Latest news with #Jehovah'sWitness
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Our love is frowned upon, but we push through': Navigating religion and relationships
It was love at first sight for Adarsh Ramchurn. "I couldn't control it," he says of his flourishing affection for Nav Sangha. But their relationship is "frowned upon" by some in their communities, they say, as Adarsh is Hindu and Nav is Sikh. They've been an item for three years and say they receive hateful comments on social media when posting about their life together. They are also abused because Adarsh, 24, has a darker skin tone than Nav, a form of prejudice known as colourism. India's interfaith couples on edge after new law 'My parents' interracial marriage caused a global scandal' "We push through it," says Nav, 22. "There are also people who are very supportive and that are in similar situations." Data compiled by YouGov in January suggests 45% of 18 to 24-year-olds in the UK believe there is a God, or believe there are Gods. The next highest figure, 36%, is for the over-65s. BBC News spoke to Nav and Adarsh as well as a Christian from Married At First Sight (MAFS), a Muslim from The Only Way is Essex (Towie), and a former Jehovah's Witness for the Sex After documentary series. During a discussion between the participants, Nav was asked what the hardest bit about being a Sikh was. "Probably getting the backlash of being with a Hindu," she said. She and Ardash knew their interfaith relationship could be an issue for their parents, so spoke to them early. "I know it's different for every family, there can be difficult dynamics," says Adarsh. "But if you can have the open discussion [about] dating outside of your religion… I'd always say [you should]." Something Adarsh's parents were quick to ask him about was marriage. The couple say, if they were to wed, they would probably do a Sikh and a Hindu ceremony. "If we have kids, I feel like it's important that they learn about both religions and faiths," Nav adds. Adarsh agrees and says he's "looking forward to it". Junaid Ahmed's parents were not as accommodating. His fear of being rejected by them took hold at a young age. Junaid knew being gay contravened the Islamic beliefs he and his family shared. "When I did finally come out [aged 18], I did expect the worst and… [it] did happen," he tells us. "They threw me out; they disowned me." He says he doesn't blame his parents for ostracising him. "I genuinely don't - it's made me the person I am today." Junaid, now aged 26 and a star of Towie, says he often gets abuse online from other Muslims because he is open about his sexual orientation, but "that [has] never changed my relationship with God". He says he is grateful for his religious upbringing and still prays everyday. Like Junaid, Martin Riley - who was brought up a Jehovah's Witness - was also ostracised by his family. However, in his case, it was because a few years ago he was expelled from his religion completely, in a process called disfellowshipping. For Riley, as he is known to his friends, this meant being shunned by other members of his congregation - including close friends and family. His first marriage, which lasted 20 years, had broken down a few months before he was expelled. He was a particularly strong believer and, while dating after he was expelled, he abided by the rule of not having sex before marriage. It was only when Riley began dating the woman who is now his wife, that he began seriously considering whether he wanted to continue adhering to the religion that he'd been part of for 40 years. His wife is not a Jehovah's Witness. "I realised that I did not want to have a future that didn't include her, whether that meant returning to the religion or not." After having sex with her for the first time, which he describes as being, "like in the movies", he recalls: "I was actually surprised by how guiltless I felt about the whole thing." Riley, 48, now considers himself an atheist. Looking back at his expulsion from the religion aged 42, he says: "It was devastating for me, at the time. Now I think it is probably one of the best things to ever happen to me." Unlike Riley, Sacha Jones did not grow up devoutly religious, but was baptised as a Christian last year after finding her faith. She has vowed to remain abstinent until she marries. "I haven't slept with anyone since my baptism," she says. "So I'm fresh in the eyes of the Lord!" Sacha, 30, also says the culture around dating today makes it difficult to form a long-term relationship. Last year she participated in MAFS, but split up with her partner following the show. "It's the absolute trenches out here in the dating world… it's difficult to trust a man anyway, but then to trust someone that doesn't fear God as well?" She says she doesn't miss sex as much as she might do because she isn't dating anyone at the moment. She believes the wait will be worth it - once she's married. "I no longer lack purpose or peace," says Sacha, who isn't the "party animal" she once was. "I'm happier than I've ever been." What the data says about love and marriage in India Young US men are joining Russian churches promising 'absurd levels of manliness' 'I couldn't stop watching': Personal stories of how porn obsession takes over lives
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Actor Luke Evans on reaching 'dark place' and growing up gay as part of Jehovah's Witness community
Actor Luke Evans on reaching 'dark place' and growing up gay as part of Jehovah's Witness community 'Even at your darkest moments, there's still hope. You can still be okay' Welsh actor and singer Luke Evans opened up about his tough childhood in the BBC's Alison Hammond's Big Weekend (Image: BBC ) Hollywood actor Luke Evans has spoken about reaching a "dark place" during his teenage years when he was experiencing difficulties growing up as gay and being a member of the Jehovah's Witness community. In the third episode of the brand new BBC series, Alison Hammond's Big Weekend, the beloved presenter, Alison Hammond, got to spend some time with Luke, who has starred in a number of big Hollywood blockbusters such as The Hobbit franchise, The Girl on the Train, and the 2017 film adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. While on the programme, the Welsh actor and singer opened up about his tough childhood. He candidly spoke about his experience of bullying and conflict between his homosexuality and religion, to the extent where he reached a "dark place" and contemplated suicide. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . With each episode, Alison spends a weekend with various stars, including Little Mix's Perrie Edwards and comedian Jimmy Carr. This week, the Great British Bake Off presenter was spending the weekend with Luke Evans in his hometown of Aberbargoed. Throughout the episode, the actor had spoken candidly about his upbringing, including when he had gone through a very difficult time. While travelling in the car, Alison wanted to delve deeper into Luke's upbringing, and the two spoke about the actor being brought up as a Jehovah's Witness. Jehovah's Witnesses reject homosexuality. The actor explained that he understood he would be expelled from the community if he came out, which would also have implications on his family. Alison Hammond met up with Luke's parents, Yvonne and David, at their home in Aberbargoed (Image: BBC ) "I knew I was different, I didn't know I was gay," he explained. "I just knew I was different from the ages of 7, 8, 9, you know, very young." He continued: "I also didn't have anyone outside the religion to be able to confide in or ask what was wrong. "I've been baptised in the religion and that meant if I chose to be openly gay, I would be cut-off from everyone and everything I knew." Luke admitted that the experience was "very complicated" and "very confusing". He said: "I felt very, very isolated." Luke Evans was raised as an only child but wished he had siblings (Image: BBC ) Alison then asked if he had reached a "dark place", to which Luke replied with: "Oh god, yeah. My teenage years, when it was clear in my mind who I was, and I was just… I had no-one to talk to. "It was a very difficult position, place to be. Yeah, I contemplated suicide for sure." He continued: "It was not a nice place to be, especially at that young age. But something stopped me." "What do you think stopped you?" Alison asked. "Well," he began. "I think because I thought, what am I missing out on if I do this? "What life have I got that I haven't discovered yet that I have to live? And I think it was, like, needing to know what my life would be like once all of this was over." Where to get mental health help and support Below are some of the helplines and websites that can help you: Samaritans operates a free 24-hour phone service every day of the year. Just call 116 123 to speak to someone if you need help. Alternatively, if you prefer to write down how you're feeling or if you're worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans: jo@ PAPYRUS offers trained advisers to provide support to young people experiencing thoughts of suicide and anyone concerned for a young person. Call HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 Text: 07860 039 967 or Email: pat@ Mind is a mental health charity that provides advice and support to anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Among its useful support and information pages, mind shares 'ways to help yourself cope in a crisis' here In another part of the episode, the actor also spoke of the bullying he faced as a child. While making their way to his hometown, Luke explained that he was an only child but that he always wanted a sibling. He said: "I did want to have a sibling because I was bullied really badly, so I always see my friends who had big brothers and big sisters in school, and they'd always look out for them, and I didn't have anyone like that.' Luke then described the bullying as "horrible". He added: 'But I knew it would be over at some point because I was going to leave school. "I had absolutely no intention of staying on. "So yeah, I left home at 16." Luke spoke candidly about his childhood, specifically the bullying he faced and the difficulties of growing up as gay and being a member of the Jehovah's Witness community (Image: BBC ) When asked if he hadn't been bullied, would he have been a different person, he replied: "I probably would have been a different child. "I would have done A-Levels and possibly have had better grades, but by the time I was like 14, 15, I was just like get me out, get me out". He continued: "All I wanted to do was get a job." As they made their way through Aberbargoed, the actor agreed that it was a "nice" feeling returning to his beloved hometown in Caerphilly borough. "I'm not somebody to hang on to the negative things that have happened to me in life," he said. "Good memories make you feel way better than bad ones." A bit later, the two met up with Luke's parents, Yvonne and David, who offered Alison some Welsh cakes. When asked what he was like as a young boy, his mum Yvonne explained he was a "full house". She continued: "The minute he was born, and came home from the hospital, it was like 'oh!'." She then added: "But you were full of fun because the house was always full of friends. "And the front room was sort of separate, and the laughter that used to come out of that room. It was wonderful, wasn't it?" Luke then showed Alison where his old room used to be, which was now the spare bedroom. As the two sat on the bed and looked out through the window to the valley, Luke discussed his childhood even further. "Were you quite an awkward kid?" Alison asked him. "Yes, I don't think I was very comfortable in my own skin," he replied. "I was a skinny little kid too". He continued: "I think because I was bullied, you can start thinking you are the problem. "And I think I definitely went through that. You know, I wasn't very confident as a kid "The confidence came as a teenager. As soon as I left school, actually. But school was not a pleasant place". The actor also agreed that he faced a challenging time due to not being able to talk about the fact that he was gay. "I didn't speak to anyone until I was 14 and I went to a psychologist because I wanted to ask them what was… - because I had no-one to talk to. "And she offered me a 14-week course at £200 a session, at like 14. And I went, 'no, no, no, I need help today'. And she said, 'well, I can't help you'." Following the candid conversation with Luke, in which he spoke about contemplating suicide, Alison said: "It was definitely an emotional moment." She continued: "Even at your darkest moments, there's still hope. You can still be okay. "I mean, thank God that he held on, because he has brought so many people so much joy purely by just being himself." Article continues below You can watch Alison Hammond's Big Weekend at 8.20pm on Friday evenings on BBC One or all episodes are now available on BBC iPlayer.
North Wales Live
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Luke Evans' life off-screen from private relationship to childhood
Luke Evans, a well-known figure in the film industry, has graced many hit films, from Fast and Furious to The Hobbit. The 46-year-old Welsh actor and singer is no stranger to the stage, having launched his career in the West End, and he's also appeared in several TV series, including Nine Perfect Strangers. His latest television appearance offers something different, as Luke is set to appear on Alison Hammond's Big Weekend, where viewers will have the opportunity to see him spend some time with the TV presenter. Let's delve into Luke's life off-camera, from his family to his current partner.... Luke's early years Luke was born on 15 April 1979 in Pontypool. He was raised in Aberbargoed by his parents, Yvonne and David Evans. Luke was brought up as a Jehovah's Witness. However, he chose to leave the religion when he was 16 years old and left school, reports Wales Online. At the age of 17, he moved to Cardiff and began studying with singing coach Louise Ryan. Eventually, he secured a scholarship to London Studio Centre and graduated in 2000. What has Luke starred in? After graduation, Luke started starring in West End productions. His appearances include La Cava, Taboo, Rent, Avenue Q, and Miss Saigon. Luke's career began with appearances in numerous fringe shows in London and Edinburgh, before he secured his breakout role in the play Small Change in 2008. His performance caught the eye of film casting directors and talent agencies, leading to his first film audition at the ripe age of 30. His first film role was in 2009, when he portrayed Apollo in Clash of the Titans. This marked the beginning of his film career, and he has since starred in films such as Fast and Furious 6, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Girl on the Train, Pinocchio, and Scrooge: A Christmas Carol. He has also appeared on the small screen in TV series such as Nine Perfect Strangers, The Alienist, The Way, and Echo 3. Luke's dating life As for his personal life, Luke is openly gay and has spoken candidly about coming out to his parents, who are practising Jehovah's Witnesses, when he was 19. "We've been through a lot together. What we've done is we've come through two very different journeys in life where love has risen above everything," he shared in a previous interview with BBC Radio Wales. "Respect, love, and understanding, and that's what we have had to have with each other, because we've all chosen different paths, but it doesn't mean we can't love each other and be in each other's lives. I respect them. They respect me." While he generally keeps his personal life under wraps, it is known that Luke previously dated model and actor Jon Kortajarena, although they parted ways in 2016. Who is Luke's partner? Luke has been in a relationship with Fran Tomas since 2021, and they took their romance public in 2022. Fran, who has a background in project management for both residential and commercial projects, is currently the Chief Financial Officer of BDXY Studio. According to his LinkedIn profile, this fashion and lifestyle brand was co-founded alongside Luke and Christopher Brown. In an interview with Out Magazine, Luke previously spoke glowingly of his partner: "We're best friends. We travel together. We work together, we work on the brand together. And we're building a life together. We're happy, and I'm very grateful that I've met that person."
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Inside Luke Evans' life from private relationship to childhood
Inside Luke Evans' life from private relationship to childhood Actor Luke Evans has been a regular on our screens for several years, but what do we know about him away from the cameras? Take a look... Luke Evans is a familiar face to many, having starred in numerous hit films throughout the course of his career, from Fast & Furious to The Hobbit. The Welsh actor and singer, 46, is no stranger to the stage, having kicked off his career in the West End, and he's also starred in several TV series, including Nine Perfect Strangers. His latest TV appearance offers something different however, as Luke's set to appear on Alison Hammond's Big Weekend, where viewers will get to see him spend some time with the TV presenter. Here, we take a look into Luke's life away from the cameras, from his family to his current partner... Luke Evans pictured in 2024 (Image: Getty ) Luke's early years Luke was born on 15 April 1979 in Pontypool. He grew up in Aberbargoed with his parents, Yvonne and David Evans. Luke was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. However, he opted to leave the religion when he was 16 years old and left school. He moved to Cardiff when he was 17 years old and began studying with singing coach Louise Ryan. Eventually, he landed a scholarship to London Studio Centre, going on to graduate in 2000. What has Luke starred in? After graduating, Luke began starring in West End productions. He appeared in shows such as La Cava, Taboo, Rent, Avenue Q and Miss Saigon. He also appeared in numerous fringe shows in London and Edinburgh, before landing his breakout role in the play Small Change in 2008. Luke's performance in the play saw him catch the attention of film casting directors and talent agencies, leading to his first film audition at the age of 30. Luke's first film role came in 2009, when he landed the part of Apollo in Clash of the Titans. This kickstarted his film career and he's since starred in titles including Fast & Furious 6, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Girl on the Train, Pinocchio and Scrooge: A Christmas Carol. He has appeared in TV shows such as Nine Perfect Strangers, The Alienist, The Way and Echo 3. Luke's dating life Luke is gay and has spoken openly about coming out to his parents, who are practising Jehovah's Witnesses, at age 19. "We've been through a lot together. What we've done is we've come through two very different journeys in life where love has risen above everything," he previously said in an interview with BBC Radio Wales. "Respect, love and understanding, and that's what we have had to have with each other, because we've all chosen different paths, but it doesn't mean we can't love each other and be in each other's lives. I respect them. They respect me." While he tends to keep his personal life private, Luke did previously date model and actor Jon Kortajarena. The pair split in 2016. Who is Luke's partner? Luke is in a relationship with Fran Tomas. The couple have been together since 2021, going public with their romance in 2022. Fran is a project manager who has worked on residential and commercial projects. According to his LinkedIn profile, he is the Chief Financial Officer of BDXY Studio, a clothing and lifestyle brand he co-founded with Luke and Christopher Brown. Article continues below Luke with partner Fran Tomas (Image: Getty ) Luke previously praised his partner in an interview with Out Magazine, saying: 'We're best friends. We travel together. We work together, we work on the brand together. And we're building a life together. We're happy and I'm very grateful that I've met that person.' Alison Hammond's Big Weekend airs on Friday, 30 May at 8pm on ITV1
STV News
22-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Plans to turn former Jehovah's Witness meeting hall into juice bar lodged
Plans to convert a former Jehovah's Witness meeting hall to a juice bar and cafe in Stornoway are among recent planning applications made to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The application would change the use of the former Jehovah's Witnesses meeting hall at 30 Church Street into a juice bar and cafe. The proposal would see the upper floor space of the former meeting hall being converted to designs by DBM Design and Engineering for the applicant, Joanna Morrison. Details of the proposals can be found on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's online planning portal, with a deadline for comments on Monday June 2. Meanwhile plans for a new house to be built at 3a Horgabost, Isle of Harris, have been submitted to the Comhairle by local resident, Johnathon MacKay. The project proposed is a single storey, four-bedroomed family home with a domestic garage in the village, located to the east of the village, and documents submitted with the application state the proposed site is within croft land currently owned (tenant) by a relative of the applicant on the opposite side of the road from the original croft house, and situated approximately 70m off the village road. Designs for the house, by MacIver Consultancy Services, detail that the development is located in a National Scenic Area and state that 'the position of the site has been carefully chosen in order to be low-lying in the topography of the area to reduce its visual impact.' Details of the proposals can be found on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's online planning portal. An application for planning permission in principle has been submitted to the Comhairle for the erection of a dwelling house at 17c Valtos, Uig, Isle of Lewis, on croft land at 16-17 Valtos, by Malcolm MacDonald of Valtos. Design drawings, by Total Design (Lighthill) Ltd, submitted with the application outline that the proposed house would have an 'indicative footprint' of 12ms x 8ms. An application to change the use of a storage shed and 'ancillary residential cabin' to form two units of holiday accommodation at Cuithir House, Grean, Isle of Barra, has been submitted to the Comhairle by Phillip Harvey of Barradise Ltd. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
