Updated

Updated · HuffPost · Aug 21

Anna Faris Discusses Parenting 14-Year-Old Son's Faith on Podcast, Challenging Right-Wing Views

Updated

Updated · HuffPost · Aug 21

Anna Faris Discusses Parenting 14-Year-Old Son's Faith on Podcast, Challenging Right-Wing Views

Q: Did Chris Pratt's well-known faith spark his son's surprising religious journey away from Anna Faris's secular lifestyle?

There is no direct evidence that Chris Pratt’s faith specifically sparked Jack’s religious turn, though it is a plausible influence. What is confirmed is that Anna Faris said their 14-year-old son Jack is “religious,” has asked her to “accept Jesus Christ,” and engages thoughtfully in long discussions about faith, hypocrisy and church culture. Faris also made clear that she herself is secular and did not grow up religious, so Jack’s beliefs differ from her own background. Pratt has long been publicly associated with Christianity, which naturally raises the possibility that Jack was influenced by his father’s example or environment. But neither Faris nor the reporting says Jack’s faith came from Pratt, a church connected to Pratt, or a specific religious upbringing arranged by him. The available accounts only establish that Jack is religious and that Faris and Jack openly debate the subject. Faris’s description suggests Jack’s faith is not simply passive imitation. She said he is willing to question “mega pastors,” acknowledge hypocrisy and think through moral issues rather than repeat talking points. That points to a developing personal belief system, even if family exposure may have played some role. So the careful answer is that Pratt’s well-known faith may have been a factor, but the current reporting does not prove it was the cause of Jack’s religious journey.

Q: How does a secular Hollywood star react when her teenage son unexpectedly begs her to accept Jesus Christ?

Anna Faris reacted with affection, caution and skepticism: she told her son Jack she would “do anything” for him, including considering his request to accept Jesus Christ, but said it would require “a whole lot of long conversations.” On Chelsea Handler’s “Dear Chelsea” podcast, Faris said she is not religious and did not grow up with religion, while her 14-year-old son has become “religious” and emotionally steady. Rather than dismissing him, she said she engages him in extended discussions about faith, hypocrisy and church culture. Faris described testing Jack’s beliefs with pointed questions about issues tied to some Christian communities, including pro-life arguments and the behavior of “mega pastors.” She said Jack often responds thoughtfully, sometimes conceding that hypocrisy is real and criticizing exploitative church figures. Faris said she finds that encouraging because he is examining religion critically instead of accepting it blindly. Her overall response, then, was not conversion or rejection, but dialogue. She framed the situation as part of parenting a thoughtful teenager with beliefs different from her own, and said she values that they can talk openly and honestly about it.

3 articles · Updated · HuffPost · Aug 21

Anna Faris said on Chelsea Handler’s podcast that her 14-year-old son Jack is religious even though she is not, and has asked her to “accept Jesus Christ.”
Faris said she responds with “long conversations” that test the politics she links to parts of Christianity, including anti-abortion views and skepticism toward “mega pastors.”
Jack, whom Faris shares with ex-husband Chris Pratt, struck her as thoughtful in those exchanges; she said she appreciates that he is examining religion and recognizing hypocrisy.
The comments came during a family-life discussion on Thursday’s “Dear Chelsea” episode and add public detail to Faris’ co-parenting dynamic with Pratt, who has become more outspoken about religion and right-wing views since their 2017 split.