This week’s Barna Minute looks at the current rise of spiritual openness across each generation.

Though religious affiliation and church attendance continue to decline, spiritual openness and curiosity are on the rise. Across every generation, in fact, we see an unprecedented desire to grow spiritually, a belief in a spiritual / supernatural dimension and a belief in God or a higher power.

In an October 2022 Barna survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, amongst the four generations, data show the oldest—Boomers (72%)—and youngest—Gen Z (73%)—had the least desire to grow spiritually. Where the desire to grow spiritually is highest amongst the middle generations—Millennials and Gen X (77%). When it comes to a belief that a spiritual / supernatural dimension exists, Gen Z (83%), Millennials (83%), Gen X (82%) and Boomers (79%) trend similarly. The belief in God or a higher power is also about the same throughout the generations (77% Gen Z, 76% Millennials, 77% Gen X, 79%).