A recent survey shows younger Brits are more likely to believe in God than older generations, highlighting a shift in spiritual beliefs.
London: A new survey has found that young people in Britain are more inclined to believe in God and spirituality compared to their older counterparts. This study, which surveyed 10,000 individuals, reveals that Gen Z is turning to faith to navigate the complexities of modern life.
Interestingly, only 13% of those born after 1996 identify as atheists, while that number jumps to 22% for Baby Boomers. Gen X, born between 1965 and 1980, leads the pack with 25% identifying as non-believers.
What’s really striking is that 82% of Gen Z describe themselves as spiritual, believing in something beyond the physical world. In contrast, only 65% of Gen X and 63% of Boomers feel the same way.
The survey also found that 29% of Gen Z believe in God because they want to connect with something greater than themselves. Plus, they’re more likely to think God is the best explanation for how the world began.
This research was commissioned by Christopher Gasson, a journalist and Sunday school teacher, to coincide with his book release. He noticed that the teens in his Sunday school were more interested in understanding the criticisms of religion than traditional Bible stories.
Gasson pointed out that many young people are spiritual but feel disconnected from established religions. He believes that the church needs to rethink its approach to engage with younger audiences effectively.
Despite the growing interest in spirituality, 61% of adults surveyed think Christianity will lose followers in the next decade. Many believe that religious leaders need to be more active in their communities and address issues like abuse directly.
Gasson concluded that the financial crisis and the pandemic have made younger generations more spiritual. However, he feels the church hasn’t yet figured out how to connect with this new wave of believers.
