Why Gen Z is becoming Catholic (from a Gen Z)

If you ask someone to depict a stereotypical Churchgoer, 

they would probably describe the old Italian nonna with the rosary in her frail hands

But now the trend is changing.

It is actually Gen Z who are coming fast into the faith. 

The Church is being revived by the youth. For so long people are used to the idea that the modern man is secular because he believes in science, and the old ‘uneducated superstitious’ ladies go to Church.

But when those misconceptions slowly fall apart, people start wondering “Why?”

Here are 5 reasons

An Existential Longing

There are a lot of people who speculate about what causes people to become Catholic. And I cannot talk on behalf of every single Gen Z Catholic, but only what I see from my own experience.

Some people say that Gen Z comes to the Church because they are rebelling against their progressive parents. Whilst these may be things that initially draw some people into the Church. These aren’t the things that will keep people in the Church.

These aren’t motives that make a devout Catholic. 

You need to have something more substantial. That like the early martyrs, you are willing to die for. Something superficial just doesn’t give that. 

And that’s exactly the point.

In the 1960s, people were sold lies. They were offered advancements in new technology. They were offered new ‘freedoms’ to do whatever they wanted regardless of whether it was good. They were given drugs to give them a sense of joy. They placed their hope in something other than God.

As a society, we became like the Prodigal Son.

And this didn’t just happen in the 1960s. But even to varying degrees in the 1950s, 40s, 30s…

People desire happiness. They existentially crave joy, peace, and hope. However, those things can ultimately be only fulfilled in Christ. 

Our modern society is the most technologically advanced it has ever been, we are the most wealthy we have ever been, we are the most progressive we have ever been.

And we are the most hopeless and depressed we have ever been.

There is a void in the human heart.

God uses joy, peace, and hope to guide us to where we need to go. Imagine if someone was perfectly content leading a horrible life. They would have zero motivation to change.

Seeing that nothing around us has fulfilled us, people search. 

Like the Prodigal Son, he abandoned his father and felt the suffering and a ‘father-shaped hole’ in his heart. It was then that he realised just how much he needed Him.

Augustine almost 1600 years ago, reflected on our inherent craving for God, writing that

“Our heart is restless until it rests in You, O Lord.”

But this is not to say at all, that young Catholics are coming to the faith to feel good about themselves. Catholicism requires sacrifice. “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matt 16:24)

Like an infant will only find rest in the arms of her mother, Gen Z will only find peace with God because that is where they are meant to God. 

And the reason that they have peace and joy, is because they are able to realise that there is something greater than themselves and that all their well-being is looked after.

This isn’t an example of positive thinking. It’s the opposite. This is an example of looking for Truth and resting where our hearts were made to go.

With so much social media and superficial friendships, people are looking for something more. Something more substantial, not simply to fulfill an ache in their heart - but because that very ache implies a defect in the way we are living.

There has been an insufficiency in secular society. People have wanted the world to conform to themselves and that was so unfulfilling, now they want to change as individuals. They want to give themselves fully and make sacrifices. 

Everything dies and fades away. Love is the only thing that prevails.

In love alone, do you rest.

An Uncovered Truth

With social media being increasingly popular, there is a flood of new information swarming the internet daily.

More than at any other time in human history, people have more information available to critically analyse their own beliefs.

When before you had to enroll in university to listen to a professor talk, now it can be done through YouTube. The new insights that this can give are immeasurable.

One discussion that is engrained in my mind is on a Catholic podcast. Life-long biblical scholar, Scott Hahn, and Protestant YouTuber, Cameron Beruzzi, had a really engaging discussion about the papacy. This conversation not only led to Cameron’s conversion but has helped over half a million people deepen their understanding of Catholicism.

This isn’t an uncommon practice. There is a massive rise of Catholicism and arguing for the truth logically through social media. Debates, discussions, apologetics, and Catholic content are just accepted as part of the digital landscape.

Even the Thomistic friars, a group of super-intellectual priests, were comedically using ‘brainrot terms’ to explain complex theology on TikTok. With an abundance of information, those who seek will find. And that is exactly what we are seeing. 

What I have personally witnessed through social media is an increased focus on the early Church Fathers and a renewed focus on Thomism (the theology of St Thomas Aquinas). It’s rare to find a devout university Catholic student who does not have the name of St. Thomas in his heart.

And what this is leading to is not only more conversions but a rise of young vocations amongst the intellectual orders, like the Dominicans.

Whilst the new atheists were popularised with the growth of the media, so too the new evangelisation will save what they destroyed. Now even, debates with atheists like Alex O’ Connor and Trent Horn provide an opportunity for sceptics to listen to arguments that they’ve never heard before.

A Universal People

All these debates and social media posts create a hyper-connected world.

After Vatican II, there has been an increasing emphasis on connecting with people of different faiths. This confused many people because if done wrong, it can easily be seen as watering down Catholicism to say that every religion is equal.

Yet, interacting positively can allow others to see beyond themselves. It forces people to have interactions beyond the ‘I’.

Debates, discussions or even just phone calls online offer people the opportunity to consider the unique proposition of Catholicism. It invites them to consider what Catholicism really says. 

For people considering Catholicism or practicing, there are online forums dedicated to supporting them and connecting them with like-minded individuals. And even in the real world, at universities through chaplaincies and Catholic societies, these Christians can become more fervent.

Catholic podcaster, Francis Tamer, attributes the Sydney University Catholic Society to single-handedly deepening his faith. A faith that he now shares with thousands online.

 

A Substantial Faith

St Athanasius famously said,

“If the world is against the truth, then I am against the world.”

The Church is supposed to be the “pillar of truth”, being the only stable thing in society. Trends and countries exist, but they also vanish. Christ promised that the Gates of Hell would never overcome the Catholic Church.

Yet, some ‘churches’ of more progressive denominations are openly rejecting Christ’s teaching. By separating themselves from Christ, they too have become a fad. When our souls yearn for truth, they seek it.

Whilst following societal morality may be popular temporarily, it doesn’t give a faith that lasts. And ironically, many of those Churches aren’t attracting young people but Boomers.

Like happiness, our soul craves truth. So, when some lax alternatives are against the truth, then people begin to be against the lax alternatives.

Catholicism especially, because of its unchanging doctrine is what people find to be the preserver of truth. It is what helps give that a genuine, true, and substantial faith.

The Fullness of Beauty

This is an interesting one.

It’s hard to quantify data on how many people converted because of something like the painting in the Sistine Chapel. But beauty is a very powerful tool of evangelisation.

Now, you find more young people who reject the idea that truth or morality can be objective. They can just shrug off an argument. You can scroll past a reel.

But it is difficult to walk past something that is actually beautiful and not care. 

Despite so many peoples’ apathy, beauty can inspire awe and wonder. And this awe and wonder can turn into a contemplation of higher things.

Throughout the Church’s history, Catholics were careful to make their buildings and artworks reflect the beauty of God. And now this focus is coming back more and more.

When you gaze up at a Cathedral that is beautifully designed and has taken hundreds of years to build, you can’t help but wonder in awe. “Why?”

Whilst seeming small, I’m aware of people who have had their initial draw to Catholicism come from that. And later on, seeing the beauty and truth of the whole Tradition, convert.

Especially now, art has become ugly. Yet our souls still crave beauty.

Beauty points to the transcendent. 

Real beauty can invite an atheist to ‘pray’ for the first time.

A Unique Love

The Church has a great power in being able to produce saints.

These saints spend their lives in love and service to God. It is a tremendous act of selflessness. 

Such acts of kindness enthrall people. When St Pope John Paul II was the head of the Church, this was obvious. 

But even now, after the death of Pope Francis, atheists and people of all religions have come out to honor this kind and humble servant. And searches for ‘how to become a Catholic’ surged by 373%.

Bad Catholics have drawn people away from the Church. But these holy Catholics are inviting people to actually follow Christ.

This great love can be especially enticing to the younger generation. Many young people support ideas of progressivism which has a large focus on kindness (albeit a distorted type of kindness). Providing a witness to what true, authentic, ordered love is can be powerful.

On the other hand, having the example of strong and masculine Catholics especially entices young men. Although not Catholic, seeing strong Christian men is what got politician and influencer, Nick Freitas to embrace the faith.

As the Mona Lisa reveals the greatness of Da Vinci. So too does the holiness of a saint reflect the holiness of the sanctifier, God.

No longer is the Church reserved for just old little ladies. The Holy Spirit is sanctifying Gen Z. Whilst all their individual reasons may be hidden because everyone is different. Something is for certain.

Christ will never abandon his Church.

God Bless,
Virtue Books and Gifts