Allen explained that his « pain » and « discomfort » over his father’s death and faith « never stopped » because of that.
« For many years I didn’t care, » he said. « That whole process started me on asking questions and generally getting no answers. »
But his shop teacher at school told him to stop asking questions and figure out what he could do. « ‘That’s all you can do,’ » he said of his teacher’s advice to take control of his life. « I used to love that about shop teachers. »
« I don’t know what political, religious persuasion I really am because the more I look at the emanator, I tag it, I make names, and then I go through this whole thing, » he explained of the way he perceives God. « It’s in a big chair, and it’s got a beard for some reason. It looks like Father Time. »
He joked he feels like this emanator tells him, « ‘You have no idea how big I am. How insignificant you are and yet you have the capacity to go, ‘Nah, I think I got it.’ »
In 2011, Allen told ABC News he’d felt like he’d had a « curious » relationship with God following his father’s death.
Tim Allen in « The Santa Clause »
Tim Allen in a scene from 1994’s « The Santa Clause. » (Walt Disney Pictures/Getty Images)
He said that for years he wondered if he had prayed harder or if he’d done something else, his father might still be alive.
« For years, I just did not like this idea of God, church, » he admitted. « (I was) still a churchgoer, but constantly a cynic. »
But he said he soon began to think of God as « The Builder. »
« I always do ask…The Builder, what did you want me to do? » Allen said. « And I do ask it. But you got to be prepared for the answer. »
