of the slums. Unlike many urban folks, he actually took care of his daughter and took in his niece as well. I pray he becomes born again. He has already “changed” since the extensive rehab... and has lost many fans because they want the old “Slim Shady” back. Sadly, turning to Christianity will probably stop his career. My best wishes are with the man... as a Christian, I pray he is saved. IMHO.
I imagine his publicist would say he has not converted to Christianity because he thought that it would hurt record sales in the current Anti- Christian environment so I wouldn’t take their word for it.
What a welcome change from the Cornbread Rapper.
> Praise God for this young man. I pray for him. May he be a bright light for the word of God.
Kid Rock is almost there.. and he is next up. Take heed, Kid. ;)
You know I think you may be right about this one. I’ve been watching him over the years and noticed Christian-like attributes in him at times plus he leans toward the conservative side and I’ve heard that he is a hard worker staying up into the wee hours of the morning to get his recordings perfected until they are the best they can be.
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