“Jesus and Gen Z: Why a New Generation is Tired of Religion but Hungry for God” – PT 1

John 8:32 – “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Religion: The Norm

Although there are various definitions of the word “religion” across the globe, ranging from a religious approach to a multidimensional approach, the one that strikes me most is Émile Durkheim’s (1858-1917) definition. According to Émile Durkheim, religion is defined as “a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, i.e., things set apart and forbidden—beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them.” This definition is the closest of what is happening in the world today in the name of “religion”. Although religion sets apart and gives an identity to a group of persons having the same beliefs and practices, it has also caused a lot of divisions in the world, both from centuries ago and in the modern era.

The Generation That’s Done with Religion… Or Are They?

James 1:27 – “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Having said all that, we are led to the relationship between religion and the present generations (Generations Y, Z, and Alpha), but I will focus on Generation Z as a case study. A blend of Gen Z and religion is like mixing oil and water, and studies have shown that Gen Z—those born roughly between 1997 and 2012—are widely labelled as the most unreligious generation in history.

Scroll through TikTok or Instagram long enough, and you’ll see a curious blend: a viral video of a deconstructionist questioning the Bible, followed by a spontaneous worship session in a college dorm.  Gen Z, known as the least religious in history, are currently proving the ideology by their low presence in religious gatherings and questioning of traditional structures. But if you look closely, something deeper is happening; Gen Z may be walking away from religion—but they are not walking away from God, they are trying to find a way to God that is not bent on religion.

Reasons behind the shift from religion

There are various reasons behind the current religious shift among Gen Z:

Access to information: Gen Z grew up with the internet at their fingertips. They can easily explore diverse worldviews, question traditional teachings, and form their own beliefs. This means they can search for anything and believe anything if not properly guided.

Skepticism of institutions: From political systems to religious organizations, Gen Z tends to be wary of authority—especially after witnessing scandals and hypocrisy within religious circles. This has made religion look like a joke to them, like there is no confidence or hope there.

Emphasis on inclusion: Many Gen Zs prioritize values like LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality, which can sometimes clash with traditional religious doctrines. This, on the other hand, is majorly based on influence in the systems and on the web, not God’s system.

Alternative communities: Unlike previous generations who found ‘belonging’ in churches, mosques, or other religious gatherings, Gen Z often builds community online or through shared interests and activism.

Spiritual independence: Rather than rejecting spirituality altogether, many prefer to craft their own belief systems—mixing mindfulness, astrology, or even pop culture references into a personalized spiritual identity. And this is a step away to spiritual blindness.

It’s not that Gen Z is anti-spiritual—they’re just redefining what belief looks like based on what they have seen and what they have come to know. The question now is, “who and what is guiding them?’.  

It has been proven that Gen Z can be highly influenced by their own generation. They prefer to learn from their generation rather than the previous generations, and this is becoming more and more difficult to put them under control. How can you put someone under control who has all the information in the world at their fingertips via the internet? Until the entire World Wide Web is shut down, that dogma cannot work.

So what do we do next?

• How do we lead Gen Z to Christ without bombarding them with religion?
• How do we bring their focus on Jesus than the world system and the internet?
• How do we help our children, brothers, sisters, and grandchildren make heaven even with these flying new age teachings flooding the internet?

Want to dive into how this shift is affecting religious institutions or what it might mean for the future? Come with me to the concluding Part 2 of Jesus and Gen Z.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “He has set eternity in the human heart…”

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Hi! I’m Dr. Eno Iwok, a follower of Jesus Christ and the heart behind this blog. In a world full of noise, half-truths, and shifting values, I created this space to seek and share unshakable Truth—the kind found only in God’s Word. Here, we wrestle honestly, walk humbly, and stand boldly. Because even in the chaos, Truth still stands—and His name is Jesus.

Welcome to The Truth: In a Confusing World!.
Let’s walk this narrow way together, anchored in Scripture, lit by grace!