Lauryn Hill article: is she following a cult leader?

[smallprint]

Lauryn Hill's statements at the Vatican attacking the church may not have been Lauryn's words alone... she seems to have fallen under the spell of a cult-like figure named "Brother Anthony"...


" Around this time , Hill met a religious figure named Brother Anthony, a tall black man in his forties. Within three months she was going to Bible study with him two or three times a week. A friend says Brother Anthony taught Hill that "she should be whoever she wants to be, because she doesn't owe her fans anything. God didn't create us to be beholden unto people and entertain them. God holds us to be the people that we want to be."

The two became inseparable, and Hill began starting many of her sentences with the words, "Brother Anthony says . . . " Shortly after recording Unplugged, Hill told MTV Online, "I met someone who has an understanding of the Bible like no one else I ever met in my life. I just sat at feet and ingested pure Scripture for about a year." But Hill's friends found Brother Anthony bizarre. "His whole demeanor was real possessive, aggressive and crooked to me," a friend says. "You know how people are slick? He's a quick talker."

No one was certain what church he was from or what religion he belonged to. "I don't think he had a religion," a friend says. "I think he was more like, 'My interpretation of the Bible is the only interpretation of the Bible. I'm the only one on earth that knows the truth.'

...

Many believe Brother Anthony drove a wedge between Hill and the rest of the world. "It was like she was being brainwashed by this man," a friend says, "believing everything he was saying and tellin' her what to do." Another friend says, "I think he's just looking at a cash cow." "

http://ptrads.rollingstone.com/adsx/www.rollingstone.com/rdnews/features/coverstory/featuregen.asp/pid=1996@BottomRight;?

tipped off by this article at rickross.com: http://www.cultnews.com/

[SlavesandBulldozers]

1. talk about

talk about the "Mis-Education of Lauryn Hill." Poor girl. I never really dug her stuff but sounds like she needs Wyclef to give dat bumbaclot Brother Anthony a call.

[hlthe2b]

2. I think what she did at the Vatican was despiccable...

There is a right way and a wrong way to reform the Catholic Church or any other institution, and this was NOT the way.

You don't accept an invitation to appear at the Vatican, only to publically rage against all that your hosts represent.

I have to admit I've never like Lauren Hill, but regardless of explanation, she's got real problems.

[Dookus]

26. Was it despicable

when Eartha Kitt spoke out against the Vietnam War while visiting the White House? I think it was heroic. Damn near killed her career.

Speaking truth to power is never wrong.

[stickdog]

3. Damn! And I thought you were gonna say the deanvil made her do it. (nt)

[Isome]

4. Oh' blah!! Blah! Blah!!

Like most artists, Lauryn is a sensitive soul. Like most celebrities, she's in search of... Like other outspoken people, she doesn't give FUCK! Some people prefer phony smiles and disingenuous niceties that are acceptable in a duplicitous society, she decided not to play along. I like that.

I like Lauryn (what a great name, too). I love the Miseducation of Lauyrn Hill cd! It's full of consciousness and that tends to confuse people who are lacking a healthy conscience of their own.

Now, now how come your talk turn cold
Gained the whole world for the price of your soul
Tryin' to grab hold of what you can't control
Now you're all floss, what a sight to behold
...

Every man want to act like he's exempt
When him need to get down on his knees and repent
Can't slick talk on the day of judgement
Your movement's similiar to a serpent
...Consequence is no coincidence
Hypocrites always want to play innocent
...Always want to make it seem like a good intent
Never want to face it when it's time for punishment...
...But there come many paths and you must choose one
And if you don't change then the rain soon come ...

Now don't you understand man universal law
What you throw out comes back to you, star
Never underestimate those who you scar
Cause karma, karma, karma comes back to you hard
You can't hold GOD's people back that long
The chain of Shatan wasn't made that strong
Trying to pretend like your word is your bond
But until you do right all you do will go wrong...

[thebigidea]

5. I love the church vs. cult thing

of course, they're ALL the same... but its still fun to watch religious groups snipe at one another, each claiming to be the only TRUE way.

[Nlighten1]

6. The Pope is a leader of a cult.

So why disparage Ms. Hill if she follows a "cult" leader.

[thebigidea]

7. I was wondering when someone was going to say that

now this thread should blossom into an endless rambling babblefest about "hate speech" and the like.

POSTER ONE: "I'm a church! You're a cult!"

POSTER TWO: "No, you're a cult! I'm the church!"

POSTER THREE: "Fellas, relax. You're BOTH cults."

POSTER ONE & TWO: "Heretic! Unbeliever! Burn the witch!"

ME: "Ha ha ha."

[sujan]

10. That pretty much sums up the discussion

[frank frankly]

14. thanks, tbi

right on, my brother

"So, which cult are you in?" is a great way to start a conversation!

cults aplently...but what if they are ALL wrong? oops

[prolesunited]

24. That sums it up pretty well

LOL!

:hi:

[playahata1]

8. I wonder what Lauryn's companion, Rohan Marley --

son of you-know-who, and the father of her three children -- thinks about this. Rohan, like his father and siblings, is a Rastafarian -- and there are certain sects of Rastafari who believe that the Pope, and by extension, the Roman Catholic Church, is the Antichrist.

[DrWeird]

12. Please don't tell me this "cult" is rastafarianism.

Because even the catholic church recognizes the legitimacy of rastafarianism.

[playahata1]

15. I do not think that this "Brother Anthony" is a Rasta.

I tried to access the ROLLING STONE link that an earlier poster provided, but couldn't get in.

[smallprint]

17. sorry, try this link:

http://www.rollingstone.com/features/coverstory/featuregen.asp?pid=1996

[playahata1]

22. Thanks.

"Brother Anthony" is definitely NOT Rastafari. And I do think that Lauryn is more than a little confused. She needs to watch her back.

23. as Lee Perry sang...

the Pope is a baldhead
and Jah Jah is a natty dread

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Is there any reason why we should care about this?

I must admit that I've never even heard of Lauryn Hill and can't imagine why this story is in this forum. I imagine it to be on the same level as Britney Spears or Michael Jackson's sexual proclivities as a topic of concern. Who cares?

[Isome]

13. I dunno... it's a general topic...

It could turn into a dialogue about the varying perspectives: about religion, in the party, among ethnicities. Or, it could remain what thebigidea said, "you're cult, no you, nuh uhhhh, you are!!"


Who cares? Well, I'd guess that whomever has posted cares to some degree.

[smallprint]

16. Her statements were front-page news around the world.

And unlike Britney or Michael, she was making a deliberate political statement at a gathering of powerful people. That is why this story belongs here.

You may not know who she is, but millions of young people do and some look up to her as a role model.


edited for clarity

[Astarho]

28. You can learn a lot from Pop Culture

where or not you believe it meaningless (and I think a lot of it is)

The place of celebrities in society
Madonna's endorement of Clark is major news, eventhough there are others who know both Clark and World Affairs better, their endorsements do not carry as much weight.

Divide between rich and poor
Britney Spear's $45,000 shopping spree because she was depressed, meanwhile people who read about it grumbling about how that is a year's pay for them (or 2 years or in my case, 4 years)

In an interview, Michelle Branch talks about how she likes being the "other woman" and watching porn on the tour bus and Lauryn Hill blasts the pope at a concert at the Vatican. One statement trivial the other profound, but both show that tact, restraint or just a sense of timing are vanishing ideals in our culture.

Lauryn Hill, while I think her statements could have been timed better, was at least speaking out against what she saw as an injustice, so I can't fault her for that.

But of course we love a good scandal too, and it doesn't get anymore 'good scandal' than "celebrity under some kind of cultish mind-control"

When you can see the bigger picture, there is plenty more you can learn from pretty much any news about celebrities, sometimes entertaining, usually frightening.

[Clark Can WIN]

11. Substitute "brother Howard" and..........................

......................oh, nevermind.

[Khephra]

18. Am I dreaming or am I back on the elementary school playground?

Nope, just another day at DU and another Dean/Cultist remark. Nothing new to see here. Move along....

[thebigidea]

19. thank goodness for the ignore feature

I never had to use it before... Hell, I even ENJOYED getting pissed off by Jiacinto. But these ridiculous candidate wars, geez... hopefully I can take 'em all off ignore after the primaries.

[jonnyblitz]

27. par for course for them.

I just was in another thread where a Clarkie called Dean supporters sheeple. Apparently Clark supporters are just "enthusiastic".

[frank frankly]

21. fabulous response! even better, SEXY response!

love the picture of you, Clark Can WIN. it makes reading your words all the more educational.

glad to hear some more of your words on the important issue of the Howard Dean Cult. you'll beat this cult, yet! fight on, sexy soldier! you can WIN and look sharp as a tack doing it.

thanks for your time

peace out

[Loonman]

20. I like her CDs, too bad she has no class

Shame.

[Dookus]

25. and yet...

if she'd been inviteed to the White House and condemned Bush while there, she'd be the new hero of DU.

Speaking truth to power is a good thing, whether it's done in Washington D.C. or the Vatican.

Good on ya, Lauryn!

[Isome]

29. Good on YOU Dookus! n/t