Director’s Note

We were both raised in religious communities and have since redefined our identities based on humanism and science. That shared journey shaped our belief in pluralism, the separation of church and state, and the simple idea that those who live outside organized religion deserve to be seen, heard, and fully represented in American culture.

When we began making Heathens, we thought we were telling a story about people leaving faith. What we found was something much larger. Across the country, millions of Americans are quietly questioning or walking away from organized religion. They’re not zealots or culture warriors—they’re neighbors, coworkers, and parents still living among the faithful, often hiding their disbelief out of fear of rejection or retaliation.

That’s not a small subculture. It’s a demographic shift with profound cultural and political implications. In an era when Christian nationalism and identity politics seek to reassert fading privilege and power, this silent cohort represents something vital: a bridge between secular and religious America. Their visibility alone has the power to dilute extremism by reminding us that doubt and decency can coexist.

Through five deeply personal stories, Heathens invites viewers to see these so-called “unbelievers” not as outsiders, but as a quiet emerging community whose courage, empathy, and honesty could help heal a fractured nation.