According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, almost half of Americans have switched religions at least once. Religious conversion is also a quite common thing among celebrities, who, seeking spiritual peace or for some other reason, changed their religion. Keep on reading and find out which stars did it.

John Travolta

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travolta born into a Catholic family, but in 1975 he embraced Scientology and has been a member of the church ever since. He was introduced to Scientology through his co-star Joan Prather while filming The Devil’s Rain. In a last year’s interview with The Guardian, Travolta said: “I love Scientology. I’ve been involved for 38 years, and I don’t think I’d be here without it because I’ve had a lot of losses and different negative things that have happened over the years and it really got me through brilliantly. I would walk in to a session feeling one way and walk out feeling a lot better.”

Julia Roberts

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julia Robert converted to Hinduism after acting in the movie Eat, Pray Love in which she comes for a soul searching mission to India. She was born to Baptist and Catholic parents, but in a 2010 interview for Elle magazine she said that she believes in and practices Hinduism. “I’m definitely a practicing Hindu. I’ve been so spoiled with my friends and family in this life. Next time (since Hinduism believes in rebirth) I want to be just something quiet and supporting after the stresses of my celebrity lifestyle,” the actress said.

Madonna

 

 

 

 

 

 

Madonna was born and raised a Catholic but she converted to a mystical branch of Judaism, the Kabbalah. She was introduced to the religion by her friend Sandra Bernhard in 1997. As part of her new religion, she also adopted the Hebrew name Esther by which she is known to fellow believers.

Richard Gere

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Gere is perhaps the most famous celebrity Buddhist. Raised as a Methodist, Gere started developing interest in Buddhism in his twenties. He first studied Zen Buddhism under Kyozan Joshu Sasaki. After having studied Zen for five or six years, Gere traveled to Nepal in 1978 with the Brazilian painter, Sylvia Martins where he sought out the company of many Tibetan monks. He then met the 14th Dalai Lama in India and became a practicing Buddhist of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism and an active supporter of the Dalai Lama. Gere is a passionate advocate for human rights in Tibet; he is a co-founder of the Tibet House. Because of his support for the Tibetan cause he’s banned from the People’s Republic of China — and he’s also banned as an Academy Award presenter because of using the podium to denounce the Chinese government.

Tom Cruise

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Cruise was raised a Christian but he took to the Church of Scientology in early phase of his career. He became involved with Scientology in 1990 through his first wife, Mimi Rogers. Today, he is one of the most vocal supporters of the church and its ideas. “I think it’s a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist and it is something that you have to earn, and… because a Scientologist does. He or she has the ability to create new and better realities and improve conditions. Being a Scientologist, you look at somebody and you know absolutely that you can help them,” Cruise said.

Isla Fisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Australian actress changed her religion from Methodism to Judaism. She converted in 2007 because of her husband Sacha Baron Cohen, who was brought up an Orthodox Jew. Isla even accepted the Hebrew name Ayala. Before marrying, she said: “I will definitely have a Jewish wedding just to be with Sacha. I would do anything — move into any religion — to be united in marriage with him. We have a future together, and religion comes second to love as far as we are concerned.”

Orlando Bloom

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloom was born into the Anglican Church, but in 2004, he became a full member of Soka Gakkai International, a Nichiren Buddhist-based lay association.