Rapper and producer Pharell Williams has opened up about his experience of the Holy Spirit. Speaking to gospel singer Kirk Franklin, he talked about how gospel music had been deeply influential on him as a child and helped him find his "purpose" in life.
Pharell Williams is one of the most successful artists and producers in the world, with an estimated net worth of approximately $200 million. His hit single 'Happy' sold over 7.6 million copies.
At one point in the discussion with Kirk Franklin, Williams talked candidly about the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Forget the wave in the basketball arena, forget the wave at the football stadium. You've never seen the wave of the Spirit causing people in waves; you see their heads turning and going up and down or whatever. Meanwhile, there are still simultaneously people jumping up and down," he explained on the 'Good Words with Kirk Franklin' podcast.
He added: “The energy is so thick, arguably a scientist could go in there with the right bag and capture it, take it home, release it in their room and feel the same thing. That is one of the most amazing power sources."
Williams, who was the lead singer in band N.E.R.D., noted that the spirit of God "still fuels me to this day".
Pharrell has spoken extensively about Christianity. In 2016, he sat down with Franklin for a wide-ranging discussion on faith, science and the Bible.
"I don't think the church gives enough credence to science," he said at the time. "On a scientific level, there's departments in your brain for everything that you think," Williams said. "All of your thoughts come from your brain, and there's a part where it falls under religion. And certain people just don't have that.”
He added: “I think a cool way to bring people together is to say, 'Look, you don't have to look at it in a faithful or religious way. Read it as a text. Replace the word God with 'the universe' and it starts making more sense to you."
Willaims insisted that despite holding unconventional views on the character of God, he still places trust in the words of the Bible.
"Now, I know that there's power in that Word. I've experienced it. I've seen it," he explained. "But everyone has their journey and not everyone is going to believe. But I think it's really important to get us to understand...Because if you have a difference of opinion, I think it's smarter for you to understand your difference of opinion than to not know at all."