A prevailing narrative has existed for some time, mainly backed up by empty pews, that young people don’t care for religion. But it seems that may be changing for one demographic: Gen Z men.
According to figures from the Survey Center on American Life at the American Enterprise Institute and the American Bible Society, more young men can be seen in churches than young women for the first time.
In the UK, a recent survey entitled The Quiet Revival, commissioned by the Bible Society and conducted by YouGov, found that church attendance in England and Wales has increased by 50 per cent over the past six years, with men under the age of 24 beating young women to worship.
Where Ireland is concerned, professor of sociology of religion at Queen’s University Belfast, Gladys Ganiel, says in an interview: “It’s really hard to make a call without better data, but anecdotally, young Catholic men in Belfast are attending Latin Mass in numbers.”
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Meanwhile Liam Burke, the national director for Youth for Christ in Ireland, says: “I’ve definitely noticed more of an interest in young men when it comes to either learning about Christianity or attending services. We’ve had men walk into our office off the street looking for information. And with our work in schools, we’re seeing a real openness among young men about faith.”
In Trinity College Dublin, more men than women are also using the common-room areas and attending services, according to the Church of Ireland chaplain, Canon Paul Arbuthnot. “Men haven’t previously had the opportunity to express themselves in a safe, non-judgmental environment that offers structure in a post-structural society. And when society is fraying at the edges, we offer something that has a bit of social balance,” he says.
Canon Arbuthnot gets to the crux of the matter neatly; young men are at somewhat of an impasse, one that sees them bear neither role models nor forged paths.
Colman Noctor, a child and adolescent psychotherapist, agrees. “A lot of young men feel directionless,” he says. “The lines have blurred between women and men, which means that there is no clear guideline to being a man anymore, and people seek boundaries and guidance as they grow.”
His theory “is that they’re looking for a sense of purpose because they don’t feel like they’re getting that anywhere else”.
Mr Burke echoes this: “Young men are struggling to find role models today, and with much of the abuse that’s been in the news over the past few years . . . it’s hard to find someone to model yourself after.”
As a result, some young men seem to be turning to faith, a move that brings both worry and joy in equal measure. On the plus side, one might hope they find solace in a place that has provided that for so many. On the other, however, a worry exists – one that is bolstered by the likes of Andrew Tate, who heralds a return to traditionalism and a way of life that harms, not helps.
Unfortunately, the latter appears to be quite a serious cause for concern for those in the field. “Young men are returning to the church for one of two reasons,” said Professor Siobhán Garrigan, professor of Catholic theology at Trinity College’s School of Religion.
“Quite a lot of the same people who are attracted back to religion are attracted to outreach programmes, helping people out of homelessness or general social action. That, however, is the minority. The majority are returning to quite conservative spaces, and are reliant on very patriarchal ideals.”
However, there are young men who indeed find joy in the former. “In times when I feel like you can’t take a breath, I’d say to Jesus that I surrender myself to Him and I know what happens next is in His hands,” says 19-year-old Mayo man Micheál Monaghan. He, too, has noticed a youth revival in the church.
“You want to tell people what they’re missing,” he says. Though he admits he is an anomaly amongst his peers, he remains hopeful of a turning tide because of that very reason. “TikTok, YouTube . . . the people you watch on there tend to be driven by the wrong things,” he says. He can “definitely see a movement amongst my friends and peers towards spirituality. Slowly but surely, a turnaround is happening.”
Kate Demolder is a freelance journalist
