Actor Brad Pitt called himself an atheist as an act of rebellion. Then there was a shift and his faith changed in a major way.

In an interview with GQ, the “Ad Astra” star said he “clings to religion.” Pitt talked openly and candidly about the evolution of his faith. He shared that he’s “gone through everything” when it comes to religion.

Pitt grew up in a devout Southern Baptist family. While he questioned religion growing up, he felt like it worked at times, he said.

He also shared that he struggled with “Christian guilt” growing up around what he should and shouldn’t do. His family attended Christian revival meetings when he was in high school.

When he would attend the revival meetings, he felt “moved by the Holy Spirit.” But when he would go to rock concerts, he said he would “feel the same fervor.”

He continued to question religion in college when he enrolled as a journalism student at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he later dropped out to pursue his acting career.

“When I got out on my own, I completely left it and I called myself agnostic,” Pitt shared with GQ. “Tried a few spiritual things but didn’t feel right.”

He shared that he began to call himself an atheist for a while as an act of rebellion though he wasn’t really.

Over time, his mindset began to shift.

He eventually found himself coming back to what he truly believes in.

“I found myself coming back around to just belief in – I hate to use the word spirituality but just a belief in that we’re all connected,” he said.

The evolution of his faith has changed the way he looks at life. Today, he is very optimistic about the possibility that everyone is connected.

During the interview, he also talked about self-awareness, getting old and figuring out what really matters.

“Who you spend your time with, how you spend time – it has just become much more important to me.”