Aaron Rodgers Rips Christianity, Religion in Interview: "Religion Can Be a Crutch"

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has never been afraid to voice his opinions. The Super Bowl winner, three-time MVP, 10-time Pro Bowl selection and "king of the hail mary" is looked at as a god in Wisconsin as he'll undoubtedly end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. At this point, he can pretty much say and do what he wants without repercussion, unless it's about his COVID-19 vaccination status.

In 2017, he locked arms with teammates during the national anthem to denounce racial injustice and police brutality, an NFL movement that began with Colin Kaepernick. He poured himself some tequila and wasn't exactly thrilled with the team's decision to make Utah's Jordan Love its first-round draft pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Rarely do you hear Rodgers speak about his religious views, though.

In an interview on former professional race car driver, NASCAR star and Rodgers' ex-girlfriend Danica Patrick's Podcast "Pretty Intense," Rodgers discussed a number of topics, including his spiritual beliefs.

Speaking to his ex-girlfriend, Rodgers had some very critical words about Christianity and religion as a whole. While the full interview is worth a watch (as is the entire Pretty Intense Podcast) they begin around the 3:30 mark of the video below, but the whole interview is worth the watch.

Aaron Rodgers Interview on Religion

"I don't think it's very welcoming — religion can be a crutch. It can be something that people have to have to make themselves feel better. And because it's sort of binary, it's us and them. It's saved and unsaved. It's heaven and hell. It's enlightened and heathen. It's holy and righteous and sinner and filthy. I think that makes a lot of people feel better about themselves. They say, 'Oh, I've got Jesus and I'm saved and I'm going to heaven and there's only 144,000 of us going even though there's seven billion people on the planet. I don't know how you can believe in a god who wants to condemn most of the planet to a fiery hell. Like what type of loving, sensitive, omnipresent, omnipotent being wants to condemn most of his beautiful creation to a fiery hell at the end of all this?"

— Aaron Rodgers

Born in Chico, California, Rodgers was raised a Christian by his parents, Darla and Edward. As a part of his Christian upbringing, Rodgers said he was forced to attend church growing up and that he took part in YoungLife, a religious organization for youth, something his brother and former contestant on "The Bachelorette" Jordan Rodgers did as well. He began questioning religion as he grew older, however, shifting his religious beliefs.

While the Packers QB has learned about religions and even met the Dalai Lama, he confirmed to Patrick he wasn't religious at all.

"Ultimately, it was that rules and regulations and binary systems don't really resonate with me," he said in the interview.

Rodgers' views probably don't affect how Packers fans see their star signal caller. After all, he won Super Bowl XLV under coach Mike McCarthy and led the Packers to a 12-4 record and the NFL playoffs under first-year head coach Matt LaFleur in 2019 despite losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game. He then won the MVP in 2020 and led the Pack to a 13-4 regular season record during the 2021 season.

He's spent his entire career in Green Bay and ranks right next to Brett Favre as one of the franchise's all-time passers.

When he's not completing touchdowns to Davante Adams and torching NFC North opponents like the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field, he can be found making cameos in "Game of Thrones."

Still, it's interesting to hear Rodgers' thoughts on Christianity and religion when many athletes are quick to thank God in postgame interviews and athletes like Tim Tebow gained fame and notoriety for living at the opposite end of the spectrum. Rodgers has also found a deeper level of spirituality during his relationships with Olivia Munn and Shailene Woodley.

His Family Called Comments "Slap in the Face"

An insider close to Rodgers' family told People that his comments were "basically a slap in the face to the fundamentals of who they are. It's basically him turning his back on everything they have taught him."

People pointed out that Rodgers has been estranged from his family for years. The family insider added, "They have these times where things start to thaw out, but then something like this happens, and then it's back to square one. It's sad."

Other Athletes Who Condemned Religion

Lance Armstrong

Former professional cyclist and testicular cancer survivor Lance Armstrong is agnostic, which means he doesn't know whether a god exists. According to The Guardian, he was once asked how his belief in God helped him overcome cancer.

His response: "Everyone should believe in something, and I believe in surgery, chemotherapy and my doctors."

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin

Professional wrestler and actor Steve Austin once sold shirts that read "Austin 3:16" as a nod to the bible verse "John 3:16." He also slammed churches in the defense of same sex marriage, and did not hold back whatsoever.

"What also chaps my a**, some of these churches, have the high horse that they get on and say 'we as a church do not believe in that.' Which one of these motherf*****s talked to God, and God said that same-sex marriage was a no-can-do?" Austin said via Deadspin.

"OK, so two cats can't get married if they want to get married, but then a guy can go murder 14 people, molest five kids, then go to f***ing prison, and accept God and He's going to let him into heaven? After the fact that he did all that s***? See that's all horses*** to me, that don't jive with me."

Arian Foster

Former NFL running back Arian Foster openly talked about being an atheist while playing for the Houston Texans. In an ESPN article, he questioned the existence of a god.

"If there is a God and he's watching football, there are so many other things he could be doing," he said. "There are hungry children and diseases and famine and so much important stuff going on in the world, and he's really blessed your team? It's just weird to me."

Chris Kluwe

Former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe has said he is "cheerfully agnostic" and voiced support for same sex marriage while playing in the NFL before being cut. He's tweeted about the "lack of transparency and endemic institutional corruption of the Catholic Church" among other things.

This article was originally published January 22, 2020.

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