A quarter of the world’s adolescents The Church has “permanently” lost its effectiveness as a force against injustice, poverty and environmental challenges, according to new research.
But in the United States, Generation Z is more optimistic about the role of organized religion in improving society, according to a study by Barna in partnership with Alpha, Biblica and World Vision.
The study found that 37 percent of young people said the Church “definitely has an impact on these issues,” the researchers said. “Among Christians, and even among adolescents of other faiths, this figure rises to more than two in five. »
As a result, American teens told researchers they preferred to affiliate with congregations that support social justice and mental health causes — just like them.
“Adolescents are involved in solving pressing challenges that have personal relevance,” said Michael Chen, principal of Pacific Bay Christian School in Pacifica, California. His comments are highlighted in the report.
“The young people I work with seem to crave a sense of belonging,” he added. “It’s not just about the need to belong to a group of friends; it is also (the feeling) that they participate in the active involvement of the evangelical work. (Young people) want to see how the gospel actually makes the world a more just, more loving, more meaningful place, and in turn, they can be part of that meaningful impact.
Barna and his partners conducted interviews with more than 25,000 adolescents in 26 countries in 2021 and 2022. Respondents aged 13 to 17 – the youngest of Generation Z – answered questions about global concerns, mental health issues and the role of faith and community in their lives. .
“Along the way, we ended up observing remarkable differences between today’s teenagers and the young adults we learned about just a few years ago. The main difference lies in the open-mindedness of adolescents,” note the authors of the study.
This is what inspired the title of the study, “The Open Generation”.
“From a global perspective, there is a lightness among today’s adolescents that is less common among young adults, even a few years earlier,” the researchers explained. “This research offers an emotional portrait of a connected and digital generation – particularly as it relates to the sacred text, the central character and expression of the Christian faith. »
The researchers said they also discovered an emergency in the data, especially when it comes to American adolescents. “Adolescents are going through a precarious and profound period. After all, young adults, even a few years older, exhibit more signs of emotional tension, spiritual uncertainty, and social isolation.
Barna said 56% of American teens and young adults identify as Christian, and more than half of them (57%) are Catholic. “In the United States, Christian teens are split evenly between committed and nominal Christians, while young adults are much less likely to be involved. »
Barna found that 19 percent of Gen Z Americans, and twice as many young adults, are agnostic, atheist, or report no religious identity. “More than any other American generation before it, Generation Z does not affirm a religious identity. But it remains to be seen whether this represents a clear break with the faith.”
But this generation is nonetheless defined by an intense commitment to serving social, racial and environmental concerns influenced by where they live.
“Globally, extreme poverty (38%), global climate change (35%), unemployment (33%), sexual abuse (33%), political corruption (31%) and pollution (31%) are at the top of people’s concerns. the majority of adolescents,” the report said. report states. “In the United States – and much of the West – this list is different, as teenagers say racial injustice is the greatest concern (32%), followed closely by extreme poverty (30%) and human trafficking (30%). »
In the United States, Generation Z is also distinguished by a growing determination to act on issues of justice.
“American teens are more motivated than their peers around the world to fight injustices in society,” the report said. “American Christian teens outperform Christian teens worldwide by 10 points in being highly motivated to fight injustice (47% vs. 37%). Additionally, U.S. teens of other faiths (62%) are exceptionally likely to report this motivation.
Respondents were also asked to identify what would most help them as individuals in social justice ministry. The top response among U.S. teens (30%) was for their generation to take a stand on these issues, compared to 20% of teens worldwide who said the same. Only 17% of U.S. teens said advice from a religious leader would be helpful, compared to 13% of teens worldwide.
Barna also found that as American adolescents’ motivation for justice work increases, so does their faith in religious institutions that make a difference for good.
“Justice-oriented adolescents stand out in the hope that the Church will teach people about the sources of injustice and welcome people into the Church,” the report explains. “American teens of other faiths or no faith hope that churches and Christian leaders will engage in advocacy.”
Many Christian teenagers have said they also seek out communities that help them with their personal struggles: “When it comes to issues the church can address, American teens, especially those who are motivated and justice-oriented, prefer to attend a church that promotes a positive mental health. »
The survey found a gap between U.S. and international teens in the quality of mental health and personal safety they experience, with U.S. teens more likely “to say they experience uncertainty and the pressure to succeed or become perfect. At the same time, they are more likely to feel optimistic and confident. Their emotional profile is generally more dynamic than the global average.
Significant gender differences were also captured in the data. “In the United States, young men are more likely than young women to be optimistic, satisfied with their choices, secure in their identity, and capable of achieving their goals,” the authors explain. “Meanwhile, Gen Z women in the United States report greater anxiety about major decisions, a fear of failure, and uncertainty about the future.”
