We’re all very aware of the colorful language that Gordan Ramsay uses from time to time. Or, most of the time. He’s also been known to bend his morals a bit in other ways too. Where does this fit in with his faith? Is Gordon Ramsay religious? Is he Christian?
Yes – Gordon Ramsay is religious – he’s a Christian. He may not attend church on a regular basis, or follow what some may believe are Christian values due to his swearing and other antics. None the less, he identifies as a Christian who believes in God.
Not only does he identify as a Christian, but more specifically, a Protestant. As he’s not Catholic he is probably either Anglican, or a member of the Church of Scotland, since he’s British.
Food as a Religion
Ramsay only go to church six times a year, and he describes his faith as a private, quiet faith. I think his main religion is food. The way he operates in the kitchen, and when he’s describing food, it looks like a religious experience for him.
Everything he touches turns to gold, especially his restaurants as he has a total of 16 Michelin Stars, three of which belong to his restaurant Gordon Ramsay, the longest-reigning restaurant in London to receive three.
Turning to God
Ramsay has admitted to praying when word came that one of his children had a hole in his heart. He said it was due to an act of desperation.
Another time he may have turned to God was when he was cornered by poachers in Costa Rica, doused with gasoline and held at gunpoint. Even if you weren’t religious before, an experience like that could make anyone turn to God, and start praying.
Philanthropy
While God may not approve of the plastic film over the license plate while speeding in the middle of the night, one thing that Ramsay does in which God would most definitely approve is his philanthropy.
Ramsay, and his wife Tana, have supported many charities and causes over the years. Some of their biggest contributions have gone to the Great Ormond Street Hospital, Scottish Spina Bifida, and the foundation the couple lead, aptly named the Gordon Ramsay Foundation.
The Gordon Ramsay Foundation supports Cancer Research UK and Action Against Hunger. Ramsay is also a big supporter of women’s issues, including violence against women and human trafficking.
Another area that has received his attention, and he’s even filmed shows for it, is poaching and cruelty to animals. He is a meat-eater, and has no problem with that, but he does want the sources of his products to be reputable and humane.
PETA has gone on to support Ramsay’s choice to air uncensored footage of animals in the slaughterhouse. He believes it’s important that the animals are treated with the utmost respect throughout their entire journey from farm to table.
He has also gone on to expose the shark fin trade in Costa Rica. Again, he believes that animals should be treated with respect. Cutting fins off of live sharks, and then tossing the rest of the shark, does not fall under this category.
Religious Definition
According to Merriam-Webster, leaders in definitions since 1828, religious is defined as “relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity”. For different people, that deity may be different, then Christians belief in God.
Still, others may feel that, to them, religion is something different altogether. Not all belief systems revolve around a deity, for some, it is just enough to have faith in faith itself, while not looking too deeply into the origin of that faith.
There is no right or wrong way to be religious or a Christian. Ramsay believes in God, and feels it’s important to pass down religious faith to his children. It doesn’t matter how many times a year someone prays.