Photo Credit: Davide Cantelli
Jonathan Steingard, lead singer of Christian pop-punk band Hawk Nelson, has indicated that he no longer believes in God.
The 36-year-old came forward with the stunning admission in a lengthy (all-text) Instagram post. Describing his shocking change of heart, Steingard wrote: “I’ve been terrified to post this for a while – but it feels like it’s time for me to be honest.”
And in the message itself, the Canadian artist cut right to the chase: “After growing up in a Christian home,” stated Steingard, “I am now finding that I no longer believe in God.”
He proceeded to note that the fundamental shift in his religious beliefs has been “several years in the making,” and that he “can no longer avoid” keeping his feelings inside.
After that, Steingard cited conversations with like-minded friends, as well as the fallout of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis (“I’ve got a whole lot less to lose now. The band [Hawk Nelson] isn’t playing new shows or making new music at the moment.”), as his chief reasons for coming clean.
At the time of this writing, Steingard’s (seemingly former) Hawk Nelson bandmates hadn’t individually commented on the staggering announcement. However, these three other Hawk Nelson members voiced support for Steingard on his “faith journey” and addressed their fans via a jointly penned Instagram post.
In terms of their personal profiles, the other members have been inactive on social media for quite a while – a point that may suggest Steingard previously informed them of his newfound opinion.
Next in his confession, Steingard described the experiences and memories that prompted him to step away from religion. Drawing the sizable body of text to a close, he wrote: “It’s going to be 72 degrees here in San Diego today. The sun is shining. It’s a beautiful day. No sweater needed.”
The latter line was an allusion to a figurative sweater that represented Steingard’s religion; he’d long been pulling at the threads before it finally came apart, according to the Instagram message.
Based out of Ontario, Hawk Nelson formed in 2000 (though Steingard joined in October 2004). The group has released eight studio albums to date, the most recent of which, Miracles, dropped in 2018.
Good for him.
It’s hard to believe that an old giant on a cloud wants to send you to the middle of the planet for not giving a percentage of your income to a big religious cult.
Happy to hear the man came to his senses.
NOW, he needs encouragement, love, and community.
Yawn. Snarky sophomoric comments only confirm you have not thought this through.
Faith rules, brother.
You tout faith, but judge your brother. Sinner
Yawn x 2. I judge those who need to be judged. Here’s your sign.
You are neither empowered or educated enough to judge anything or anyone.
“NOW, he needs encouragement, love, and community.” He should be careful, though, that community will cut him to pieces if he changes his mind again.
That’s the nature of life where there is no “old giant on a cloud” who defines truth. It’s now defined by the mob–who loves you or hates you depending on your conformity to the current “truth” of the moment.
I feel sorry for Steingard who seems to be pulling back from the ultimate source of creativity. San Diego is a nice place, but even paradise (with a small “p”) is no comparison to the real one (with a capital “H”) which itself transcends time and space, physical and non-physical. Eternity can get really cold without a sweater.
Jonathan Steingard: yes, you did it. You’re following the materialistic nature of life. You want to be part of the temporary in-crowd that is rejecting God. To much pressure from surrounding sources like some friends and anti-God kids, and become part of the pro-materialistic movement. One day you’ll sit in darkness and wonder …….. how the adversary’s whispers are easy for this young generation of fun and games life. You’re one of them now. The adversary didn’t have to talk too loud did he? Weak.