Anna Faris is taking an open-door approach to one of the more complicated parts of raising a teenager: what happens when your child develops beliefs that are different from your own.
The actress recently discussed the religious conversations she has with her teenage son, Jack, whom she shares with former husband Chris Pratt. Jack has developed a strong interest in Christianity, despite Faris not having been raised in a religious household herself.
That difference has not stopped mother and son from talking about faith. In fact, it appears to have given them plenty to discuss.
Jack has encouraged his mother to embrace Christianity herself. Faris has made clear that she takes her son’s beliefs seriously, but she is not prepared to adopt them without asking questions and having extensive conversations about what they mean.
Those discussions go well beyond whether someone considers themselves religious.
Faris has encouraged Jack to think critically about subjects connected to his beliefs, including abortion and the pro-life position. She has also asked him to consider the behavior of prominent religious leaders and whether the actions of some wealthy megachurch pastors are consistent with the principles they promote.
Rather than avoiding disagreement, Faris appears determined to make it productive.
She has praised Jack for being emotionally grounded and capable of considering difficult questions without becoming overwhelmed by them. She also appreciates his willingness to recognize hypocrisy when he encounters it, even within institutions connected to his own beliefs.
The conversations offer an interesting glimpse into a family in which religion is not necessarily shared equally but curiosity and communication still have a place at the table.
Jack’s interest in Christianity also comes with some family context. His father, Chris Pratt, has spoken publicly about his Christian faith over the years. Pratt has previously described how the experience of Jack being born prematurely, and the medical challenges that followed, had a profound effect on his faith.
Faris and Pratt separated in 2017 after eight years of marriage and have continued raising Jack following their split. Faris married cinematographer Michael Barrett in 2021.
Although Faris generally keeps her son away from Hollywood’s glare, she has occasionally offered glimpses into his personality. She has described him as remarkably grounded despite growing up around famous parents and the entertainment industry.
Now that Jack is old enough to form and defend his own ideas, Faris seems less interested in handing him a predetermined set of answers than in making sure he keeps asking questions.
For a teenager exploring faith and a mother approaching it from a different perspective, that willingness to keep talking may be the most important common ground they have.
