To truly understand Damon’s faith, one must watch his films, not his interviews. Because an actor cannot hide. What a person believes—or fails to believe—bleeds into their performance.
Some critics called The Martian a humanist manifesto. But Damon played it differently. He played Watney as a man who, in the face of cosmic indifference, chooses to keep going. That is a form of faith. It is the faith of Albert Camus’ Sisyphus—imagining Sisyphus happy.
He took Chasing Amy , stared at it for a second, and put it back on the shelf, too. matt damon faith
: Starred in a story that directly addresses themes of predestination, free will, and the nature of a divine plan. Quick Facts: Matt Damon’s Beliefs Religious Upbringing Current Identification Christian / Spiritual Key Values Compassion, humility, global responsibility Spiritual Practice
He walked to his car, his hands in his pockets, lighter than they had been in years. He had no tape, no plan for the night, and absolutely no answers. But for the first time in a long time, he felt the quiet, terrifying, electric hum of faith. To truly understand Damon’s faith, one must watch
"Faith isn't knowing the ending, son," she said softly. She placed the tape back on the shelf, sliding it into the slot with a satisfying click . "Faith is renting the movie anyway, even if you think the projector might break."
If pressed, he would likely offer a variation of the same answer: I don’t know. Some critics called The Martian a humanist manifesto
Damon’s position is made more distinct by the company he keeps. His best friend, Ben Affleck, has had a far more public and tortured relationship with religion. Affleck, who famously wore a “I’m Not Religious” pin on Real Time with Bill Maher , has vacillated between criticism of faith and a strange, defensive pride in his own Irish Catholic roots. But Affleck has also been willing to call himself an atheist.
Matt Damon, however, refuses to play that game.
"Don't," she said. She tapped the cover of Chasing Amy in his right hand. "My grandson loves this one. But he says it’s about regret. He says it’s about wanting things you can't have."