Fonda distances herself from 'fundamentalists' 'Feminist Christian' regards Bible as 'metaphor'
Posted: May 14, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
Actress Jane Fonda, whose conversion to Christianity was first reported by WND in 2000, distanced herself from "fundamentalists" in a recent interview, saying she regards the Bible as a metaphor, reads extra-biblical gospels and is still searching for a church.
Fonda explained to New York Post columnist Liz Smith that she's a "feminist Christian," distinguished from fundamentalists.
"I don't want to offend anyone," Fonda said. "But I believe people have different ways of approaching The Word. For me, it's metaphor, written by people a long time after Christ died. And interpreted by specific groups. I read the gospels that aren't included in the Bible. These make me feel good about calling myself a Christian. What we are seeing today are policymakers who say they're Christians."
Fonda said she sees a "separation between professed faith and the practice" among politicians in Washington, arguing that budgets, war, poverty and health care are religious issues.
But Fonda expressed an appreciation for the nation's first couple.
"I was at the White House correspondents' dinner the other night, and Laura Bush was really funny. Her approval rating is way up, as it should be," Fonda said.
Smith asked Fonda, "Did you see the president's press conference before that; I thought he was floundering."
Fonda replied: "No, I thought he was very impressive. I don't know him, but I have always thought if I were alone in a room with him, I would really like him."
As WorldNetDaily reported, the separation between Fonda and media mogul Ted Turner five years ago was prompted in part by Fonda's stunning embrace of "born-again" evangelical Christianity, according to sources close to the couple.
Friends said the path of Fonda's spiritual conversion began two years before when her chauffeur began witnessing to the actress about his faith in Jesus Christ. At first, Fonda was reportedly troubled by those conversations. Later, she began to welcome them and attend church with her chauffeur.
An insider said at the time, "Her faith is very real, very deep. Of course, with any celebrity conversion, the pressures can be enormous, But she is serious about her faith and regularly attends Bible study and church."