A Rebel With a Rosary: How Braden Sorbo is Defending Faith, Masculinity, and the Future
At just 23, Braden Sorbo is already a force most young men only dream of becoming. He’s an actor with 11 films under his belt, an author, and a man unapologetically committed to defending faith, tradition, and the forgotten strength of authentic masculinity. But more than that? He’s a new Catholic convert with a fire in his belly—and a book that takes direct aim at the confusion of modern manhood.
His new release, Embrace Masculinity: Lifting Men Up in a World That Pushes Them Down, isn’t just another self-help guide—it’s a cultural battle cry. "Masculinity itself is inherently good," Sorbo says with the conviction of someone who’s done his homework—and lived it. “Society has been pushing away traditional masculine virtues and values for decades… It’s been an attempt to stage a coup d'etat on men at large.”
Raised in the chaotic world of Hollywood, with actor Kevin Sorbo as his father, Braden saw the industry for what it was—and chose a different path. His latest role? Warrior for truth. Catholic apologist. And perhaps most important—a model of what happens when a young man stops following the culture, and starts following Christ.
1. “There's a Divine Order—And We’re Better Off Following It”
Braden’s no stranger to the toxic narrative swirling around young men today. Confusion, blame, and a cultural fog that leaves guys wondering if being masculine is something to hide. His message? Stop apologizing. Start living in alignment with the order God created.
“There is a divine order in the universe instituted by God that none of us can control or change,” he explains. “The best way to live life is to follow it. Historically speaking—it’s worked.”
For Sorbo, that order includes the complementary design of men and women—both equal in dignity, both essential in purpose. But that message, he admits, often gets distorted.
"Everyone loves to quote ‘Wives, submit to your husbands’ like the Bible is misogynistic,” he says. “But they forget the next part—‘Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church.’ That means sacrifice. That means laying your life down.”
His book Embrace Masculinity leans into this unapologetically biblical view of manhood—a call back to traditional virtues like courage, leadership, and self-sacrifice. It’s no coincidence, either, that the book resonates most with his own generation.
“A lot of young men are on board with this,” he says. “They’re starving for clarity. For purpose. For truth.”
2. From Hollywood Sets to Small-Town Movie Magic
Braden grew up on film sets, homeschooled, tagging along as his parents made movies. But his path into acting wasn’t handed to him. He earned it.
“When I was 11, I told my parents I wanted to be an actor. Their reaction? ‘Oh please, no,’” he laughs. But despite their hesitation, they signed him up for acting classes—and made him work for every role.
At 14, after months of training, Braden landed his first role in Let There Be Light, a Christmas movie directed by his father and funded by Sean Hannity. It wasn’t just a gig—it was a hard-won lesson in earning your place.
But his proudest project? A recent indie film called I Feel Fine, tackling the heavy themes of suicide and mental health—a topic close to his heart in a culture drowning in loneliness and despair.
“We filmed in this tiny town in West Virginia, 3,200 people, Buffalo Wild Wings was basically the only restaurant,” he recalls. “But those late nights, the passion of that crew—it was unforgettable. And seeing that story come to life on screen? It was different. More personal.”
For Braden, movies aren’t just entertainment—they’re tools to spark conversation, to fight hopelessness, and maybe even save lives.
3. “The Church is Home—And Young Men Are Coming Back”
Braden’s most surprising role? Catholic convert. His journey to Rome wasn’t a slow drift—it was a bold, research-fueled leap after a Seventh-Day Adventist friend called the Catholic Church “the Church of the Antichrist.”
“Such an absolute statement forced me to look into it,” Braden explains. “Either I agreed with him as a Protestant… or disagreed with him as a Catholic.”
What started with a dive into saintly intercession led him straight to the early Church Fathers, the authority of the papacy, and the undeniable reality of the Eucharist. The deeper he studied, the clearer it became.
“Being Catholic is a humility thing,” he says. “How prideful do I have to be to say 2,000 years of saints, martyrs, and church history got it wrong—but I got it right?”
Since his conversion this past Easter, Braden’s become a vocal defender of the faith online—weekly tackling Catholic doctrines on social media for his 2 million followers. From the Rosary to confession, he’s inviting his generation to rediscover the ancient, gritty, life-giving traditions of the Church.
And the stats back him up. In Los Angeles alone, catechumen numbers surged by over 30% this Easter. Young men—especially—are returning to the Church, hungry for order, purpose, and truth.
“We seek guidance, we seek order,” he says. “We’re capable—but we can’t save ourselves. That humility? That’s why young men are coming back to the Church. And because of that? They’re going to save the West.”
Final Word: Building Brotherhood, Reclaiming the Future
Braden’s challenge to parishes? Don’t leave new converts on an island.
“Invite them. Include them. Make them feel welcome,” he urges. More youth groups, more men’s groups, more opportunities for young Catholics to connect—and lean into tradition.
Young men, he says, are craving reverence. They want the kneelers, the incense, the ancient prayers whispered in bold confidence. They want a faith that feels unshakeable, not watered-down.
For Braden Sorbo, that means standing tall, rosary in one hand, truth in the other—and inviting the next generation of men to do the same.
“Everything is better when we follow the order God designed,” he says simply.
In a world lost in confusion? That might just be the most rebellious—and heroic—thing a man can do.