We sat down with contributing journalist and researcher, Claire Nelson to learn more about the changing landscape of religion, mental health awareness, and other practices contemporary people independently engage in pursuing meaning, connection, and welfare.
Image: Claire Nelson
A recent study by Pew Research reveals that the "Nones"—those who identify their religion as "nothing in particular"—now represent the largest religious cohort in the U.S., surpassing both Catholics (23%) and evangelical Protestants (24%). This is a dramatic shift from 2007, when the Nones made up just 16% of the population. Pew's latest survey of over 3,300 U.S. adults underscores the growing trend of religious disaffiliation.
When it comes to generational differences, Pew’s findings show that Gen Z is the least religious generation in the U.S., with about a third identifying as having no religion. This mirrors the proportion of Nones among millennials, but stands in stark contrast to older generations—23% of Generation X, 17% of baby boomers, and just 11% of the Silent Generation report no religious affiliation.
However, the question arises: Is Generation Z truly less religious or spiritual than previous generations? According to a 2022 survey by Springtide Research, 68% of young people ages 13-25 consider themselves at least somewhat religious, and 77% say they are at least slightly spiritual. While fewer young people may be attending traditional religious services, these figures suggest that religion and spirituality remain an integral part of their identities, with many actively exploring and developing their faith in non-traditional ways.
While fewer young people may be attending traditional religious services, these figures suggest that religion and spirituality remain an integral part of their identities, with many actively exploring and developing their faith in non-traditional ways.
As younger generations redefine how they engage with faith, traditions, and spirituality, the focus should shift from tracking religious disaffiliation to understanding the evolving spiritual needs of young people. Listening to their perspectives and supporting their search for meaning may be more important than ever, as they grapple with the same complex and profound questions that religious and spiritual traditions have addressed for centuries.
To gain further insight, we spoke with religion journalist Claire Nelson, a Gen Z member herself, about her personal experiences with faith and spirituality, her interests as a religion journalist on this beat, and how she sees opportunities for reimagining the narrative beyond disaffiliation and decline.
How would you describe your personal faith tradition, spirituality, and/or belongings?
I’ve grown up in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a Christian denomination that prides itself on being non-fundamentalist and queer-affirming, which has been invaluable to me as a contemporary person with an interest in religion.
What draws you to write about religion and the changing landscape of how people are connecting to their faith and spiritualities? Are there any specific connections and bridges you are hoping to make with your writing that you'd like to see more of in the landscape of religious journalism?
Much has been written about the decline of institutional religion, yet less is known about the practices contemporary people independently engage in pursuing meaning, connection, and welfare. As a journalist who covers this beat, I am most interested in stories that explore religion/spirituality as a mental health tool, as I feel this angle most resonates with the experiences and needs of everyday people. Some pieces I’ve recently enjoyed in this beat include Jordan Kisner’s recent Atlantic feature, “Reiki Can’t Possibly Work. So Why Does It,” Jessica Grose’s New York Times opinion piece, “Are We In The Middle of a Spiritual Awakening,” and Glean’s own Elan Babchuck’s piece, “American Religion is Not Dead Yet” in the Atlantic.
Glean Network focuses on supporting spiritual innovators -- those who are inspired by the rituals, values, and beliefs of their wisdom traditions to create all new models of faith and hope in action. What are some examples of spiritual innovation you have seen and are most excited about?
The spiritual innovation I am most excited about is that taking place within the discipline of psychology. Practices derived from religious traditions like meditation and yoga have emerged as leading empirically-validated treatments, and spirituality has come to be understood as a valuable psychological tool in an age with unprecedentedly high rates of anxiety and depression. Some of my favorite thought leaders in this field include Dr. Lisa Miller, Dr. Peter Levine, and Dr. Jim Tucker.
Much of your work so far has focused on the relationship Gen Z has with faith and spirituality. What is something you'd like to see talked about more with regard to this topic? What are some of the "blank spaces" and areas that haven't yet been explored that you'd like to go deeper on?
There is a quote I cite frequently in my work from David Hempton, Dean of Harvard Divinity School, that reads, “[T]raditional denominational Christianity is in terminal decline in the United States. The future belongs to networks of independent churches that emphasize direct supernatural engagement. Religious beliefs and practices will become increasingly experimental; religious authorities will devolve more to individuals than institutions; religion will become more oriented to practice than theology.” Trends in young people’s beliefs identified by the Springtide Research Institute and others do not foreshadow the end of religious/spiritual expression, merely that, as Hempton argues, the future of religion has more to do with practice than theology. I look forward to writing more about the ways contemporary people experience states traditionally associated with religion in nonreligious contexts.
[T]raditional denominational Christianity is in terminal decline in the United States. The future belongs to networks of independent churches that emphasize direct supernatural engagement. Religious beliefs and practices will become increasingly experimental; religious authorities will devolve more to individuals than institutions; religion will become more oriented to practice than theology.”
What are 3 things that are bringing you inspiration and spark these days?
I am a huge fan of the Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and his podcast, House Calls. I enjoyed his recent episode with Sebastian Junger, journalist and author of “In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife.”
I really enjoy the work of Dr. Lisa Miller, a Columbia professor of psychology who is widely regarded as the leading authority on the mental health benefits of spirituality. Her book, “Awakened Brain: the New Science of Spirituality and our Quest for an Inspired Life,” was a captivating and extraordinary read.
My understanding of contemporary religion has been heavily formed by the Springtide Research Institute, with whom I’ve worked. They regularly release new reports and content, and I always learn something new and interesting from them. I consider their findings centrally important for anyone interested in reporting on or working in religion.
How can folks stay connected with you and read more of your writing?
You can find my work and writing on my linked-in! You can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairenels
__________________ Claire Nelson is a religion reporter whose writing has appeared in Christianity Today and the Pioneer Press. She works with Springtide, a research institute that possesses the largest dataset in the nation on the mental health and spirituality of Gen Z, and the Bible for Normal People, a theology and spirituality podcast.