Anna Faris Opens Up About Raising a Religious Son Despite Not Being Religious Herself

Anna Faris is getting candid about one of the more complicated parts of parenting: raising a teenager whose beliefs are different from her own.

During Thursday’s episode of Chelsea Handler’s “Dear Chelsea” podcast, Faris discussed her 14-year-old son, Jack, whom she shares with her former husband, actor Chris Pratt. Faris described Jack as emotionally steady and said he handles difficult situations remarkably well.

She also revealed that Jack has become religious, despite Faris not growing up with religion herself.

“He is … religious,” Faris told Handler.

When Handler asked whether Faris was religious, the actor replied, “No, I didn’t grow up with religion.”

Faris said Jack has even asked her to accept Jesus Christ as her savior. Rather than dismissing his beliefs, Faris told her son she would do anything for him but that the two would need to have “a whole lot of long conversations.”

Those conversations appear to go beyond religion itself. Faris said she challenges Jack on political and social issues that can sometimes be associated with conservative Christian beliefs.

For example, she said she asked him whether he thought being “pro-life” was a luxury. She also questioned him about megachurch pastors whom she believes may be exploiting their followers.

According to Faris, Jack has surprised her with thoughtful answers. When she brought up megachurch pastors, he reportedly agreed that “mega pastors are the worst.”

“So it’s like, OK… we’re getting there,” Faris said.

Despite their differences, Faris said she appreciates that her son is thinking critically about religion and recognizing what he sees as hypocrisy.

“I’m appreciative that he’s examining religion the way he is in terms of recognizing hypocrisy,” she said. She also emphasized that she values being able to have open, extended conversations with him about his beliefs.

Faris and Pratt divorced in 2017. Pratt later married Katherine Schwarzenegger in 2019 and has become increasingly open about his Christian faith and conservative views.

For Faris, however, the situation seems less about trying to steer her son toward or away from religion and more about keeping the conversation open as he develops his own beliefs.

Her comments offer a glimpse into a familiar challenge for parents: how to support a child’s developing identity while still being honest about beliefs and values that may differ from their own.