WASHINGTON (TNND) — As Christians worldwide celebrate the birth of Jesus, discussions about a religious revival in America, particularly among young people, have been prevalent.
However, new data from the Pew Research Center suggests that the narrative of a revival may be overstated.
The research indicates stability rather than revival, with about 70% of Americans still identifying with a religion—a figure that has remained unchanged since 2020. This stability extends to daily prayer, the importance of religion, and attendance at services, marking a pause after decades of decline but not a rebound.
The revival narrative is particularly pronounced among young adults, yet Pew found no evidence of a nationwide religious comeback in this demographic. Young people today are less religious than older Americans and less religious than young people were 10 or 20 years ago.
Contrary to this, research from Barna suggests that Gen Z and millennials are now the most regular churchgoers, surpassing older generations who once formed the backbone of church attendance.
Focusing on Catholicism, a new survey presents a more complex picture. According to a report from Leadership Roundtable, Catholics aged 18 to 29 are the most engaged group in the church. They are more likely than older Catholics to attend Mass regularly, go to confession, participate in parish life, and engage in Eucharistic adoration and social events. However, these young Catholics are also the most likely to consider leaving the church. More than a third express that the church’s positions do not align with their values, while others cite feelings of not belonging or ongoing scandals. The report describes their commitment as strong but fragile, noting high trust in local priests and parishes but much lower trust in bishops and national leadership.
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