Presidential Candidate Drops Faith Bombshell
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently addressed and refuted claims that he was ever an atheist during an interview with conservative commentator Eric Metaxas on “Socrates in the City.” Kennedy clarified that while he never lacked belief in God, he did go through a period where he pretended to have faith until he genuinely became a believer.
Kennedy, 70, who comes from a prominent Catholic family, recounted his religious upbringing, including frequent church attendance and daily prayers. Despite this strong foundation, he faced significant personal challenges after his father’s assassination in 1968, leading to a heroin addiction at the age of 15. Kennedy explained that addiction distanced him from his faith, as living against his conscience pushed thoughts of God to the background.
In 1983, Kennedy began his journey to sobriety and found guidance in Carl Jung’s book “Synchronicity.” Jung’s insights into how religious belief could aid in addiction recovery resonated with him. Determined to overcome his addiction, Kennedy decided to adopt a belief in God, even if initially it was more intellectual than heartfelt. He embraced Jung’s philosophy of “fake it till you make it,” acting as if God was real in his daily life until he began to genuinely believe.
Kennedy shared that this approach eventually led to a sincere faith. When asked if he was still pretending, he affirmed that he no longer needed to fake his belief, as his experiences had solidified his conviction in God’s existence. Kennedy concluded by echoing Jung’s perspective that evidence of God becomes apparent through continued faith and practice.