Religion of Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the renowned social media platform, Facebook. While the world knows him to be a significant contributor to tech, many wonder what his religious beliefs may be. Although Zuckerberg typically keeps such matters private, many publications have attempted to report on his affiliations.
According to an article published by Explica in December 2017, Zuckerberg was raised in a traditional Jewish home. As a kid, he is said to have attended religious services in the synagogue with his father, a former dentist, and mother, a psychiatrist.
When Zuckerberg attended Harvard University, he also “ran a Jewish student group called ‘Chabad Harvard.’” While the group was likely focused on religious and cultural activities, the exact mission remains unclear.
Regardless of his upbringing, it has been reported that Zuckerberg does not necessarily identify himself as Jewish. In September 2014, The Guardian newspaper wrote an article citing some quotes from Zuckerberg himself, “. . . he said that he is an atheist and that he ‘was raised Jewish and then [I]went through a period where I questioned things, but now [I] believe religion is very important.’”
Apart from his Orthodox Jewish background and atheism, Zuckerberg has also expressed that he finds strength and solace in “Buddhism’s notion of finding peace within and following universal values, such as kindness and generosity.” His wife and Harvard sweetheart, Priscilla Chan, follows the LDS Church.
Given the evidence, it remains unclear whether or not Zuckerberg follows a particular religion as an adult. Many publications have posited that Zuckerberg’s public and private actions suggest “he may be a non-affiliated New Age Christian,” meaning he does not necessarily adhere to one particular creed, but he is morally guided by a “religion” based on the teachings of Christ such as loving one another and being kind to those in need.
Zuckerberg himself has remained silent on the issue, and thus, it is difficult to draw a concrete conclusion on his religious affiliation. That said, it is notable that Zuckerberg, who has a net worth of over $80 billion, is one of the most generous philanthropists, regularly donating large sums to charitable or humanitarian causes.
Religious Beliefs of Zuckerberg’s Family
Mark Zuckerberg is not the only one in the family whose beliefs are in question. While his parents were usually attending synagogue, his three sisters – Randi, Donna, and Arielle – do not believe in any orthodox religion.
Randi Zuckerberg is reported to have become a Christian, though quite non-orthodox. She is quoted as stating she was not sure if she exactly believed in God or not, but that she found comfort and strength in attending “church and continuing religious education.” Donna Zuckerberg is reported to have also changed her beliefs. According to her blog, she is a firm believer in philosophy, focusing on “the beauty of the world, its creative possibilities, and the search of knowledge.” Arielle Zuckerberg is the sister who changed her beliefs the most drastically, saying that she found “God in nature and yoga.”
The Zuckerberg siblings were raised in two cultures — Jewish and Christian — and each one of them ended up taking from it what felt most relevant for them. It appears that none of them follow an orthodox religion, which may explain why Mark Zuckerberg did not pursue a faith either.
Public Controversy Surrounding Zuckerberg’s Beliiefs
Despite the lack of official information from Zuckerberg about his personal religious beliefs, there has been some public controversy surrounding them. In 2018, head of Facebook’s communications, Caryn Marooney, was accused of pressuring a Catholic journalist, Edward Pentin, to censor or delete items in reports that mentioned the religious affiliation of Mark Zuckerberg.
Some speculated that because Marooney’s job is to protect the company’s image, and Zuckerberg’s religion is cloaked in mystery, the company made a strategic move in order to protect the CEO’s identity and shield him from unnecessary controversy. It was later revealed that Pentin’s reports had inaccurately placed Zuckerberg in the wrong religion, and Marooney merely requested a correction.
In any case, Marooney’s actions sparked a public outcry as to whether or not Zuckerberg had something to hide. The incident has also caused a debate about the ambiguities surrounding Zuckerberg’s religious identity and just how much of a role his faith plays in the way he governs Facebook.
Contribution to Charity and Philanthropy
Despite his secretive religious beliefs, Mark Zuckerberg has been a charitable leader in the tech world, donating millions of dollars to philanthropic organizations. As a major goal of many religions is to help others, it is possible that Zuckerberg seeks to do the same through charitable giving.
In the past, he donated approximately one billion dollars to fight Ebola in 2014 and has influenced the development of specialized drones that are used to deliver vaccines to developing countries. Additionally, Zuckerberg and his wife started the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which is a philanthropic organization that focuses on advancing human potential and promoting equal opportunity. Furthermore, the Zuckerbergs financially supported the launch and development of a open-access garden at the National Zoo.
Despite the lack of concrete information about his religious affiliation, it appears that Zuckerberg’s actions are in line with religious values. Due to the ambiguity of the topic, it is difficult to say exactly what his faith is, but it is clear that his contributions to society reflect religious values.
Fatherhood and Influential Religious Events
Beyond the realm of philanthropy, Mark Zuckerberg has expressed his religious values in other ways. For instance, following the news of the birth of his first daughter, Zuckerberg wrote a heartfelt post on his Facebook page in which he expressed his excitement and reassured readers that he and his wife would “do our best to do right by her and all children.” In this post, Zuckerberg also expressed his hope for a “better and more just future.”
Furthermore, Zuckerberg has had the occasion to attend religious ceremonies in the past. For instance, in 2016 he celebrated the Rosh Hashanah, a Jewish New Year celebration. Moreover, a year later, he attended a baptism ceremony for his daughter and even shared a picture of the event on Facebook.
It appears that Zuckerberg is drawn to religion, even if he does not explicitly claim any particular faith. His public and private actions, from charitable contributions to religious ceremonies, encapsulate his adherence to a spiritual power, regardless of creed or dogma.
Ethical Role at Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg is a tech giant, but he is also a moral leader in the world of social media. As the CEO of one of the largest networks in the world, Zuckerberg is in the unique position of dictating the moral and ethical compass of his business.
For instance, in 2018, Zuckerberg accepted an invitation to testify before the United States Senate regarding the company’s role in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. At the hearing, Zuckerberg spoke about the need for ethical responsibility when it comes to collecting, maintaining, and utilizing user data.
Additionally, despite mounting criticism from the free speech community, Zuckerberg has upheld Facebook’s ban of hate speech, in line with the company’s core values, which it has stated are “diversity, inclusion, safety, integrity, respect for intellectual property, and authenticity.”
Ultimately, Zuckerberg’s leadership and commitment to ethical behavior in business may be rooted in religious values, even if he has not expressly reasoned it as such. By placing an emphasis on social justice, his words and actions on the company have the potential to shape movements and protect those who are unable to speak out against some of society’s social ills.
Conclusion on Mark Zuckerberg’s Religious Beliefs
Mark Zuckerberg is a controversial figure who, while ruling one of the largest companies in the world, has remained discreet when it comes to his religious behavior. Although records of his youth suggest he was associated with Judaism, as an adult it is unclear what creed he follows.
Throughout his career Zuckerberg’s actions, such as charitable giving and leading ethical decisions for the company, suggest a universal message of love and justice that could be inspired by religious tenants. Furthermore, although the Zuckerbergs have each chosen different paths, it appears that one takeaway from their upbringing is a respect for religion.
In the end, what Zuckerberg’s is beliefs remain a mystery, and only he is able to fully answer the question — Is Mark Zuckerberg a Christian?
