GVPT 210 - Gen Z religion reading 9/16/25

Overview

• Gen Z is half as likely as their parents to identify as atheist; youngest generations are more likely to describe themselves as spiritual. The pattern suggests spirituality is not simply declining with each generation, but that Gen Z may be more spiritual than older groups in some respects.

• Middle-aged Gen X (ages 45–60) are reported as the most irreligious, with 25\% identifying as atheists. This is higher than the 20\% atheism rate among those aged 65 (Baby Boomers) and the 20\% rate among those aged 25–44 (millennials).

• The least likely group to call themselves atheists appears to be those aged 20–25, at 13\%.

• Across ages, 18–24s show a strong spiritual inclination: 62\% say they are very or fairly spiritual, compared with 35\% of those aged over 65, 36\% of 55–64, and 52\% of 35–44.

• A survey of 10{,}000 people was conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by author Christopher Gascon (book: The Devil's Gospels: Finding God in Four Great Atheist Books). Gascon argues the results show that Christians can learn from atheist criticism; he described the results as “gobspacking” and suggested it could indicate God is making a comeback in Britain.

• Gascon cautions church leaders to rethink if younger people are more spiritual yet disinclined to conventional religion, noting a tendency toward a more individualistic spirituality.

• A possible explanation for increased spirituality among the youngest generation may lie in Gen Z's religious backgrounds; the survey breaks down religious roots by age group.

• The study provides a contrast between rising spirituality in youth and lower regular worship attendance, with a hint that some spirituality is displayed outside traditional worship spaces.

Age group breakdown and religious identity by age

• Gen Z (roughly ages 18–24) and teens: more spiritual and less atheistic than older generations.

• Middle-aged Gen X (ages 45–60): the most irreligious generation with 25\% identifying as atheists.

• Baby Boomers (ages ~65+): atheism rate around 20\%.

• Millennials (roughly ages 25–44): atheism rate around 20\%.

• Young adults (ages 20–25): the lowest atheism rate at 13\%.

• Spirituality by age group:

  • 18–24: 62\% say they are very or fairly spiritual.

  • 65+: 35\%.

  • 55–64: 36\%.

  • 35–44: 52\%.

• Note on data quality: sample composition included breakdowns such as 1{,}039 respondents aged 25, 1{,}696 aged 25–34, 637 aged 35–44, 667 aged 45–54, 605 aged 55–64, and 356 aged over 65, with the rest covered by other age groups to reach the total of 10{,}000.

Religious backgrounds by age and what that implies

• Among those aged 25:

  • 40\% identify as Christian

  • 21\% identify as Muslim

  • 3\% identify as Hindu

• Among those aged over 65:

  • 69\% identify as Christian

  • <1\% identify as Muslim or Hindu

• Observational note: reports suggest Croatian parents (in general) are less successful than Muslim parents at passing their faith on to their children, which may influence the observed higher spirituality among younger cohorts.

• Implication: higher spiritual inclination in Gen Z does not necessarily translate into regular worship; many may express spirituality outside traditional church/mosque settings.

• Church of England data example: almost a third of churches have zero children in their congregation, illustrating a gap between youth interest in spirituality and traditional religious structures.

How people express spirituality vs participation in religious practice

• When asked how they feed their sense of spirituality, respondents were more likely to cite:

  • Enjoying nature

  • Mindfulness

  • Rather than engaging in traditional religious practices

• Across all age groups (n = 10{,}000 sample):

  • 27\% identify as atheist

  • 54\% identify as Christian

  • 6\% identify as Muslim

  • 1\% each identify as Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jewish

• Among Muslim respondents, 41\% said they worship regularly and accept the authority of leaders of their faith, vs. only 14\% of Christians.

• This data suggests a distinction between personal spirituality and formal religious participation across groups.

Context: UK census and trends in England & Wales

• The 2021 Census findings:

  • The proportion identifying as Christian fell below half for the first time, to 46.2\%.

  • The Muslim share grew from 4.8\% (2011) to 6.5\% (2021).

  • The rise of people with no religion rose sharply from 15\% to 37.5\% by 2021.

• The Christian decline is largely attributed to the rise of the No Religion category rather than large increases in other faiths.

• These census trends provide a backdrop for the survey's observations about Gen Z and spirituality within Britain.

Gen Z and astrology; social media influence

• The report notes Gen Z shows greater interest in astrology, with a growing number of astrology-based feeds on platforms like TikTok.

• This aligns with broader observations about Gen Z embracing diverse spiritual expressions, often mediated by social media rather than traditional religious institutions.

Personal story and cultural context

• Freya Stewart Williams, age 20, from London, grew up religious on her father’s side; her grandmother brought Christian faith from the West Indies via the Windrush generation.

• She attended Sunday school as a child but later felt that God and the Christian story were not for her; nevertheless, she sensed that “something was out there.”

• In her teens, she worked in a crystal shop in Covent Garden, selling gemstones and promoting purported healing, calming, or luck-bringing qualities.

• She describes her shop as a spirituality shop, reflecting a broader market for spiritually oriented experiences outside traditional churches.

• The rise of TikTok and social media during lockdown contributed to a surge in openness about mental health and different states of mind, which she believes has driven greater openness to spirituality among younger people.

What might drive the decline of Christianity in the UK over the next decade

• In a follow-up survey of Gen Z, respondents identified two top drivers for potential decline of Christianity in the next ten years:

  • Generational change

  • Inability to grapple with scandals involving abuse

• These factors suggest both demographic shifts and reputational/ethical challenges within traditional churches that could influence engagement among younger generations.

Connections, implications, and reflections

• The data challenges a simplistic narrative that spirituality inevitably declines with each generation; instead, younger people appear to channel spirituality more broadly and in non-traditional forms.

• The rise of no-religion alongside stable or increasing spiritual self-identification among youth suggests a reconfiguration of beliefs rather than a uniform secularization.

• For religious institutions, the findings imply a need to engage with spirituality in contemporary formats (nature, mindfulness, online communities, youth-focused outreach) rather than relying solely on traditional worship.

• The interplay between background, migration histories (e.g., Windrush), and current spiritual identities highlights the importance of family and community history in shaping young people’s beliefs.

• Ethical and practical implications include addressing abuse scandals transparently to maintain credibility with younger generations who are more attentive to governance and ethics.

Key numerical references (for quick review)

• Middle-aged Gen X atheism: 25\%

• 65-year-olds (Boomers) atheism: 20\%

• 25–44 (Millennials) atheism: 20\%

• 20–25 atheism: 13\%

• Spirituality (18–24): 62\% very or fairly spiritual

• Spirituality (65+): 35\%

• Spirituality (55–64): 36\%

• Spirituality (35–44): 52\%

• Survey size: 10{,}000 people

• Respondents (25): 1{,}039

• Respondents (25–34): 1{,}696

• Respondents (35–44): 637

• Respondents (45–54): 667

• Respondents (55–64): 605

• Respondents (65+): 356

• Christian background among 25-year-olds: 40\%

• Muslim background among 25-year-olds: 21\%

• Hindu background among 25-year-olds: 3\%

• Christian background among 65-year-olds: 69\%

• Muslim/Hindu background among 65-year-olds: <1\%

• Atheists across all age groups: 27\%

• Christians across all age groups: 54\%

• Muslims across all age groups: 6\%

• Hindu/Sikh/Buddhist/Jewish each: 1\%

• Regular Muslim worship/authority acceptance: 41\%; Christians: 14\%

• England & Wales Christian share (2021): 46.2\%

• England & Wales Muslim share (2021): 6.5\%

• No religion share (2011 → 2021): from 15\% to 37.5\%

• No religion share in 2021 (context): 37.5\%

• Christian share decline context: linked to rise in no religion, not solely growth of other faiths

End of notes

Gen Z exhibits higher spirituality and lower atheism compared to older generations, with 62\% of 18

-24-year-olds identifying as spiritual, contrasting with the middle-aged Gen X (45

-60) who are the most irreligious at 25\% atheist. Despite increased spirituality, youth show declining participation in traditional worship, often preferring individualistic expressions like enjoying nature and mindfulness over formal religious practices.

The 2021 UK Census reflects these shifts, with Christian identification falling below half to 46.2\% and the "no religion" category rising sharply to 37.5\%. This trend is partly driven by generational changes and issues like abuse scandals within religious institutions. Gen Z's spiritual exploration often involves social media and areas like astrology, signaling a reconfiguration of beliefs rather than a simple decline of spirituality. Religious groups are prompted to adapt by engaging with contemporary forms of spiritual expression.