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Related pages:
- Famous Christians - Famous Scientists who were Christians Related websites: - Wiki: List of born-again Christian laypeople - NNDB.com: Religion: Born-Again Christian |
The following individuals, who have been known as "born again Christians," although that may or may not be the best way to identify and classify them, ARE listed on proper denominational pages, but are also listed below for reference purposes:
The phrase "born again" has been in use within Christianity since the earliest days of the religion. The phrase is found in the New Testament in a passage describing a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3:1-5): "Jesus answered him, 'Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again... Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.'" (New Revised Standard Version)
Traditionally, Jesus's reference to being "born of water" has been interpreted as baptism and being born of Spirit has been interpreted as receiving the "Holy Spirit" ("Holy Ghost", to use the term from the King James Version of the Bible). However, the precise meanings of the phrases "born again" and "born of water and Spirit" as used in this passage are not agreed upon across (and sometimes even within) various Christian denominations. Even within the Evangelical movement there is much difference of opinion about this subject, and there is much disagreement about whether certain famous individuals should properly be identified as "Born Again."
When used as the sole identifier for a person's religious faith or religious affiliation, the phrase "born again" (or "born-again") is most frequently encountered in reference to "born again Christians," i.e., people who claim a certain types of religious experience. The phrase is usually used within the Evangelical Christian movement, a Protestant movement that began in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of the meanings that contemporary Evangelicals attach to the phrase "born again Christian" have little or no precedent prior to the 1930s. Also, until about 1960, it was rare for any person to identify themself solely as a "born-again Christian." Prior to that time, Christians would typically identify themselves in some cases simply as a "Christian" or in other settings by identifying the denomination to which they belonged. If they had experienced some kind of conversion, rejuvinating, or powerful spiritual experience, they might describe this in a testimony or explnation of their faith, but they would not use this as a basis for a personal label or classification.
Because the phrase "born again Christian" has so many disparate definitions in common usage, and because it is not generally used in sociological contexts, but is primarily a theological term, we have avoided using it as a classification in the "Famous Adherents" section. Where individuals have identified themselves as "born again," we have included that information on the spiritual/religious biography pages dedicated to the individual.
Generally speaking, we have no argument whatsoever with anybody's attempt to create a list of "born-again Christians", a list that fits their definition of the term. However, when we look at substantial public efforts to create such a list (such as those found on Wikipedia.org and NNDB.com), we can't help but notice the multiplicity of names over which Evangelicals argue about. There seems to be no end to the disagreements about whether celebrities such as Jane Fonda, Tom Hanks, Bob Dylan, President George W. Bush, Eldridge Cleaver, Jeffrey Dahmer, Andrea Yates, Martin Luther, David Berkowitz, Jack Chick, Sting, Jose Padilla, Charlie Sheen, Shannon Daugherty, Brittany Spears, Darryl Strawberry, Bono, Terry Nichols, Samantha Fox, Glen Campbell and many more should even be classified as "Christian," much less as "Born Again Christian." Respectfully, these are debates which we simply do not have the time or resources to engage in.
6025 A.J. Styles Adam Clayton Amy Grant Andrea Yates Anita Bryant Barry McGuire Ben Lummis Benny Hinn Bernard Ebbers Bernhard Langer Bettie Page Betty Cuthbert Bill "Bubba" Bussey Billy Graham Bono Brian "Head" Welch Brian Welch Bryan MacLean Candace Cameron Carl Lewis Charles Colson (Chuck Colson) Chelsea Noble Chris Tucker Cliff Richard Connie Sellecca Cyndi Lauper Dan O'Brien Dan Peek Dan Quayle Daniel arap Moi Darrell Porter Darren Beadman Darryl Strawberry Dave Dobbyn Dave Dravecky Dave Mustaine Dave Thomas David Berkowitz David Robinson Dog Chapman Dolly Parton Donna Rice Duane "Dog" Chapman Edge Efrain Rios Montt Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. Eldridge Cleaver Eric Liddell Eugene Terre'Blanche Evander Holyfield Fred Barnes Frederick Chiluba Garnet Mimms Gary Ablett Gary Burghoff Gary Busey Gary North Gavin MacLeod George Foreman George W. Bush George Wallace Glen Campbell Guy Sebastian Hansie Cronje Heather Whitestone Helen Shapiro Herschel Walker Hunter Tylo Ivan Koloff Jack Chick Jake "The Snake" Roberts James Ah Koy James Irwin James Watt Jane Fonda Jane Russell Jason Robinson Jay van Andel Jayne Kennedy Jeane Kirkpatrick Jeff Gannon Jeff Gordon Jeffrey Dahmer Jennifer O'Neill Jeremy Enigk Jeremy Vine Jerry Boykin Jessica Alba Jim Bakker Jim Reiher Jimmy Carter Jimmy Swaggart Jodi Benson Jody Miller Joe Gibbs Joh Bjelke-Petersen John Ashcroft John Corbett John Davis John DeLorean John Tesh Johnny Cash Johnny Hart Johnny Tapia Jonty Rhodes Josh McDowell Jose Padilla Judith Reisman Julius Erving Justine Bateman Karla Faye Tucker Kathie Lee Gifford Keir Hardie Kepler Wessels Kim Alexis Kim Fields Kirk Cameron Kurt Warner Larry Flynt Larry Lea Larry Mullen Jr. Laurence Tureaud Lee Atwater Leigh Hatcher Linda Lovelace Lisa Whelchel Lynda Carter MC Hammer Mangosuthu Buthelezi Margaret Court Mark "Gator" Rogowski Mark Farner Marty Jannetty Marvin Olasky Mase Mase Mathieu Kerekou Meadowlark Lemon Michael Chang Michael Hegstrand Michael Irvin Michael Jones Mickey Rooney Mordechai Vanunu Mr. T Niki Taylor Nikita Koloff Norma McCorvey Oliver North Olusegun Obasanjo Oral Roberts Orel Hershiser Pat Boone Paul Jones Peter Popoff Phillip Johnson Pierre Nkurunziza Rachel Scott Randall Terry Ratu Josefa Iloilo Reggie White Rich DeVos Richard Kiel Richie Furay Rick Burgess Robert Laidlaw Roger McGuinn Rollen Stewart Ron Reyes Roy Peacock S. Truett Cathy Samantha Fox Shawn Michaels Simon Mayo Stephen Baldwin Steve Burd Steve Largent Steve McQueen Steve Mortimer Sting Susan Atkins Syngman Rhee T-Bone Burnett Tammy Faye Bakker Ted DiBiase Terry Nichols Tex Watson The Edge Thomas Kinkade Tiffany Tim Mander Tom Hanks Tom Landry Tommy Emmanuel Tommy Maddox Tony Hall Tonya Flynt-Vega Tully Blanchard Vai'inga Tuigamala Vanity Victoria Jackson William J. Murray Willie Aames Yoweri Museveni Yuri