Editing Little Richard (section)

===Religion===
Richard's family had deep evangelical ([[Baptist]] and [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]] (AME)) Christian roots, including two uncles and a grandfather who were preachers.{{sfn|White|2003|p=16}} He also took part in Macon's [[Pentecostal]] churches, which were his favorites mainly due to their music, charismatic praise, dancing in the [[Holy Spirit (Christianity)|Holy Spirit]] and [[speaking in tongues]].{{sfn|White|2003|pp=16–17}} At age ten, influenced by Pentecostalism, he went around saying he was a [[faith healer]], singing gospel music to people who were feeling sick and touching them. He later recalled that they would often indicate that they felt better after he prayed for them and would sometimes give him money.{{sfn|White|2003|pp=16–17}} Richard had aspirations to become a preacher due to the influence of singing evangelist [[Brother Joe May]].{{sfn|White|2003|p=16}}

After he was [[born again]] in 1957, Richard enrolled at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, a mostly black [[Seventh-day Adventist]] (SDA) college, to study theology. He became a vegetarian, which coincided with his return to religion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ivu.org/people/music/richard.html#:~:text=About%2050%25%20of%20SDAs%20are%20vegetarian.&text=The%20apparently%20ageless%20(and%20vegetarian,music%20%2D%20and%20himself%20%2D%20undiminished.|title=International Vegetarian Union - Little Richard (1932- )|access-date=February 21, 2021|archive-date=August 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805091203/https://ivu.org/people/music/richard.html#:~:text=About%2050%25%20of%20SDAs%20are%20vegetarian.&text=The%20apparently%20ageless%20(and%20vegetarian,music%20%2D%20and%20himself%20%2D%20undiminished.|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jun-29-he-64587-story.html|title=Little Richard|date=June 29, 1998|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=February 21, 2021|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225005433/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jun-29-he-64587-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was ordained a minister in 1970 and resumed evangelical activities in 1977. Richard represented Memorial Bibles International and sold their Black Heritage Bible, which highlighted the Book's many black characters. As a preacher, he evangelized in small churches and packed auditoriums of 20,000 or more. His preaching focused on uniting the races and bringing lost souls to repentance through God's love.{{sfn|White|2003|pp=203–214}} In 1984, Richard's mother, Leva Mae, died following a period of illness. Prior to her death, Richard promised her that he would remain a Christian.{{sfn|White|2003|p=221}}

During the 1980s and 1990s, Richard officiated at celebrity weddings. In 2006, in one ceremony, Richard wedded twenty couples who won a contest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news/little-richard-weds-20-couples_1017057|title=Little Richard Weds 20 Couples|work=Contactmusic.com|date=December 19, 2006|access-date=February 1, 2013|archive-date=November 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102070222/http://www.contactmusic.com/news/little-richard-weds-20-couples_1017057|url-status=live}}</ref> The musician used his experience and knowledge as a minister and elder statesman of rock and roll to preach at funerals of musical friends such as [[Wilson Pickett]] and [[Ike Turner]].{{sfn|Havers|2010|p=127}} At a benefit concert in 2009 to raise funds to help rebuild children's playgrounds that were destroyed by [[Hurricane Katrina]], Richard asked guest of honor Fats Domino to pray with him and others. His assistants handed out inspirational booklets at the concert, a common practice at Richard's shows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://6abc.com/archive/6840970/|title=Fats Domino Makes Rare Concert Appearance|year=2009|work=abclocal.go.com|access-date=August 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005014403/http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news%2Fentertainment&id=6840970|archive-date=October 5, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Richard told a [[Howard Theatre]], Washington, D.C., audience in June 2012, "I know this is not Church, but get close to the Lord. The world is getting close to the end. Get close to the Lord."<ref name="rollingstone.com"/> In 2013, Richard elaborated on his spiritual philosophies, stating "God talked to me the other night. He said He's getting ready to come. The world's getting ready to end and He's coming, wrapped in flames of fire with a rainbow around his throne." ''Rolling Stone'' reported that his apocalyptic prophesies generated snickers from some audience members as well as cheers of support. Richard responded to the laughter by stating: "When I talk to you about [Jesus], I'm not playing. I'm almost 81 years old. Without God, I wouldn't be here."<ref name=healthscare/>

In 1986, it was reported that Richard converted to Judaism at the encouragement of [[Bob Dylan]]—but "Richard saw Judaism as not contradicting his other beliefs."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1986-12-05-8603140687-story.html|title=LITTLE RICHARD HIGH ON JUDAISM; PRINCE PROMOTES NEW PROTOGE|date=December 5, 1986|last=Goldstein|first=Patrick|work=[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]|access-date=March 28, 2022|archive-date=March 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328020707/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1986-12-05-8603140687-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://forward.com/culture/446094/he-really-is-jewish-little-richards-lifelong-love-affair-with-judaism/|title="He really is Jewish" — Little Richard's lifelong love affair with Judaism|date=May 10, 2020|last=Ivry|first=Benjamin|work=[[The Forward]]|access-date=March 28, 2022|archive-date=March 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328020707/https://forward.com/culture/446094/he-really-is-jewish-little-richards-lifelong-love-affair-with-judaism/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.jewishledger.com/2020/05/little-richard-loved-judaism/|title=Little Richard loved Judaism|date=May 19, 2020|last=Friedman|first=Gabe|work=[[Southern New England Jewish Ledger]]|access-date=July 24, 2022|archive-date=July 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724025625/http://www.jewishledger.com/2020/05/little-richard-loved-judaism/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, Richard returned to his SDA spiritual roots and appeared in a televised interview on [[3ABN]] and later he shared his personal testimony at 3ABN Fall Camp Meeting 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XldBnWFjB8| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/0XldBnWFjB8| archive-date=October 28, 2021|title=Interview with 'Little Richard'|last=Three Angels Broadcasting Network|date=September 6, 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTXfx4h4iPs|title=Little Richard 2017|last=Three Angels Broadcasting Network|date=October 19, 2017|via=YouTube|access-date=January 13, 2018|archive-date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115095147/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTXfx4h4iPs&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8X9l5Sq-Y0| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/f8X9l5Sq-Y0| archive-date=October 28, 2021|title=Little Richard's First TV News Interview in Over Two Decades|last=Collin Dorsey|date=October 7, 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>