Here’s my February 25 newsletter. To receive my latest articles, favorite religion reads and other updates in your inbox each Saturday, sign-up here. 

I met yesterday with two religious studies professors, who encourage religious literacy on campus and in the world at-large. They were distraught, they told me, that class enrollment was falling and that people seemed to accept the proclamations of high-profile faith leaders without a second thought.

The one bright spot for them was Hollywood. People, whether they’re Buddhist, atheist or Presbyterian, still like to think about movies and whether or not they hold wisdom about how human beings see themselves and God.

I liked that insight, both because I agree with it and it’s well-timed. We’re a little more than 24 hours away from the Oscars, an event that inspires months of speculation and excitement about the top films of the previous year.

I’ve always thought of my movie love as separate from my job, but those professors inspired me to get creative at the box office in the year ahead.

FRESH OFF THE PRESS FROM ME

Faith communities just lost ‘the leading public intellectual’ of a generation

The long road to a religious freedom victory for Sikhs in the U.S. Army

TOP RELIGION READS

A come-to-Jesus moment for liberals, U.S. News & World Report

Listen to the Call to Prayer in countries around the world, Atlas Obscura

How smartphones and social media are changing Christianity, BBC

JUST FOR FUN

Does Bigfoot have a soul? A radio host’s audience ponders, The New York Times