Actor and podcast host Russell Brand says that he has been praying in tongues and asked his followers for their thoughts on praying in public. Brand, who was baptized as a Christian earlier this year, has been publicly processing his faith journey.
“I’ve been speaking in tongues. I’ve been praying tongues,” Brand said in a social media post Monday, Nov. 25. He mentioned that someone had told him, “I pray in tongues,” and Brand’s reaction was, “Anybody can do that. It’s just babbling incoherent nonsense.”
“But I’ve been doing it,” he added. And a question that Brand wanted to ask people was, “Do you think it’s ok to pray publicly?”
Is it okay to pray in public? SPEAKING IN TONGUES?! pic.twitter.com/6N5t88wqyj
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) November 25, 2024
Russell Brand: Is Praying in Tongues a ‘Private Thing’?
Russell Brand is an influencer, stand-up comedian, actor and former radio host who now hosts several podcasts, including one focused on spirituality and meditation. He is also a controversial figure who has been accused of spreading conspiracy theories and has received several allegations of rape and sexual assault. Brand has denied the allegations.
Brand is also an outspoken supporter of President-elect Donald Trump. Brand joined Tucker Carlson on Carlson’s live tour of the U.S. and appeared with psychologist and commentator Jordan Peterson at the Rescue the Republic rally in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Sept. 29.
The actor was baptized in the River Thames in April, has asked his followers where he should go to church, and has shared that he was reading the Bible and C.S. Lewis. Brand recently drew criticism for performing a baptism while wearing only a pair of tighty-whities.
RELATED: Russell Brand Continues To Baptize People Following Heavy Criticism for Doing So in His Underwear
Brand told his followers Monday that he knows some Eastern Orthodox believers who don’t support public prayer: “They say, ‘Stop it, you little show-off.’” The actor mentioned a passage in one of the gospels about not using prayer to try to get attention. In Matthew 6:5-8, Jesus says:
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Jesus then goes on to teach his disciples the Lord’s Prayer.
“But praying together, and preaching his Word, and bringing people together is so important,” Brand continued, saying that he loves to pray the St. Francis Prayer, which he then proceeded to quote.
