Depictions of faith in TV, movies appeal across religious and political lines, new survey finds

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The top-performing scene from the survey came from the HBO medical drama “The Pitt,” which follows medical professionals working at a fictional trauma hospital in Pittsburgh. The scene follows Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch as he experiences grief and emotional exhaustion during a difficult shift. During the scene, Dr. Robby thanks a medical student, Dennis Whitaker, for allowing him a “brief moment of silent reflection” when he felt as though he were “drowning.”

“What was that you were reciting?” Whitaker asks. Dr. Robby, who is Jewish, replies, “It’s the Shema prayer. It’s a declaration of faith in God. I lived with my grandmother when I was little, and we used to recite it every morning.”

Whitaker responds by reciting a passage from the Book of Isaiah, which he says he learned while majoring in theology: “Weary young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles.”

Dr. Robby listens with a small smile on his face, “I don’t know if I actually believe in God, especially on days like today,” he says. The scene ends with both characters clearly touched by the intimate interaction.

72% of survey respondents said the scene was emotionally moving, and 69% said it “invites reflection.”

Zaugg said what maybe was most relatable about this scene was when Whitaker revealed he studied theology.

“When you talk with people, there are so many surprise moments where that is true,” Zaugg said. “Maybe not that they minored in theology, but like they are deeply religious or deeply spiritual.” A medical professional who also has an ongoing interest in faith and theology, Zaugg said, exemplifies the complexity of people who can’t be reduced to a singular identity. 

In open-ended responses, viewers frequently cited the scene’s emotional honesty and realism. “It shows characters grappling with their beliefs in a meaningful way,” one respondent wrote. Another said, “I feel like this shows real human confusion and wonder.” A third said the moment demonstrated “how faith impacts daily decisions and relationships authentically.”

Dritan Nesho, founder and CEO of HarrisX, said the research offers a “road map” for producers on how to approach faith in ways that resonate with audiences, whether the story portrays doubt in belief or leans into its emotional vulnerability. 

“As long as those portrayals are approached with thoughtfulness, respect — that they are not dumbed down but address the complexity of human nature and belief in something higher than themselves — I think that that is the recipe for success,” Nesho said. 

Zaugg said the value in the survey’s findings lies in challenging the assumption that faith-based storytelling appeals only to an American small audience.

“I don’t think they realize how large that audience actually is,” she said. “Religion can feel scary to talk about — like politics — so it creates the illusion that it’s a small group. That makes it easy for filmmakers to oversimplify it or not give it much thought, instead of recognizing how valuable faith storytelling can be when it’s done well.”