Despite an overall decline in religious observance, half of Generation Z has reported a transformative experience with the Bible, according to a new study.

According to the Christian Post, A recent survey by the American Bible Society highlights a paradox within Generation Z: a decrease in traditional religious practices yet a significant impact of the Bible on their lives.

The American Bible Society released findings from their annual State of the Bible USA 2023 report this Thursday, focusing specifically on Generation Z, those born in 1997 or later. The report is part of a broader examination of the changing religious landscape across different generations in the United States.

The survey, conducted from January 5 to January 30 of this year, canvassed 2,761 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of +/-2.59 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. It aimed to assess spiritual practices and beliefs among young Americans, seeking insights into their engagement with the Bible.

Declining Bible Engagement Among Youth

Generation Z's engagement with the Bible is considerably lower than that of older generations, with only 30% meeting the criteria to be considered a Bible user. This figure stands in contrast to higher percentages among Millennials, Generation X, Baby Boomers, and Elders.

The report also highlighted a concerning trend: the percentage of those who are "Scripture Engaged" within Generation Z has been decreasing over the past three years, dropping from 14% in 2021 to 12% in 2022, and now to 10% in 2023.

Despite these trends, the data reveals an unexpected depth of spiritual interaction among younger members of Generation Z when compared to their older counterparts. For instance, younger Gen Z members show higher levels of Bible use (34%) compared to the 27% observed in their older peers.

Significant Spiritual Impact on Young Lives

About half of the Gen Z respondents indicated that the Bible has had a transformative effect on their lives. This significant figure includes 49% of those aged 18-21 and 52% of those aged 22-26.

The contrast is stark when considering the high percentage of agnostics, atheists, or "nones" within Gen Z, which stands at 34%. Despite this, 58% still identify as Christians, showing a complex relationship with traditional religious identification and personal spiritual experiences.

Interestingly, societal shifts among Generation Z also reflected in their religious compositions, where 52% of the older members of Gen Z identify as non-Christians, in stark contrast to 40% among the younger group. Additionally, 18% of the younger Gen Z respondents consider themselves practicing Christians, compared to just 8% among the older subgroup.

A Generation Struggling With Faith

John Farquhar Plake, ABS Chief Ministry Insights Officer, described Generation Z as “a generation struggling to find their footing with faith.” His observations align with the survey's findings indicating both a diminished engagement with scripture and a remaining openness to its teachings.

Plake also noted the worrying trend of declining scripture engagement rates over the past three years but remains hopeful about the continuing interest in religious texts. “This generation still shows significant interest in the Bible and the message of Jesus,” he added.

The leadership at the American Bible Society sees these insights as crucial for faith communities. Plake urged ministry leaders to recognize the openness of Gen Z adults in their communities to discussions about God's Word. “If the trends we’re seeing continue—it’s crucial to be having those conversations now,” he emphasized.

Further Insights Expected in Upcoming Reports

As part of its comprehensive look into America's biblical engagement, the American Bible Society will continue to release additional chapters of the State of the Bible report monthly throughout 2023. This approach seeks to provide a deeper understanding of how different demographics interact with the Bible and its teachings.

The final chapter of a nine-chapter series is anticipated to expose more nuanced views on how the Bible influences societal behaviors and individual lifestyles, promising further insights into the complex spiritual landscape of modern America.