Is "Generation Z" turning back to religion, or simply changing what religion looks like? Headlines describe a religious revival driven by young people “returning” to church, mosque, or tradition, while other data show continued institutional decline and a generation more likely to call itself "spiritual" than religious. How to make sense of these findings and what do these findings mean for the study of religion?
About the CRCS Research Day
Every year, the Center for Religion in Contemporary Society hosts a Reseach Day to showcase ongoing research. This third annual Research Day of the Center for Religion and Contemporary Society on 15 October asks what the study of religion would need to look like to see Gen Z's religious life accurately. Instruments built around institutional, historically Christian religiosity capture only part of the picture. Bringing Islam, migration background, indigenous religions, esotericism, and digital spirituality into view changes what counts as revival, what counts as decline, and what current categories simply cannot see. We look forward to discuss these and other questions with you on 15 October 2026.
More information will follow after the holidays but for now, please save the date! If you want to contribute to this day with your research, please let us (Joris, Subandri and yours truly) know.
Organising committee
- Joris Kregting
- Subandri Simbolon
- Martijn de Koning
