There’s more to the story of Gen Z and religion.
Our data show that the popular narrative about Gen Z dismissing religion doesn’t add up. Thanks to a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., we’re going to discover the spaces across religious and spiritual traditions where youth and young adults are flourishing and flocking. Through on-site visits, national surveys, and careful listening—we’ll create and share new blueprints to help you care for young people, better. Read the full press release here.
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Is Gen Z rejecting religion? Flourishing in their beliefs? Or something in between?
Hover on the tiles below to reveal if the statement is myth or truth:
Click on the tiles below to reveal if the statement is myth or truth:
Three-stage Process
What does a blueprint for success look like?
This multi-year campaign will include visiting innovative practitioners who are having success in engaging youth and young adults, implementing national surveys for faith leaders as well as young people, and creating new frameworks for how to help Gen Z thrive in spiritual and religious spaces.
Follow along as we uncover a new narrative step-by-step.
Stage 1
Discover with experts.
Learn, listen, and visit.
Springtide will gather expert practitioners from communities representing an array of spiritual identities to share their wisdom. A nationwide survey for leaders from a variety of faith backgrounds and spiritual traditions will be launched to discover more.
Stage 2
Explore with young people.
Research, analyze, and interview.
In a nationally representative survey, 5,000 young people will share what works to engage them and where they find flourishing. From these conversations, we will conduct additional on-site research visits.
Stage 3
Take action with research.
Publish, report, and share.
We will generate new core frameworks for flourishing that will truly engage youth and young adults. Imagine the possibilities: young people being engaged from well-researched modes of connection across all faith traditions and spiritual leanings!
About Lilly Endowment: Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.