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The Religious Affiliation of Actress/Comedian
Ellen DeGeneres


Ellen DeGeneres was raised in a devout Christian Science family, but is not currently a churchgoing member.

From: Ellen DeGeneres, My Point...and I Do Have One, Bantam Books: New York (1996), page 201:

I have no medical training whatsoever. Since I was raised a Christian Scientist, in high school I was excused from all science classes...
From: Kurt Jensen, "Ellen's mom tells of rough 'Journey'", book review in USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/books/b1078.htm):
That's among the disclosures in Love, Ellen: A Mother/Daughter Journey (Rob Weisbach Books, $24)... Her marriage to Elliott DeGeneres, father of Ellen, 41, and Vance, 44, was "almost completely sexless" and hampered by his devotion to Christian Science, which regards sex as a "material appetite," she writes.
Entertainment Weekly, Ellen DeGeneres Interview, 5/1/1998 (http://www.ew.com/ew/se/insidex/980508/ellen/ellen5.html):
EW [Entertainment Weekly, interviewer]: Are you a spiritual person?

Ellen: I was raised very, very strictly with Christian Science. I didn't have a shot or an aspirin or anything until I was 13 years old. We had to go to church, do testimonies every Wednesday night. I think all religion is based on what happens after this life. You live a certain way so that when you die, things can be good. But why can't things be good now? Why can't you understand that you're in heaven now? That's how I live. I believe in God. I think that God is everywhere. Every morning I look outside, and I say, "Hi, God." Because I think that the trees are God. I think that our whole experience is God.

From: Judy Wieder, "Ellen: Born again" in The Advocate, 14 March 2000 (http://www.advocate.com/html/stories/807/807_cvr_ellen.asp):
[Interviewer:] What are your spiritual beliefs?

[Ellen:] I was raised Christian Science, which is like 'mind over matter.' I think there is something to that. But I have a problem with a lot of the rules. I don't believe the god that I believe in is judgmental. I think whatever works for you is right. Heaven or hell is what you create right this minute where you are. You have a choice to live in joy or not. And that's my belief. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong, but I'm not hurting anybody.

Webpage created 5 July 2005. Last modified 28 July 2005.
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