The unlikely Christian conversion of Russell Brand

Questioning the sincerity of a fellow Christian’s faith is a big no-no. It would be wrong, then, to doubt the sincerity of Russell Brand’s Christianity, just as it would be wrong to pour scorn on the boy who broke out of Sunday school into the main church during the sermon, shouting of his joyful discovery that Jesus was his best friend. Young Christians like that need some helpful shepherding in the virtues of silence, not condemnation.

Brand, who last year faced a string of allegations over his treatment of women (which he denies), revealed in April that he had been baptised as a Christian in the River Thames. In recent weeks, the comedian-turned-YouTube-star-turned-evangelist has been increasingly vocal about his recently-acquired faith, including on Tucker Carlson’s show. Carlson treated him as a significant spiritual figure, and Brand did not seem entirely resistant to such a depiction.