Generation Z Americans have relied on faith more than other generations during the pandemic, according to a report by the law firm Becket focused on religious freedom issues.
Becket released on Tuesday its second annual Religious Freedom Index report, which analyzed the opinions of people in the United States on issues regarding religious liberty.
The report also had a few questions pertaining to faith practices during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent gathering restrictions for houses of worship.
Becket found that 74% of Gen Z respondents felt that faith was “at least somewhat important” during the pandemic, putting them above the 62% average of all generations.
The Silent Generation, which is comprised of those born before the end of World War II, were the second most likely to consider faith “at least somewhat important” at 64%. Generation X were the lowest at 56%.
Gen Z respondents were also the generation most likely to consider faith “extremely or very important,” with 51% saying so. Millennials polled the lowest for this at 31%.
Becket announced the key findings of the report in a Zoom conference held Tuesday afternoon, which featured multiple experts providing background and analysis.
Caleb Lyman, one of the editors of the report, was asked by The Christian Post if this was indicative of Gen Z possibly reversing the growing trend of “nones.”
Lyman responded that the question of “the rise or fall” of religious affiliation was a “million-dollar question,” but hesitated to draw that conclusion from their research.
“I don’t know that we could say whether this is evidence that the increase in the rise of the ‘nones’ is slowing down,” cautioned Lyman, adding that they will “be paying attention to that.”
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SOURCE: Christian Post, Michael Gryboski
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