In the new issue of Parade magazine, Brad Pitt talks about how he split with religion when he realized it couldn't answer basic questions that he had:
Said Pitt:
“My religion was telling me what not to do—what not to even think about doing. Those are the things I would try, because that was my nature. I had to experience things to know what would work for me—say, something as simple as premarital sex. I can figure out what works or doesn't work. I will know. You say that something is wrong for me to do? Well, I know it's not wrong because I just did it. Then you say something else is also wrong? Yeah, I did that too, and you're right, it is wrong for me. But it wasn't wrong just because you told me it was.”
He also had questions about same-sex marriage:
“What are you so afraid of? That's my question. Gay people getting married? What is so scary about that? It's complicated. You grow up in a religion like that and you try to pray the gay away. I feel sadness for people like that. This is where people start short-circuiting—instead of being brave and questioning their beliefs, they are afraid and feel that they have to defend them.
“I don't mind a world with religion in it. There are some beautiful tenets within all religions. What I get hot about is when they start dictating how other people must live. People suffer because of it. They are spreading misery.
On the continuing battle for equality:
“Can you believe that we're still fighting for equality in America? To be against marriage for everyone is utter discrimination. I feel strongly about that because if equality of marriage doesn't happen now, the next generation will have to deal with it.
“It is an amazing thing that New York has finally gotten same-sex marriage. But the real problem is that the federal government hides behind states on this issue. It is blatant, ugly bigotry, and the federal government shouldn't be doing that. You're denying some Americans the right that all Americans have, to live their lives as they choose.
