Pitt, father to six children, grew up in Missouri to Southern Baptist parents. While he snubbed his religious upbringing, his younger brother, Doug, remains active in the church.
Speaking to reporters at the Cannes Film Festival, Pitt revealed mixed feelings about his religious upbringing.
"I got brought up being told things were God's way, and when things didn't work out it was called God's plan," he said.
"I've got my issues with it. Don't get me started. I found it very stifling."
His latest movie, which also stars Sean Penn, has received mixed reviews and even a few boos from critics at Cannes.
Pitt doesn't seem bothered by the cool reception, however, telling reporters that he wants his kids to grow up thinking of him as a "pretty damn good actor".
"I think of everything I do now that my kids are going to see when they grow up and how are they going to feel," he said.
"But they know me as a dad and I hope they'll just think of me as a pretty damn good actor."