An alarming survey finds atheism has doubled among generation Z.
For Generation Z, those born between 1999 and 2015, atheism is growing faster than anyone expected, according to a new study from Barna research. This is truly the first “post-Christian” generation, the survey finds, and more than any other generation before it, Gen Z does not assert a religious identity.
The Barna survey, conducted in partnership with the Impact 360 Institute, also found that members of Generation Z “might be drawn to things spiritual, but with a vastly different starting point from previous generations, many of whom received a basic education on the Bible and Christianity.” This fact is evidenced through the study that examines the culture, beliefs, and motivations shaping this next generation, and specifically Generation Z’s views on faith, truth and the church in a time of growing religious apathy.
The study also discovered that the proportion that identifies as Christian likewise drops from generation to generation. Three out of four Boomers are Protestant or Catholic Christians, while just three in five 13 to 18-year-olds say they are some kind of Christian.
Perhaps the best news from the study is that Gen Z’s perception of the church tends to be more positive than negative. Strong majorities of churched teens say that church “is a place to find answers to live a meaningful life” and “is relevant to my life.”