In his new Netflix documentary, Aaron Rodgers finally addresses his ongoing estrangement from his immediate family. It was no secret that the NFL star had a public fallout with his loved ones. However, few understood what caused their differences, but the cat is now finally out of the bag.
The docuseries Aaron Rodgers: Enigma began streaming on Netflix on Tuesday, December 17. The first three episodes captured Rodgers reflecting on how his spiritual beliefs influenced his rocky relationship with his family. He noted their different opinions about religion, especially his thoughts, played a significant role in their estrangement.
The New York Jets athlete’s issues with his family began after he started leaning toward spirituality. He became interested after attending lectures by religious author and self-described spiritual teacher Rob Bell. As he learned more about Bell’s teachings, Rodgers began “questioning” the Christian religion he grew up with, saying:
“The culture I grew up in is black and white. Black and white is you’re either this or you’re that. There’s no grey area. He was a big help for me to totally unravel the religion of my youth.”
Rodgers noted he started learning more about spirituality, reading philosophy, and self-help books, and transitioning into a new person. He claimed this process helped him find the courage to express his feelings better. Unfortunately, this new religious path worsened his relationship with his family, per PEOPLE.
Aaron Rodgers Publicly Questioned His Family’s Faith Four Years Ago
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The rocky bond between Rodgers and his family made waves in 2020 when he publicly questioned their faith. He slammed organized religion in a podcast episode with his then-girlfriend Danica Patrick, criticizing beliefs like hell’s punishment.
“I don’t know how you can believe in a God who wants to condemn most of the planet to a fiery hell,” Rodgers argued. He made several controversial statements about what type of creator would punish his creations, leaving his family stunned. At the time, a source claimed they were “dismayed” because he had turned his back on their teachings.
Despite their years-long differences, Rodgers stressed in the documentary that he was open to a reconciliation. He wished the best for his family and hoped they could find happiness without struggles. He also described their issues as them being on “different steps on the timeline” of their respective journeys.
We covered that Rodgers echoed similar positive sentiments in the trailer of his new Netflix documentary. He reflected on his recovery from an Achilles injury, with the snippet capturing his emotional healing journey. The scenes featured clips of his efforts to return to the field amid cries for his retirement.
Related: Aaron Rodgers Has This Regret About Discussing His Sexuality: ‘I Wished I Would Have Handled It That Way’
There were various news headlines discussing whether Rodgers would quit the NFL after his Achilles injury in the trailer. However, the athlete shut down the retirement narrative, proudly declaring, “I’m coming back to do it all.” He also claimed he was trying to defeat “Father time and the expectations” while reflecting on his football legacy.
Aaron Rodgers explores more about his life and his infamy in his now-available Netflix docuseries.
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