Young Men Leading a Spiritual Reversal: Gen Z Defies “Least Religious” Label
In a surprising development that has caught the attention of religious leaders and researchers alike, America’s youngest men are bucking the longstanding trend of declining church attendance. Despite being previously labeled the “least religious generation,” Gen Z men are now showing signs of a spiritual awakening that could potentially signal the beginnings of a new revival in American religious life. Recent data from the Barna Group reveals that church attendance has notably increased among Gen Z and Millennial men, with the youngest adult generation actually attending slightly more frequently than their Millennial predecessors. This generational reversal comes at a critical time when religious institutions across the country have been grappling with dwindling congregations and waning influence in American culture.
The unexpected shift appears to be driven by young men’s growing disillusionment with the digital world. “Gen Z males are becoming fed up with a virtual world run by algorithms and dating apps… and are seeking something real,” explains Dr. Cory Marsh, professor of New Testament at Southern California Seminary. This search for authenticity and meaning beyond screens has led many back to religious communities. Daniel Copeland, Barna Group’s vice president of research, notes that while most adults attend church approximately two out of every five weekends, Gen Z is reversing the downward trend that religious leaders have observed for decades. “This data represents good news for church leaders and adds to the picture that spiritual renewal is shaping Gen Z and Millennials today,” Copeland stated. Religious institutions now face the challenge of responding effectively to this emerging movement by finding the balance between tradition and relevance.
Interestingly, this spiritual renaissance appears to be primarily a male phenomenon. A 2024 report indicates that young women are leaving churches at significantly higher rates, creating a notable gender divide in religious participation. According to the Survey Center on American Life, 61% of women identify as feminist and tend to view traditional religious institutions with suspicion, often perceiving them as upholders of patriarchal social norms they reject. Corey Miller, president and CEO of Ratio Christi, attributes this contrast largely to ideologies taught at universities, suggesting that higher education has become a powerful secularizing force for young women in particular. “As go the universities, so goes the culture,” Miller observed, highlighting the profound influence of academic environments on shaping religious attitudes and participation patterns across genders.
The response from religious leaders to these changing dynamics varies considerably. Some advocate for churches to modernize their approaches to attract younger generations, while others emphasize staying true to traditional teachings. Dr. Douglas Groothuis, professor of apologetics and Christian worldview at Cornerstone University, falls firmly in the latter camp, arguing that churches should not compromise their core message to accommodate cultural shifts. “The answer for the church is not to adopt its message to the times, but to preach and teach and defend the truth of the Bible in a strong, but loving way,” Groothuis stated. This tension between adaptation and doctrinal integrity represents a central challenge for religious institutions seeking to welcome new young members while maintaining their foundational beliefs and practices.
Beyond church attendance, other indicators suggest a broader spiritual awakening may be underway among young Americans. Bible sales jumped an impressive 22% in 2024, dramatically outpacing the less than 1% growth for print books overall, according to data from Circana BookScan. This surge in interest in religious texts parallels the findings from the State of the Bible USA 2024 report, which reveals that more than 20% of Gen Z individuals increased their Bible reading over the past year. These statistics provide compelling evidence that young people are actively seeking spiritual resources and guidance, even if their engagement with organized religion takes different forms than previous generations. The combination of increased church attendance among young men and heightened interest in religious texts across Gen Z suggests a multifaceted spiritual exploration is occurring.
What makes this apparent revival particularly noteworthy is that it contradicts decades of predictions about the inevitable secularization of American society. Social scientists and religious observers have long anticipated that each successive generation would become progressively less religious than the last, following patterns seen in Western Europe. Yet Gen Z men are defying these expectations, suggesting that religious decline is not a linear or inevitable process. For churches facing the dual challenges of addressing young women’s concerns while nurturing the growing interest among young men, the path forward requires thoughtful navigation of complex social and cultural terrain. As religious institutions respond to these demographic shifts, they have an opportunity to foster meaningful spiritual communities that address the authentic needs and questions of a generation seeking substance in an increasingly virtual world. The data suggests that far from being “least religious,” parts of Gen Z may be pioneering new expressions of faith that could reshape American religious life for decades to come.
