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Actor Chris Pratt criticized organized religion for its blemished history, saying he’s “not a religious person.”
“Religion has been oppressive as f*** for a long time,” Pratt said in an interview with Men’s Health. “I didn’t know that I would kind of become the face of religion when really I’m not a religious person.”
Despite not being shy about sharing images of crosses and Bible verses on social media or talking about God in interviews, Pratt is now pushing back against public perceptions of the dogma of his faith.
“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,” he continued. “Whatever it is. 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.”
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The Marvel and Jurassic World trilogy star gained attention for his faith when he discussed it while accepting an award in 2018 at the MTV Movie & TV Awards, saying: “God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you. Believe that; I do.”
<mediadc-iframe data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1656508674980,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"0000017d-8cce-d87c-af7f-ddce9ca80000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1656508674980,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"0000017d-8cce-d87c-af7f-ddce9ca80000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"title":"Chris Pratt's 9 Rules Acceptance Speech | 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards","iFrameEmbedCode":"","_id":"00000181-af9c-d447-ad8b-ffde5b7a0000","_type":"00000161-b425-d761-a563-f7e77e270000"}”>Chris Pratt’s 9 Rules Acceptance Speech | 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards
“Maybe it was hubris for me to stand up on the stage and say the things that I said,” Pratt said, reflecting on his acceptance speech. “I’m not sure I touched anybody.” In 2020, Pratt was at the center of a Hollywood debate regarding who is film’s “Worst Chris,” causing his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, and his Marvel co-stars, Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo, to defend him on social media.
“You all, [Chris Pratt] is as solid a man there is. I know him personally, and instead of casting aspersions, look at how he lives his life,” Ruffalo tweeted.
Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn has also defended Pratt after a fan called for the actor to be replaced in Marvel films.
“For what? Because of your made-up, utterly-false beliefs about him?” Gunn tweeted. “For something that someone else told you about him that’s not true? Chris Pratt would never be replaced as Star-Lord but, if he ever was, we would all be going with him.”
Pratt has also garnered backlash concerning where he attends church after actor Elliot Page blasted Pratt in 2019 for attending Hillsong Church and being “anti-LGBTQ.”
“I never went to Hillsong,” Pratt now clarified to Men’s Health. “I’ve never actually been to Hillsong. I don’t know anyone from that church.” Pratt said he attends Zoe Church, which is pastored by Chad Veach, who has ties to Hillsong. The actor also said he has attended the Catholic Church of his wife’s childhood.
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Fans on social media are now calling for Page to issue an apology.
