A celebrated Christian rapper in the United Kingdom recently stirred controversy with his decision to turn away from Christianity. While publicly announcing his decision, Jahaziel said that his eyes had finally been opened to the ‘historic blood trail’ and ‘controlling dictatorship’ of the Christian faith.
“I need not explain myself to anyone, but I feel the need to make a quick statement,” 39-year-old Jahaziel wrote last month. “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 [and] status within Christian and non-Christian circles.”
Even though he has now lost most of what he had, Jahaziel said he still has his integrity, while explaining that the Bible and Christianity did teach him some ‘great principles’ but such sentiments are not ‘exclusive to any one religion’.
“I have met many sincere Christians, both church goers and church leaders, and although I have not seen every one of the 40,000 Christian denominations currently in existence I think I have seen enough to personally make a general conclusion regarding Christianity in the broadest sense,” Jahaziel said.
The rapper then proceeded to highlight the negative aspects of the Christian faith: “Its controlling dictatorship; its historic blood trail; it's plagiarized bible stories, characters and concepts; the many human errors of the bible and its contradictions; the brutal nature of its God; its involvement in the slave trade; the Crusades; the Inquisition; the witch hunts; it's second-class view of women; it's masculinization of God; it's emasculation of men; its financial corruption,” he elaborated.
In another post on Christmas Eve, Jahaziel confirmed that his decision to reject Christianity would not be reversed.
“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,” he wrote.
In an earlier interview with Cross Rhythms, Jahaziel had expressed his desire to utilize his talent to spread the word of God.
“I was given this gift for a purpose,” he had said at the time. “God took me from nothing to something and he wanted to do something with this. I would be a sell out to now just take it like it's mine and try and use it for my gain.”
After Jahaziel’s public renunciation of Christianity, thousands of fans took to social media to encourage him to rethink his decision.
Photo Credits: Wade-O-Radio Show
