Posted on 08/12/2010 1:19:22 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Her parents were Baptist and Catholic and she was born in Georgia, part of the US Bible Belt. But Hollywood superstar Julia Roberts says she is now a practising Hindu. Speaking to the September issue of Elle magazine, Roberts said she goes to the temple to "chant, pray and celebrate."
The 42-year-old actress, who won a million hearts with Pretty Woman and an Oscar with Erin Brockowich, took to Hinduism during the shooting of her upcoming film, `Eat, Pray and Love' last year. In the movie, she plays a divorced woman who travels to Italy for food, India for spirituality and Bali, where she finds love. In the interview, Robert also spoke of reincarnation. "I've been so spoiled with my friends and family in this life. Next time I want to be just something quiet and supporting," she said.
Swami Dharamdev of Hari Mandir, Pataudi, where `Eat, Pray and Love' was shot for three weeks in September-October last year, said it is good news if someone accepts Hinduism from the heart. During the film's shooting, he said, a makeshift temple had been constructed nearby where unit members would light lamps and burn incense sticks. "Julia too would pray there, run her hands over the lamp and her hair as we all do," he recalled. "She also got her three kids here. I tied the sacred red thread on their wrists and applied the tilak on their foreheads," he said.
Swami Dharamdev recalled the actress also requested him, through her private assistant, to pray for her mother who was ill. "Before she left I told her, `you may choose not to eat or love. But don't forget to pray. Make that a part of your life, not just acting in this film'. She smiled and nodded affirmatively," he said.
In a statement, Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism in the US, also said he and his fellow practitioners welcome Roberts into the fold.
Julia's move to Hinduism has sparked off a torrent of online response. Some are highly critical of her; others the opposite. "Another confused celebrity trying on the religion "flavour" of the month. Hindu? Does she even know what that means? How can you convert to another religion after making a film? Next thing you know she'll be wearing a Kabbalah bracelet after going to a Madonna concert!," was a comment posted on The Daily Mail's website. However, Anne, Leicester, wrote, "I like Julie Roberts, admire her work on screen and her commitment to her beliefs. If she's living her life to the ideals of Hinduism, that's all to the good. I look forward to seeing her latest film.
Even by Hollywood standards, Julia Roberts is known for her weak minded infatuation with her leading men and the topics of her films. I’m surprised she didn’t become a real life whore after “Pretty Woman.” They say she has spent time in the bed of pretty nearly every co-star she’s ever been with in a movie.
According to the most orthodox Brahmins, not only do you have to be born into the religion, but if you ever leave India, even for nothing more than a dirty weekend in Dubai, you are excommunicated and shunned.
You speak a mouthful.
That is what is wrong with someone trying out or looking into another religion?
Because she’s not trying out the same religion as you? That is what is wrong?
Why isn’t religion something one may try out?
Perhaps she’s a patronizing dilletante, and it’s just what she does?
She’ll probably work her way up to that.
After that, I just can’t help but wonder why God created and allowed to live, so many people that He knew would be Hindus.
More importantly He knows those who are Hindus who will be presented with the Gospel of Christ and for that become new creatures in Christ. God is known for His long-suffering towards those who are not now His....but He knows who will come all thru time and History. The wheat and the tares comes to mind.....one day He will divide those who are His and those who are not...some names will be written in the book of life...others won't be.
Why not NOW, Julia? Why wait until the next life to be 'something quiet and supporting'?
My what is better than what?
??
You’re not making sense.
I am not ‘trying’ anything out. Where is the salvation in Hinduism? There is none. She has the freewill to beleve as she wishes, but that does not remove the fact that anyhting other than belief in Jesus is a road to hell.
Jesus came to this earth, as a human, to die on the cross for us. Anything else is lacking, in the extreme. I pray that you would know this too.
Oh, you're already something, Horse Mouth.
Never one of my favorites [cough], Ms. Roberts fell entirely off my radar when she showed herself to be a leftist extraordinaire. I haven't seen her in years, except in the supermarket check-out line on the cover of the tabloids, and will never watch her perform again.
Yes, and He even creates those that He knows will not become new creatures in Christ, and lets them live normal lives too. Right?
He then creates people that He knows will not be saved? Why would He do that?
Perhaps, as Hindus, they do not believe in, and therefore do not require, salvation?
Has God created millions of people over history, that He knows will go to hell?
Luckily, Vera and Danny had no children. I should also mention that Ms. Roberts offered Vera $100,000 to divorce Danny, and when Vera told Ms. Roberts where she could shove her wallet, Ms. Roberts was seen gallivanting about Hollywood with a t-shirt that read “A Low Vera.” She’s another celebrity suffering from entitlement syndrome. She believes she should get what she wants when she wants is...even if it is your husband.
Make sure to have plenty of pork products around when you see your SIL.
Screw that Julia Roberts crapola. No $$$ to support the woman who said “Republican comes after reptile in the dictionary.”
I will be supporting Sly Stallone (and Eric Roberts): “The Expendables” opens today. Let the lead and blood flow!
Guess Kaballah is too passe
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