Is America Experiencing a Spiritual Rebirth?

After decades of declining religious affiliation, the hemorrhage has finally stopped. So, are we experiencing a spiritual reawakening or a momentary pause in the “Exodus?”

A brand new study shares the surprising reversal, and, it’s not just Christians. In the wake of the October 7th attacks, more U.S. Jews feel drawn to their faith.

Today, 86% of Americans believe that people have a soul or spirit in addition to a physical body. There is also surprising agreement across the board as to what happens when we die.

This pause in the secularization of America started during the pandemic. It was a “spiritual winter,” of sorts. I wrote about this in an article entitled Winter is the Most Instructive Season of Life.

As churches, mosques, and synagogues closed their doors, a surprising thing happened. Instead of walking further away from a life of faith, Americans were drawn closer to God.

A Pew Research Center survey indicated that nearly three in ten Americans (28%) reported the strengthening of their personal faith in God. A similar number thought that the overall faith of Americans had grown. These findings are counter to the prevailing thought that American faith is dying.

This is not just in the U.S. Many countries reported the pandemic brought about a religious rebirth. For example, 17% of people living in The Netherlands say their country has grown more religious. In Sweden, 15% of the Swedish suggest that religious faith has grown stronger.

Some could certainly argue that secularization has a limit—a guardrail, of sorts. That the “less committed” have wandered off, leaving only the fully committed who will never leave. Kinda like the base of a political party. No matter the physical, moral, or mental infirmities of its leaders, people remain steadfast in their commitment to the cause.

Regardless, a plurality of people today believe in God or a universal spirit. A wheel in the sky, so to speak. That’s a sharp turn away from our contemporary culture of heightened self-righteousness. An era where social media platforms encourage moral certainty and moral proclamations to draw clicks and likes. The algorithmic amplification of nonsense.

You could also argue that some of the major issues that drove people away have improved. For example, while same-sex marriage is still frowned upon in some faith traditions, there are others that wholeheartedly welcome same-sex marriage. So, there is a home for everyone, even if it isn’t your traditional faith tradition.

Neither Orthodox Jews nor Catholic Christians recognize same-sex marriage. However, many Protestant churches and both Reform and Conservative Judaism support same-sex marriage. So, there is a place for everyone in both faith traditions. That hasn’t always been the case.

So, what is the catalyst that is driving this spiritual rebirth? Our recent past has been mired in economic instability, political polarization, and technological disruption. In times of uncertainty, people seek stability. Faith brings a unique combination of familiar rituals, a sense of community, and a common belief in a spiritual afterlife. Faith can bring a sense of calmness and stability. I wrote about this in a piece entitled Uncertainty is a Blessing.

As digital interactions have replaced many face-to-face relationships, people are becoming more isolated and lonely.

Working from home has also severely limited our interactions with other human beings. And all that seems to be making people lonely, too.

Our religious communities provide a true sense of authenticity—a sense of personal connection and belonging. an antidote to isolation and loneliness.

The New York Times recently ran the story Why Gen-Z (born 1995 - 2010) Men Are More Religious Than Women. Yes, for the first time in the history of America, young men now report being more religious than their female counterparts. They identify as “religious” and attend weekly services more regularly than young women.

Even more interesting is that the Gen-Z demographic now leads all men in their affiliation with traditional forms of religion. There is an 11% gap between Gen-Z and Boomer cohorts. Only 46% of Gen-Z males report being disaffiliated while 57% of Boomers report being unaffiliated. Yes, young men are now taking the lead in the faith parade.

Did you know that I have 120 Wit & Wisdom articles recorded in my buttery-smooth voice and available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts? You could drive from Dallas to Chicago without running out of material.

Despite the news you hear about the demise of American faith traditions, faith life continues to play a major role in the lives of many Americans. Nearly half of Americans (49%) say that their faith is very important to them. That’s compared to other countries where faith plays a lesser role. In Australia only 20% claim faith as an important part of their lives. The Asian countries are even lower with 17% in South Korea and only 9% in Japan.

Today, 79% of all Americans believe in something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if they don’t belong to an organized religion.

See, we’ve been operating in a world on autopilot—a world where we truly believed our own bullshit, piled high with as-ifs. As if we were personally responsible for everything good that happened to us. As if justice and peace were the norm, universally applied. As if everyone shared the same beliefs of right and wrong.

But, now, things are a mess: Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Gaza, the Congo, etc. It doesn’t seem fair to us. Evil isn’t dead. It never was. It was just on sabbatical.

The simple truth is that real justice and peace are not here on earth. They never were. True justice and peace are in heaven, where evil goes to die and everyone will be held to account. Perhaps that realization is beginning to sink into American hearts.

As you go through this week, ponder this question. Is it time to reinvest in your own faith life? Click the button below and tell me what you think. I love to hear from readers - and 99% of thoughtful messages will hear back from me. (1% margin for error cause, you know, I’m human.)

If you’re new to Wit & Wisdom, we’d love for you to join our community of 25K readers. The newsletter comes out every two weeks via email. It’s always free, and we are always looking for new friends. Please join us.