passion
RTL-Jesus: I left the church
Ben Blümel: “I would still describe myself as a believer today.” photo
© Jens Kalaene/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
For the second time, RTL is telling the passion story with a big spectacle. The main actor had recently made a surprising confession.
Singer Ben Blümel, who is in RTL musical “The Passion”, which plays Jesus Christ, has, in his own words, left the church. “I would still describe myself as a believer today, even if I have left the church,” said the 42-year-old in a dpa interview.
“You can believe in whatever you want – but I believe that Jesus as a figure stands for things that are good for us. Charity. Not being the first to be yourself. Giving up something for your loved one. That’s a good one message.”
About the Christian faith, Blümel said: “I’m already thinking about faith. I was born into Catholicism, you could say that. Then I lost a good friend at a young age and doubted God for the first time.”
The church is “not the place to be at the moment,” said the singer. “But as an institution, I think it makes sense. At its core, it’s about looking out for each other and knowing what the other person is doing. Today, you often don’t even know the name of your neighbor. Especially here in Berlin, where I live.”
In “The Passion” the story of Jesus’ suffering from the Bible is reenacted in a modern version – the protagonists sing well-known pop songs. RTL will show the second edition of the live event on Wednesday (8:15 p.m.). The setting is Kassel.
Ben Blümel, a native of Berlin, became famous in 2002 with the hit “Engel”. Today he is also a sought-after presenter on children’s television.