Wednesday, August 20, 2014

A 1963 interview with Frank Sinatra about his lack of faith. I had no idea.

So I was on Reddit the other day looking around and I found that somebody had posted this amazing interview with Frank Sinatra from way back in 1963.

Do yourself a favor a take a moment to read it. Playboy: All right, let's start with the most basic question there is:  

Playboy: Are you a religious man? Do you believe in God? 

Sinatra: Well, that'll do for openers. I think I can sum up my religious feelings in a couple of paragraphs. First: I believe in you and me. I'm like Albert Schweitzer and Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein in that I have a respect for life -- in any form. I believe in nature, in the birds, the sea, the sky, in everything I can see or that there is real evidence for. If these things are what you mean by God, then I believe in God. But I don't believe in a personal God to whom I look for comfort or for a natural on the next roll of the dice. I'm not unmindful of man's seeming need for faith; I'm for anything that gets you through the night, be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniel's. But to me religion is a deeply personal thing in which man and God go it alone together, without the witch doctor in the middle. The witch doctor tries to convince us that we have to ask God for help, to spell out to him what we need, even to bribe him with prayer or cash on the line. Well, I believe that God knows what each of us wants and needs. It's not necessary for us to make it to church on Sunday to reach Him. You can find Him anyplace. And if that sounds heretical, my source is pretty good: Matthew, Five to Seven, The Sermon on the Mount. 

Playboy: You haven't found any answers for yourself in organized religion? 

Sinatra: There are things about organized religion which I resent. Christ is revered as the Prince of Peace, but more blood has been shed in His name than any other figure in history. You show me one step forward in the name of religion and I'll show you a hundred retrogressions. Remember, they were men of God who destroyed the educational treasures at Alexandria, who perpetrated the Inquisition in Spain, who burned the witches at Salem. Over 25,000 organized religions flourish on this planet, but the followers of each think all the others are miserably misguided and probably evil as well. In India they worship white cows, monkeys and a dip in the Ganges. The Moslems accept slavery and prepare for Allah, who promises wine and revirginated women. And witch doctors aren't just in Africa. If you look in the L.A. papers of a Sunday morning, you'll see the local variety advertising their wares like suits with two pairs of pants. Playboy: Hasn't religious faith just as often served as a civilizing influence? Sinatra: Remember that leering, cursing lynch mob in Little Rock reviling a meek, innocent little 12-year-old Negro girl as she tried to enroll in public school? Weren't they -- or most of them -- devout churchgoers? I detest the two-faced who pretend liberality but are practiced bigots in their own mean little spheres. I didn't tell my daughter whom to marry, but I'd have broken her back if she had had big eyes for a bigot. As I see it, man is a product of his conditioning, and the social forces which mold his morality and conduct -- including racial prejudice -- are influenced more by material things like food and economic necessities than by the fear and awe and bigotry generated by the high priests of commercialized superstition. Now don't get me wrong. I'm for decency -- period. I'm for anything and everything that bodes love and consideration for my fellow man. But when lip service to some mysterious deity permits bestiality on Wednesday and absolution on Sunday -- cash me out. 

Playboy: But aren't such spiritual hypocrites in a minority? Aren't most Americans fairly consistent in their conduct within the precepts of religious doctrine? 

Sinatra: I've got no quarrel with men of decency at any level. But I can't believe that decency stems only from religion. And I can't help wondering how many public figures make avowals of religious faith to maintain an aura of respectability. Our civilization, such as it is, was shaped by religion, and the men who aspire to public office anyplace in the free world must make obeisance to God or risk immediate opprobrium. Our press accurately reflects the religious nature of our society, but you'll notice that it also carries the articles and advertisements of astrology and hokey Elmer Gantry revivalists. We in America pride ourselves on freedom of the press, but every day I see, and so do you, this kind of dishonesty and distortion not only in this area but in reporting -- about guys like me, for instance, which is of minor importance except to me; but also in reporting world news. How can a free people make decisions without facts? If the press reports world news as they report about me, we're in trouble. 

Playboy: Are you saying that . . . 

Sinatra: No, wait, let me finish. Have you thought of the chance I'm taking by speaking out this way? Can you imagine the deluge of crank letters, curses, threats and obscenities I'll receive after these remarks gain general circulation? Worse, the boycott of my records, my films, maybe a picket line at my opening at the Sands. Why? Because I've dared to say that love and decency are not necessarily concomitants of religious fervor. 

Playboy: If you think you're stepping over the line, offending your public or perhaps risking economic suicide, shall we cut this off now, erase the tape and start over along more antiseptic lines? 

Sinatra: No, let's let it run. I've thought this way for years, ached to say these things. Whom have I harmed by what I've said? What moral defection have I suggested? No, I don't want to chicken out now. Come on, pal, the clock's running.

Okay that almost literally blew my socks off.

Here is, at that time, just about the biggest name in show business, openly discussing his lack of faith and his disgust with organized religions.  

And the thing is he KNEW the risk he was taking by speaking out this way. The interviewer even offers him the chance to start the interview over and leave the part out that might cost him his career, but his response was "No, I don;t want to chicken out."

My admiration for this man just went through the roof.

(Here is another source.)

92 comments:

  1. Mr Sinatra, I couldn't have said it better myself. Is there a god? I don't know, and won't know until after I leave this world.

    His ideas on religion are exactly the same as my own. I live in NC - in the heart of Billy Graham country and have used some of the same arguments with my friends down here. The atrocities carried out in the name of religion are disgusting and broadcast to all just how hypocritical religious people can be. Are all religious people hypocrites - NO! - but it seems that the only one's you hear from are. I applaud the people who go through life quietly practicing their faith. It's the one's who seem to shout it from the roof tops - while they have their hands in the collection plates - that managed to turn this good Irish Roman Catholic girl away from the church.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:59 AM

      Well, you won't "know" anything after you leave this world because your brain and senses will have ceased to function. Use them while you can.

      Delete
    2. Sinatra just went up fifty points !

      Delete
  2. The sentiments expressed are impressive, commendable and incredibly well expressed for a spontaneous interview with a man lacking any formal education. Perhaps a bit too well expressed.

    According to several comments on the official Sinatra website forum, the questions were supplied to Frank in advance and answered by a professional writer.

    http://sinatrafamily.com/forum/showthread.php/29275-Frank-Sinatra-s-1963-Playboy-Magazine-Interview

    Doesn't diminish the courage it took to go on record as something of a non-believer fifty years ago, but it's reasonable to assume that we're not reading his off-the-cuff remarks as the tone of the article would have us believe.

    Very disappointed in Playboy for this cynical deception. What's next? Airbrushed nudes in the centerfold?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:51 AM

      Agreed. That is not "off the cuff".

      Also, he's the guy who sent mia farrow divorce papers while she was On Set of Rosemarys Baby.

      Then he cheated on his wife with Mia and had Rolan Farrow.


      Never, ever believe in a celebrity.
      They really do live differently.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous9:09 AM

      "opprobrium"? Oh come on! You be Frank; I'll be Ava.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:11 AM

      I don't know if it was common practice back then, but it was not the first time Playboy interviews followed the 'prewritten' question format and I don't think this is how Sinatra actually spoke. Vladimir Nabokov's Playboy interview was pre-written questions--with him supplying written answers, the reason being he felt his written English much stronger than his spoken. It has a similar, non-spontaneous tone.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous5:08 AM

    Wow, what an astonishing interview!

    ReplyDelete
  4. johnie2xs5:15 AM

    Growing up as an Italian-American in the 50's and 60's, three revered names in our household (instilled by my Father), were Sinatra, DiMaggio, and Marciano. This was not at the exclusion of all others, but they were for sure inspirational icons to be appreciated and to bolster our pride of heritage.
    I, like you Gryph, knew not of this interview, but again, like you, my respect for this man has been immensely increased.
    Thank you very much for this posting.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous5:24 AM

    Thanks for posting this interview. The lynch mobs he referred to are alive and well today as we have witnessed when busloads of Central American child refugees have been forced to turn around.

    For BJC at 5:02AM, who cares if Sinatra had time to think out his responses. Receiving the questions in advance of an interview is standard procedure. It gives the interviewee an opportunity to organize their thoughts. I don't have a problem with that.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:51 AM

      Agree.

      Delete
    2. And having a professional writer form your thought?
      Disingenuous.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous5:33 AM

    Mia Farrow loved him for a reason. Remember he was best friends with a Black man long before it was socially acceptable. Frances Albert will always be THE MAN.

    TexasMel

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:52 AM

      Apparently he had a huge penis.

      That keeps the girls coming to the yard. ..

      Delete
    2. Anita Winecooler3:59 PM

      I wonder what she saw in Woody Allen?

      Delete
    3. Jazzysal@sbcglobal.net9:37 AM

      If it was that, they all left faster than they stayed!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:25 AM

      I always have loved this man, and love him more now that I see just how honest he is about living. His music will live forever as the best singer of lyrics ever.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous5:41 AM

    Temper your admiration for Sinatra with some knowledge about him. In more ways than not, he was a major asshole who, despite the high-flying words in this interview (which definitely were not spontaneous nor did they originate with the crude Sinatra, although they went out under his name), treated the people closest to him like dog crap on his shoe. The only thing in this interview that sounds native to Sinatra is the threat to break his daughter's back, which was a really evil thing to say even in the context in which he used it.

    Still, I agree that it is still an amazing interview, and whoever really answered the questions for Sinatra was very articulate, and deserves credit. Sinatra does deserve credit too of course, but I can't get past my distaste for his personal assholiness.

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    1. Anonymous6:21 AM

      Co-sign.

      I absolutely noticed "break her back".

      Um, wtf kind of thing is that to say? ?

      A story: he invited JFK to his house and had a runway built just for Air Force One.

      JFK had to cancel.

      Sinatra literally took a sledge hammer to the runway because he was so mad.

      What a psycho!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous6:26 AM

      Agreed. While I was impressed with the GRE words and completely on board with the general sentiment, the Frank Sinatra I remember was a thuggish, arrogant bully. I've never liked his music because of it.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous6:55 AM

      Hey Anonymouse,

      How do you know he was an asshole. Let me guess…you read about it. You act like you knew him personally.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous5:50 AM

    Yes, amazing. I have never seen another interview with Frank where he uses this style of speaking. "Opprobrium" just doesn't sound like Sinatra. I am betting these are his views, but something seems fishy here,

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  9. Anonymous5:51 AM

    Well, DAMN! I wish I'd read that Playboy article back in 1963.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anita Winecooler3:51 PM

      It's a shame Playboy had such a bad reputation, there were and are some very interesting articles covering almost any topic of interest around the world.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous6:10 AM

    Sinatra was a royal asshole of the highest order but I have to give the man props for putting it out there and risking his career. As a previous reader just mentioned, the author of the article likely had a huge hand in editing this piece to craft the ideas in a more intellectual manner but the bottom line is it reflects Sinatra's thoughts and he risked much by putting it out there.

    Sheesh

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:03 AM

      Actually, you are the royal asshole. He was a very talented man with a unique voice and unmatched tone and delivery.

      Delete
    2. Actually, even talented people with nice voices can be royal assholes.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous6:43 AM

    Very impressive, not just a pretty face, but smart too. And the whole interview shows that the more things change, the more they stay the same. This could have been written yesterday. He may have been an asshole, but not a hypocritical one.

    MurkyWaters

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  12. Anonymous8:08 AM

    I wonder if this interview contributed to the hatred directed at Sinatra's pal, JFK.

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  13. Anonymous8:22 AM

    Not only did he have a golden voice, he also had a superlative vocabulary and a facile mind.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:44 AM

      It's already been established that this was ghost written.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:51 AM

      It has been speculated about, not "established." Have you heard other Sinatra interviews? He spoke elegantly with an elegant turn of phrase. If he prepared his remarks in advance or sought help from a professional writer in order to be as articulate as possible about this weighty subject, why would that not be as conscientious on his part? The thoughts are clearly his

      Delete
  14. Anonymous12:02 PM

    Wow, I personally never liked his singing, but you gotta admit that he was extremely intelligent and brave. Awesome article!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:53 PM

      You must be tone deaf.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous2:37 PM

    What a sharp guy! Had no clue! Loved his voice and have many, many of his records and CD's.

    Very well said, Mr. Frank Sinatra!!! Wasn't he raised Catholic?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:06 AM

      I was raised Catholic and share the same views. Too many hypocrites exist in organized religions, Catholic and all others.

      Delete
  16. This was great. I like that Sinatra recognizes the social conditioning of organized religion. And even the interviewer tries to steer back to this conditioning, but Sinatra won't back down, even though he knows there will be consequences.

    I've read other Sinatra quotes. He has such a way with words. So much character and wisdom here.

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  17. Anita Winecooler3:57 PM

    I think I was the only card carrying first generation Italian American who couldn't stand his voice nor singing style, but this article is amazing, not only for it's content, but for exposing the truth about religions and the media. Brave move on his part, considering J Edgar Hoover and the rumors that Frank was part of organized crime because all them eyetalians from hoboken belong.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:23 PM

      no, you weren't the only one! my late father, a Juilliard graduate, classical music professor and first-gen I-A could never stand sinatra or understand his appeal. he disparagingly referred to him as a mere "crooner", not any kind of real singer at all.

      Delete
    2. The "would break her back" is just an old exaggerate emphatic expression, just a way of saying , like when people say "I'll kill her" about a daughter or son or partner, for having done something wrong , but they'd never actually even think of hurting them. Sinatra was certainly not an easy person to deal with all the time, and he may have been some of the bad things some people said here, but he was straighforward and sincere,could be very generous, and certainly he was not a hypocrit so there was integrity in his persona. And he a great and unique artist, of course. There are many books written on him, anybody can form their opinion - unless if course one knew him personally well enough, which is better. He remains one of my musical heroes.

      Delete
  18. ibwilliamsi3:58 PM

    I remember when he did this. (Yes, I'm that old.) He took a lot of heat for it.

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  19. Our Lad4:54 PM

    I know a lot about Frank Sinatra, this doesn't surprise me at all. Gotta be smart to read a lyric the way he did.

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  20. Anonymous7:11 PM

    I had no idea he was such a deep thinker...and smart. Very brave of him.

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  21. Sinatra's belief in nature is along the lines of how I see things too. Nature, earth, the galaxy... that is the higher power. It should be admired, learned from, offer humility, all those things that God provides. To follow God is to keep yourself in harmony and accord with nature. That's it. The Chairman knew the way...

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  22. Anonymous4:33 PM

    Staged as mentioned above many times and I'll add poorly written. He begins by denying a personal God but then proceeds to address God as Him and He. If Sinatra or the writer really felt that God and nature were the same, then why address God in the male personal pronoun? Jesus hated organized religion and hypocrisy and called it out even to His own detriment. Its a shame that Sinatra let others do his writing and thinking. He should have done the research himself.

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    Replies
    1. If I mention a fictional character by a pronoun does that mean I believe he/she really exists? The religious often use the specious argument that non-believers have to argue their case against deities without actually referring to them.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous5:07 AM

    Sinatra and his henchmen.......woe betide you cross him.......he would have you crucified......in the name of his religion....hypocricritelgion.........

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  24. Anonymous6:14 AM

    Now that he told the bad side of religion he should tell the good side of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He did touch on that on the interview, noting that he could give a hundred counter-examples for every example.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:08 AM

      Spirituality is the best and most honest belief system, not organized, fake religions.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:04 PM

      The good side of religion?? And that would be... ??

      Delete
  25. Sinatra was an excellent musician, a real star of popular culture, and an intelligent, charismatic man who often polarized opinion about him. These remarks may well have been revised and expanded on after an initial interview. So what? I can relate to expressing myself that way. I respect the courage it took to express such views at that time. If he wasn't "always nice" to everyone around him or calm-headed in every situation, the same could be said of most people in the public eye.

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  26. Anonymous7:26 AM

    Who knew there were words in playboy?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:59 PM

      Haven't you ever heard "I read Playboy for the articles"?

      Delete
  27. Anonymous7:32 AM

    He had the COJONES unlike many others in the entertainment industry who i'm sure felt the same way but never spoke as he did....I have always been a fan but after this interview, I respect and admire more!!! Good for you Blue Eyes!!!

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  28. Larry the Pell8:34 AM

    If he said he was religious, you'd be making hay out of his mob connections.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous8:53 AM

    If someone else wrote this for him, a good guess would be some Guys and Dolls fanatic. The expressions are all the same. It felt like I was reading Sky Masterson's lines.

    ReplyDelete
  30. As a writer, the answers are too perfect and well constructed on a grammatical level and don't "read" as if they were spoken spontaneously. That said, if those are his beliefs, which I believe they are because he allowed it to be published, I have new-found respect for this guy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:04 PM

      Couldn't have said it better. Thx

      Delete
  31. As a writer, the answers are too perfect and well constructed on a grammatical level and don't "read" as if they were spoken spontaneously. That said, if those are his beliefs, which I believe they are because he allowed it to be published, I have new-found respect for this guy.

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  32. Anonymous11:50 AM

    Not really controversial at that time. Don't forget the cover of LIFE magazine: GOD IS DEAD. Remember that?

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous2:01 PM

    50 years later - if a pop star expressed a belief in Christianity it would be the end of their career (though any other beliefs are acceptable).

    We sometimes see. what we want to see and interpret what we want to hear. I can only see words portraying Sinatra being critical of hypocrites and biggots. He communicates a knowledge and respect ffor the Bible but not organised religion.

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  34. Anonymous5:24 AM

    He can not be real, and taken as his true beliefs, he was a mobster, if he doesn't like someone they better watch there backs!!

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  35. He did it his way.....

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  36. Anonymous7:29 AM

    My cat's name is mittens

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  37. Anonymous8:53 AM

    Very interesting in that this totally contradicts Ava Gardner's claims that Frank was often "too Catholic", or ascribed many of their differences to his Catholic beliefs. Perhaps she was lying or he was just drunk during the interview. Anyhow, the Chairman of the Board apparently changed later in life when he repudiated his new deal roots, left the Democrats, secured an annulment, remarried and began attending Mass again.

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  38. When I read the word "concomitant", I started to get suspicious. Of course, many interviews like this today are pre-written, with the interviewee given the time to formulate the expression of their own thoughts and opinions, and they make no pretense of being otherwise.

    But I wouldn't be too quick to herald this as a discovery of the real man. Playboy in those days was a very different publication, and appealed to open-minded left-leaning modern men. It made "smut" respectable by giving it beautiful photography and graphic design, and featuring with it the work of many great literary figures of the day. In spite of which, it was considered morally reprehensible to even pick it up. The old joke was "I look at Playboy, but just for the articles."

    I wouldn't put it past old blue-eyes to have commisioned a piece to sell a concocted radical image of himself to this demographic. No one outside of that demo would squawk - that would mean they were reading Playboy!

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  39. Anonymous7:33 AM

    As A pro. musician, over 50 years, I know much of the negative stuff is big time B S. Frank was not perfect but who is?
    The very best!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Anonymous8:11 AM

    He was an artist who expanded his profile and expression into film therefore required an expansion of words to articulate his new craft, he always had total control of what went out into the media..'give me a beat'.."give me a word".."give me the light" give me the spot the look the show....nothing but the best etc..he knew how to handle his support people..Playboy was very into Intellectualism of their brand @ that time and highbrowed the performing arts as part of their strategy. .it had gravitas and influence @ the highest level..he was not alone..the 60's where awash with outrageous everythings..he didn't want to be "square or old hat" he picked up alot from Bing..about accumulating new audience and fan base & longtivity in the biz..pure survival. .a bit like that thing called..religion? ?

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  41. Anonymous11:17 PM

    Does it really matter now..he's gone and no matter how good or bad the interview was.. This is pointless now that he's dead, like really what has this accomplished. Rip Frank!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Anonymous2:20 AM

    A really fantastic conversation on a Playboy interwiev. I am a dane (denmark) . I am proud of the Americans(US) They have given me the Jazz- music & Playboy. I admit: In 1963 I only looked at the naked girls in Playboy Magasine. To read "The Candid Conversations" directed by Hugh Hefner himself was too complicated. When I read the Frank Sinatra interwiev my first thought was that he was more clever than..... But now when I think back to the sixties - The "Candid Coversations" in "Playboy" were constructed. He was smart Hugh - Leif

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  43. Anonymous6:32 AM

    Let's not forget that Frank was a great entainer with strong ties to the Mob who to do what they do have to disavow a personal God like many they do not want to be accountable for their own Sin .....As far bad things done in the name of God there are those who use faith to accomplish their own agenda not Gods there is a huge difference between what sinful men and women do and Gods word

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What you continually fail to understand, is your fear of the unknown, which is a physical tenet of life, and that your view of the reality is in your mind and, no one else can see in your mind. (unless you believe otherwise) You ARE a product of your environment and time. The problem is that you are afraid (as am I) and, seek out others of your general view, for the comfort of your Being. Life is a complex challenge to survive, (again a physical tenet of life) and you believe, through association of others of your view, that yours, is the only possible correct view of life. I in my mind, and for the comfort of my Being, seek out those of my general view of reality, which may be completely different than yours but, that meet the same general outlook of reality, but using different methods and means to accomplish the same ending, to have a happy, healthy, and lengthy life and to pass on to our progeny an easier and further insightful state of Being.

      Religious belief in my view of reality, is a barrier to an easier and further insightful progeny. In my view, humanity is at war with religion itself and as I see it, fear of the unknown. In short, You can believe what you want, but please don't impose your view over mine. Because it is unknowable, there's no knowing who has the "right" view.

      Delete
  44. Anonymous4:08 PM

    Amazing so many claim to have so much knowledge about a private man. I will continue to base my opinion of him upon his friendships, the loyalty that he showed those friends and the manner in which they spoke of him. Was he a perfectionist? By all account yes. That does not make him an asshole, he knew what and how he wanted things done and if you didn't want to follow the rules .. out... That is not being an asshole, that is having standards.

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  45. Anonymous11:41 PM

    Weird, and to think he said he wanted to punch Sinead O'Connor for tearing up the picture of the Pope and denouncing sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. A scandal that took 10 more years to break in the US and 19 in Europe.

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  46. Anonymous3:03 PM

    Break her back is idiomatic or slang for giving her a hard time. From where he grew up.

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  47. Anonymous6:04 PM

    Here's a story.
    Frank Sinatra died and went to Heaven. He is summoned by God himself. God says to Frank, "What happened?" Frank starts to tell God how he died. God interrupts him, " No you were the one.....well actually number two. You Frank, were the second coming of Christ."

    You finish the story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:04 PM

      Kudos!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous1:55 PM

      "Sorry pop, I did it my way."

      Delete
  48. Anonymous4:21 AM

    My how things would change dramatically in his life within 15 years of this interview. Frank Sinatra married Barbara Marx, Harpo's widow. Barbara Marx was a devout Catholic. Frank Sinatra became one as well in the last 10 years of his life. His funeral was at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Beverly Hills on May 20, 1998. He is buried at Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, CA.

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  49. An interesting interview which reflects my own humble opinion on the subject of religion. The point of whether it was Frank Sinatra or a ghost-writer who wrote the responses is an almost irrelevant point owing to the fact it is Frank Sinatra's name on the top, and therefore Frank Sinatra who would suffer any backlash.

    I love the fact that most of the comments that belittle Sinatra, his personality, music and opinions are written by 'Anonymous', that wonderful online scapegoat for the assholes who love to share their opinions with 'the world', provided they don't have to also share their real names. Wankers.

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  50. Actors:best paid liars. We all lie. They get paid dramatically well. He has a right to his opinions. Why would they make a difference in whether anyone be lives or doesn't believe in Him? I like his talents they are not affecting my beliefs, however. Those are between GOD and myself.

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  51. Anonymous2:09 PM

    Spot on.

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  52. The day I rely on Celebrity to reinforce or dispute any belief I may or may not have in a Religion will be the day Hell freezes over! If I am to be lectured on morality I would sooner the words come from the mouth of a child!

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  53. In addition to "opprobrium"....I also liked "concomitant".

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  54. Anonymous12:54 PM

    I admired the man and loved his music. BTW, did you notice the microphone in the photo is kept together with tape??

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  55. I don't think it is lack of faith here or not believing in God. I believe he is stating. He does not abide with religion. That to have a relationship with our creator or higher spiritual being doesn't have to be in a church and it is for one'side own personal judgment or practice. I agree. I used to portray to be Christian. I now saw spiritual. I have a far better one on one relationship with God. I do believe in christ. I do agree much bloodshed has been on his name. That isn't his fault. Religious freaks. I now read Torah to find truth in bible, when compared they are so different. Shows how man has adjusted it to there interpretation. Leads many astray. I believe Frank Sinatra spoke truth and personal opinion. I applaud his honesty. I hope he wasn't criticized for this article. We are all entitled to our in thoughts and opinions.

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  56. He was all over the map with his beliefs. He'd big talk like that but then it was important to him that he was a Catholic. Took a tremendous amount of time trouble begging and money to get an official annulment from the church after divorce. Most people just shrug it off unless they want to stay within the lines of Catholicism. He'd do a lot of stuff like that.

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  57. While many people would argue that religion has a positive impact on the lives of those around them, such as through charity, Frank Sinatra argued against this notion. He believed that some of the greatest crimes in history have been perpetrated by people under the guise of following a religion. The most noted indiscretions that he mentioned were slavery, racism, and other forms of bigotry, excluding the religious battles that resulted in deaths around the world.

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  58. Absolutely great commentary. Keep it coming. And thanks.

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