The David Hoggs may be the exception, but his generation is seeing revival. Despite being the least religiously affiliated generation, some Generation Z members find genuine happiness through faith traditions. Americans aged 18-29 rank 62nd in self-reported well-being among 140 countries, far lower than the overall US adult ranking of 24th.
Digital Discontent Driving a Spiritual Shift
Generation Z faces a unique mental health challenge. According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, Americans aged 18 to 29 rank 62nd in self-reported well-being among 140 countries, substantially lower than the overall US adult ranking of 24th. This stark difference has many young Americans questioning the digital world they’ve inherited and seeking fulfillment through more traditional sources like faith and family relationships.
Social media, once celebrated as a revolutionary connection tool, is increasingly viewed as detrimental by many Gen Z members. “Social media in and of itself is a very negative and toxic place,” notes Kevin Alexander, who has found greater happiness through his Christian faith. Others, like Ben Feinblum, point out how digital platforms create isolation: “Social media makes people very comfortable being alone, and even when they are hanging out with people, they’re on their phones and texting people that aren’t even there.”
Gen Z leads a wave of conversions to Catholicism, rejecting modern chaos for tradition, discipline, and moral order as dioceses report increases up to 72%.
Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/M85ia2NAVw
— AF Post (@AFpost) April 17, 2025
Religious Affiliation Across Generations
Research from the American Enterprise Institute shows Generation Z is currently the least religiously affiliated generation in American history. Only 42 percent attended religious services weekly during childhood, compared to 61 percent of baby boomers. This decline reflects broader societal shifts, including less parental encouragement for religious participation and changing cultural values over the past several decades.
“The modest generational division in saying grace or praying at meals is noteworthy given how much less often younger generations report eating meals with their families as children.” Daniel A. Cox
Family structure significantly impacts religious upbringing. Children from two-parent households are more likely to engage in religious activities, creating formative experiences that often carry into adulthood. Research consistently shows childhood religious exposure strongly influences adult religious identity, explaining why younger generations with less religious upbringing tend to maintain lower religious affiliation as adults.
🚨BREAKING: Church attendance has QUADRUPLED among Gen-Z, according to a new report from The Bible Society.
The satanic left has LOST CONTROL of the youth as President Trump brings our country and the world back to Jesus Christ.
God bless Trump!🙏 pic.twitter.com/fyOkoLK2oI
— Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) May 18, 2025
Finding Purpose Through Faith
Despite the overall decline in religious participation, some young Americans credit their faith as central to their happiness and well-being. Sarah-Elisabeth Ellison notes that “Something that has always influenced me is growing up with a dad that’s a pastor,” highlighting how familial religious connections can provide lasting foundations. For Kevin Alexander, his Christian faith helps him view his disability positively, giving him a sense of purpose and meaning beyond physical limitations.
However, young people’s expectations for religious institutions are evolving. Gen Z seeks churches that address mental health issues, help the disadvantaged, and engage with social justice. Many struggle with fear-based religious approaches, preferring traditions that emphasize love and relationships. Churches that adapt to these expectations may successfully engage younger generations seeking spiritual connection.
Balancing Digital Life and Real Connections
The combination of decreased family meals, reduced religious participation, and increased digital immersion has created a generation searching for authentic connection. While only 38 percent of Gen Z reports having daily family meals during childhood (compared to 76 percent of baby boomers), those who maintain strong family ties often report greater life satisfaction and stability.
Religious participation typically follows life patterns, often declining during young adulthood but increasing as people settle down and form families. This suggests that while Gen Z currently shows lower religious participation, this may change as they age and seek more stable community connections. Meanwhile, those who prioritize real-world relationships and spiritual practices over digital engagement report finding greater meaning and contentment in their lives.