The British entrepreneur is well known for being the billionaire tycoon that owns Virgin. For those of us who are interested in knowing more about Branson, one possible question is in regard to what religion he is.
Although he does not have a dislike of any particular religion, Richard Branson follows none himself as he is a self-proclaimed atheist, stating multiple times across a variety of different interviews that he does not believe in a god.
Even though Branson has stated that he isn’t religious, he has mused on the fact that he would not only be open to being convinced about the existence of a god but even “delighted” by the fact. The closest thing that Branson would appear to have to a religion is his humanitarianism, which he is dedicated to.
Branson’s Opinion on Religion
Although it’s not a topic that you will find the billionaire talking about too often, there have been occasions where he has been pressed into speaking about it, as in the Piers Morgan interview that took place.
In the interview, Morgan, and Branson have a quick discussion about the possibility of God existing and to what extent God may have been intervening in the range of fortunes and mishaps that Branson had been publically subjected to. Branson finds the subject amusing in the interview, commenting on the fact that he wasn’t sure if the possibility of a god in those situations meant that god was being kind to him or punishing him in the variety of life-threatening experiences he has had.
Branson mainly focuses on his interest in evolution with regard to the subject of his lack of religion. He touches on being interested in saving various different animals before coming to a final point with the fact that he is essentially a humanitarian at heart. He drives this home, expressing that he loves people and that regardless of if he is persuaded of one particular religion over another, that will always be his main focus.
All of his personal opinions aside, Branson remains respectful of the question whenever asked, never dismissing the possibility that one day the right person may be able to convince him. During an interview with Mayumi Yoshinari on the meaning of life, upon the mention of religion he even mentions that if anyone were to be the one to accomplish that task, it could be somebody like Archbishop Tutu, of The Elders.
In the end, Branson remains stalwart in his atheism, quoting multiple times during the aforementioned interview that he believes in evolution and science, rather than religion.
Branson’s Humanitarian Work
As demonstrated in his various comments about the issue, whereas organized religion is not what appeals to him, he instead chooses to focus on his love of people, rather than a love of God. This is apparent when you look at Branson’s vast body of humanitarian work, ranging across multiple spheres of interest and often relating closely to what is currently going on in the world, as Branson is often known to have his finger on the pulse when it comes to trending topics.
His attempts to further these humanitarian efforts have proven incredibly fruitful, such as The Elders, his effort to assist in the assembling of a global initiative aimed at tackling complex conflicts in a multitude of different countries. This was an initiative he helped in forming through his non-profit organization Virgin Unite, with the assistance of well-known philanthropist and political activist Nelson Mandella, who agreed to assume the role of the founder. This is an area that Branson has always been particularly interested in when it comes to his charity work, often being an outspoken critic of countries that enact potential injustices against their people or put laws in place that jeopardize the freedom and liberties of those they govern over.
A topic that’s definitely in his wheelhouse, Branson has long been an advocate for entrepreneurship and young entrepreneurs, in particular, setting up foundations to help assist those who would have otherwise not had the opportunity to successfully pursue their dreams.
Further amplifying his apparent love of his humanitarian work, Branson pledged half of his billions to an initiative called the Giving Pledge. In his thoughts on the donation, Branson expressed a sentiment that he had reiterated in his talks on religion and his work as a humanitarian: It’s family, friends, and making a difference that truly matters.