The real reason these celebs abandoned their church

Just how religious are celebrities? It may be that public perception doesn't actually match reality. When people think about Oscar speeches, for example, they often envision people thanking God, but he doesn't get all that much love. According to Vocativ, God is only the sixth-most thanked individual, coming in after Steven Spielberg, Harvey Weinstein, James Cameron, George Lucas, and Peter Jackson.

Across the country, Protestants and Catholics numbers have significantly decreased since 2009, as per the Pew Research Center. Most of the other religions are shrinking as well, so it would make sense that celebrities are becoming less religious, too. But when you're dealing with the stars, the stakes are higher. When they buy a house, we hear about it. So, what about when they leave a religion?

Though it's not always advertised, many celebs have clearly defined reasons for turning their backs on their doctrine. Some left out of loyalty, some were conflicted with the teachings or beliefs, and some may have been forced out. The people on this list weren't just dabbling either, as many were well-established members of their churches. We decided to explore some specific cases in greater detail. The following list looks at the real reason these celebs abandoned their church.