The Newest Generation of Religious “Nones”

According to Springtide Research Institute’s data on young people, one-third of teens and young adults (33%) are religious “Nones”—a broad category that often includes atheists, agnostics, those unaffiliated with organized religion, and the “spiritual but not religious.” But who are young “Nones” and what do they believe? “Nones” hold diverse

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What does “evangelical” mean to young evangelicals?

Evangelicals have long commanded attention in American politics, but less is known about teen and young adult evangelicals. What does “evangelical” mean to young people, ages 13–25, who identify as such? Our research on Gen Z and Gen Alpha reveals just how complex young people’s feelings are about evangelical identities.

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LGBTQ+ youth are less likely to identify as religious than their peers

How many young people identify as LGBTQ+?  Among the 6,669 young people (ages 13-25) surveyed in Springtide’s 2024 Study of Young People and Civic Life, 22% identify as LGBTQ+. Among young people in the U.S., 10% identify as bisexual, 4% identify as gay or lesbian, and 8% identify with another

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Effective Youth Ministry Strategies: Purpose 

In Springtide’s site visits for the What’s Working project, leaders shared their wisdom and insights from years of experience in youth ministry. Five themes shaped our inquiries during these visits: adaptability, integrity, inclusivity, fun, and purpose. While these are universal concepts, each manifested differently in theory and practice, providing a

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Our Search to Find What’s Working

Springtide Research Institute just completed the second phase of the What’s Working project, a multi-year campaign, sponsored in part by Lilly Endowment, Inc., to learn best practices in youth ministry for connecting and supporting young people. In this blog, lead researcher Dr. Hannah Evans talks about the research process, the

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Gen Alpha and Religion: What 13-Year-Olds Say 

Today’s young people are maturing in a society that has experienced a decades-long decline in religious affiliation. Yet, Springtide data repeatedly show that young people adopt religious and spiritual identities, profess religious and spiritual beliefs, and see the value of religion and spirituality in their lives. Our recent study, Thirteen:

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“Totally Separate”: Young People’s Beliefs about Religion in Politics

Do Young Americans Believe Religion Should Influence Politics? “Totally separate” was Atticus’s (19, conservative) response when asked what he felt the relationship should be between religion and politics. Like Atticus, almost half (46%) of young people surveyed in the 2024 Springtide Study of Young People and Civic Life report that

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What’s Working: The Place

This post continues our series to showcase our learnings in a multi-year campaign titled What’s Working, a  Lilly Endowment Inc.– supported project to discover how faith-based organizations are working to engage Gen Z. Over the course of 2024, we’ll visit organizations across the country that are revamping traditional methods and

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