James Corden had doubts about his beliefs and admits he ‘turned his back on Christian upbringing’
TV star opens up about losing his faith in a candid chat with comedian John Bishop
JAMES Corden has revealed he turned his back on his Christian beliefs after becoming disillusioned with his family's religion.
The TV star opened up about losing his faith during a candid chat with comedian John Bishop, revealing he no longer holds the beliefs he grew up with as a member of the Salvation Army church.
The Gavin & Stacey star was born in London and grew up in Buckinghamshire with Christian parents who encouraged him to take part in Salvation Army events.
However, James, 37, admits he is no longer a practising Christian as he spent years plagued by doubts and eventually gave up religion.
He makes the revelation during an upcoming interview with comedian John Bishop.
During the chat, James explained that he was often dressing up in a Salvation Army uniform and "marching through the town with a trumpet" as a child.
However, he has now turned his back on the faith he once embraced.
He said: "When you ask me what are my beliefs I really struggle because you can’t argue with science, only a mad man would.
"There’s a great saying that it’s not the stuff you know that will undo you, it’s the stuff you think you know that just ain’t so.
"I feel like that about faith, I really don’t know.... [I would] would never go as far as say I am a Christian.
"That relies on a greater belief than I have, but I absolutely do have a hunch that this can’t be for nothing."
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James has previously spoken out about his time in the Salvation Army, insisting the church does good work but he rubbed shoulders with some people he did not get on with.
During an appearance on BBC Radio Four's Desert Island Discs, he said: "Lots of people don’t even recognise it as a church, they just see it as a charity and the work it does and all those things are great.
"There are some wonderful people who are involved in the Salvation Army...
"Looking back... I can only describe it as some of the least Christian people I’ve ever met. If anything, I didn’t want people to come and join this church, they would have been happier if the doors were shut.
"So insular is the only way I can describe it. I only realize that now.”
John Bishop: In Conversation with James Corden airs on the W channel on 1 September at 9pm.
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