Celebrity and Religion

In his article 'Celebrity and Religion' (2007) Chris Rojek opens the readers eyes to just how excessive a fans devotion to a celebrity can be, so much so that it becomes a religious relationship for them. One of the most startling points Rojek raises is that obsessive individuals can begin to imagine sexual relations with the celebrity, even when being intimate with their own partner (Rojek). This not only affects their ability to emotionally and physically engage with their partner, but makes them become trapped in a delusional world which will never be real for them. At least organised religion offers people hope and faith throughout their whole lives; what happens when a celebrity someone worships religiously dies or ends their career? This could leave the 'believer' feeling helpless and as if the person they put their faith in has let them down. Rojek asks if we should postulate the connection between celebrity culture and religion. To help readers answer this question he looks into the secularization theory. He approves the theory, yet points out that it exaggerates the extent of how religion has been replaced by scientific modes of thinking (Rojek). An interesting point he brings up is how celebrity worship is not the only form of religious thinking which is culture-based. Other examples, some of which are culture-based; some nature-based, are spectator sports, animal rights campaigns, and ecological movements (Rojek). Rojek references Neal Gabler, who ascertains that celebrity religion is overtaking organised religion due to the amount of written and visual sources on celebrity religion. Rojek believes that celebrity worship is dangerous. It causes people to seem superficial, trivial, and obsessive; this can affect their own life goals in many ways. Although celebrities may bring fans up with them they can also take them down. Celebrities can descend to the underworld and drag their fans with them (Rojek). 


Image: http://theschooloflife.typepad.com/the_school_of_life/2010/05/brett-kahr-on-celebrity-worship.html


Source: Rojek C. 2007. Celebrity and Religion. In S Redmond and S Holmes. Stardom and Celebrity: A Reader. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.