The Oliver Wyman Forum released a report this year named “What Business Needs To Know About The Generation Changing Everything,” shedding light on the perspectives of Gen Z on various global issues.
Gen Z, the latest generation, encompasses individuals born from 1997 to 2012. Currently, they are between the ages of 9 and 24, and in the United States alone, this generation consists of nearly 68 million people.
According to the report, Gen Z has been identified as the “least religious generation yet,” with under 30 percent of respondents in this age bracket expressing belief in God or other religious figures. The study reveals that they are 29 percent less inclined to identify with Christianity and 25 percent less likely to perceive organized religion as promoting community cohesion.
On the contrary, Gen Z is not devoid of spiritual interests. The report emphasizes that 83 percent of them feel that astrology has positively influenced their lives, a rate significantly higher than other age groups. This doesn’t signify Gen Z’s complete rejection of spiritual matters but rather a shift towards a more personalized form of spirituality.
According to the report, Gen Zers are characterized by a unique approach to faith and spirituality. Rather than adhering to traditional religious practices found in synagogues, mosques, churches, or temples, this group often blends elements from various belief systems to create individualized spiritual experiences. Essentially, they’re crafting personalized principles of faith instead of simply accepting established religious doctrines.
In contrast, a tracking poll by Gallup studying American belief in God from 1944 to 2022 found quite different results. The numbers have been falling from a near-universal belief rate of 98 percent between 1944 and 1960, reaching 81 percent in 2022.
Gallup’s poll also recognized a trend among younger Americans, who strongly believe in God across all age categories. The poll reported 68 percent belief among Americans aged 18 to 29, contrasting with 88 percent belief among those aged 50 to 64.
The Oliver Wyman Forum’s report, which drew on data from over 150,000 people in 10 countries for two years, was juxtaposed with another survey initiated in October 2022, comprising 10,000 respondents, half categorized as Gen Z.
