According to an article in The Economist (“Gen Z has faith,” March 1st 2025, p. 22) “a long decline in the number of Christians has levelled off.” The article says the slight increase in Christians is found among Gen Z’ers, now entering or into their twenties.

Perhaps the Covid-19 epidemic contributed to the modest change, although Covid-19 is more likely to carry off older people than younger ones. Just the fact of a greater chance of dying, however, might be more unsettling to the young than to the old, who may be more likely to have accepted their ultimate mortality.

Perhaps the unsettled political times have contributed. Aging American presidents may give younger voters less faith in our political systems. Political alignments also are shifting all over the world. The United States is no longer as popular and perhaps doesn’t appear to be as firmly committed to political freedom for all as in the past.

Also threatened are the possibility of change through education and a job market seemingly made for bright young people, now becoming chaotic. Elections sometimes lead to power for unelected titans. Elon Musk appears to be a very powerful person, despite holding no elected office.

Perhaps the fact that more people, including younger ones, lack committed family ties is taking a toll. The drug epidemic surely is harder to avoid when one has fewer emotional supporters.

The Christian faith has gone through multiple lows, especially following periods of prosperity and geographical change. Yet, it has usually not only survived, but found new ways of ministering, finding in its namesake such values as purpose, meaning, and care for others.

The teachings of a genuine moral leader who not only lived but died for his teachings, summed up in “love God with all your being and your neighbor as yourself,” perhaps is simple enough to inspire in an age betrayed by the worship of technical toys.