A new report from the American Bible Society found that 34 percent of Gen Z identifies as agnostic, atheist or none — more than any other generation.
The study surveyed 2,761 U.S. adults 18 and older for its 13th annual report, “State of the Bible.” When asked about religious affiliation, one-third of all Gen Z respondents selected “Agnostic, Atheist or None.” However, Christianity is still the majority in every generation, with 58 percent of Gen Z identifying as Christian.
Still, the study appears to show that non-religious identification has grown with each generation. Only 9 percent of elders, 18% percent of boomers, 22 percent of Gen X, and 29 percent of millennials identify as “Agnostic, Atheist or None.”
However, not all hope is lost for Gen Z, as many are curious about Christianity and the Bible. The study broke down the number even further, finding that 56 percent of younger Gen Zers (ages 18-21) are “very or extremely curious” about the Bible and Jesus, while 34 percent of older Gen Z members (22 to 26) are also extremely curious.
“Gen Zers have been described as curious, digitally savvy and advocates for change,” said John Farquhar Plake, chief ministry insights officer for the American Bible Society. “We see all of this reflected in our research, but we also see a generation struggling to find their footing with faith.
“Ministry leaders may be surprised to find how open Gen Z adults in their communities are to discussions about God’s Word,” he continued. “And if the trends we’re seeing continue, it’s crucial to be having those conversations now.”
