Aaron Rodgers, at 40, is all set to make a solid comeback this season! After tearing his Achilles tendon just after four snaps last season, he is ready for a high-stake return. And now the leading New York Jets QB is at a crucial juncture of his life. Given his age, he is mindful of the challenges while being hopeful about the entire situation.

Even though he once stated, “I thought I was done” after getting hurt, it is faith in himself that has pushed him to strive towards the best. He has adopted a more individualized spiritual perspective over the years, diverting away from traditional beliefs. So, let’s take a look at what role religion or ethnicity plays in keeping him motivated!

Is Aaron Rodgers a Christian?

Even though Rodgers grew up in a devout evangelical household, his religious beliefs have changed over a period. He is not a practicing Christian anymore. Instead, Rodgers has begun to explore spirituality to understand the philosophies of life.

Growing up in Chico, California, his parents, Ed and Darla Rodgers, raised Aaron and his siblings with strict notions of Christianity. And this was a given, because Darla was from a Presbyterian background, and even Ed was raised Catholic. And, this also brought about strict imposition of rules for Aaron. They could not sport tattoos and long hair, and skipping church was not even in question.

In the biography Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers by Ian O’Connor, the author notes, “A commitment to Christianity was at the very least an expectation, if not an outright mandate.” While, in the starting years, Rodgers actively participated in the religious activities, stating, “I went from going to church on Sundays, knowing how important that was to my parents, to a desire to grow deeper in the Lord,” but when he was young, his perspectives began to change.

When he was in junior high, he did not want to shift back to Chico from Oregon. And his parents believed that it was god’s will to shift. Darla even told Aaron, “God would not have this be the will of your father’s life without it also being the will of your life. We’re supposed to return to California.” Aaron pursued faith and Christianity while in college, and when he was drafted in the NFL, he thanked God for teaching him “humility and patience.”

But, the major shift in his faith also parallels the fallout with his family, after the disapproval of Aaron’s ex-girlfriend Olivia Munn. In a 2017 interview with ESPN’s Mina Kimes, he even said that he is no longer identified as Christian, and prefers a spiritual approach.

When he appeared on Danica Patrick’s podcast, Pretty Intense, Rodgers did not hesitate in sharing his doubts about traditional Christian teachings, “I don’t know how you can believe in a God who wants to condemn most of the planet to a fiery hell.” Now, he is more fluid with his practices, not taking to be confined by the scriptures anymore.

What is Aaron Rodgers’ ethnicity?

Now, if we talk about his ethnicity and nationality, he shares European ancestry. His paternal heritage is quite diverse, tracing it to England, Ireland, and Germany. Mostly from his mother’s side, it runs to England, and also other parts of Western Europe.

The mix of various heritages adds a distinct identity to Rodgers. A citizen of the US, Aaron Rodgers is all set to give his best now, in a bid to make a solid comeback this season.