Actor Chris Pratt is turning heads with recent comments he made about religion and public perception, proclaiming in a new Men’s Health interview, “I’m not a religious person.”
In the thorough discussion, Pratt addressed the intense critiques he has received on social media and admitted he has wondered why people come after him so fiercely.
He speculated that some of the anti-religious animosity he has struggled with emerged after a 2018 speech at the MTV Movie & TV Awards during which he openly discussed God and encouraged young people to cling to Him.
“God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you,” Pratt said during his speech while accepting the Generation Award. “Believe that; I do.”
The actor reflected on that moment in his interview with Men’s Health, wondering if he actually touched anyone. He also reportedly now understands why people responded so negatively.
“Maybe it was hubris for me to stand up on the stage and say the things that I said. I’m not sure I touched anybody,” he said. “Religion has been oppressive as [expletive] for a long time.”
Pratt continued, “I didn’t know that I would kind of become the face of religion when really I’m not a religious person.”
The Jurassic World: Dominion star’s framing of the issue is intriguing, though, as he went on to essentially differentiate between “religion” and faith—a common practice for Evangelicals and other Christians who wish to separate tradition from an authentic relationship with Jesus.
“I think there’s a distinction between being religious—adhering to the customs created by man, oftentimes appropriating the awe reserved for who I believe is a very real God—and using it to control people, to take money from people, to abuse children, to steal land, to justify hatred. Whatever it is,” Pratt told Men’s Health. “The evil that’s in the heart of every single man has glommed on to the back of religion and come along for the ride.”
Read more about what Pratt had to say here.
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