In recent years we have seen an unprecedented surge in religious conversions, far from the era of “God is Dead.” This new shift makes me believe God is indeed alive and is growing everyday.
While it is true that Christianity is disappearing in some areas due to persecution, it is growing in others and meaningful ways. Religion today is more intentional. Yes, this is all happening in a global context, but this surge depends on which part of the world you are in.
A personal conversion usually evolves from a sense of incompleteness and a search for meaning and purpose in one’s life. That’s when a supernatural/spiritual conversion happens.
Pope Benedict XVI spoke of this on multiple occasions, arguing that the Christianity of the future will no longer be a mass phenomenon but will consist of small, highly motivated, and more conscious groups.
In Europe, infant baptisms are plummeting in numbers, while adult baptisms are rising sharply. In the U.S., the number of converts is growing, especially among young people. The Christian faith is not disappearing, but the way people come to faith is changing.
American Gen Z is reconnecting with Catholicism for two main reasons. First, religion provides stability, meaning, and a sense of community to young people who are otherwise suffering from technological isolation, including anxiety and depression: faith is a response to modern-day unease. Second, young people are searching for something profound and authentic—not superficial—and Catholicism seems appealing because it offers ritual, promotes strong values, and provides a coherent worldview.
The more secularized a society, the more “strong” conversions occur. This is evident in France, for instance, where adult baptisms are on the rise (increasing from 4,895 in 2021 to over 21,000 per year today).
Long ago, people were born Christian by culture; today, many do not receive a religious education, and therefore, faith is no longer “taken for granted.” Those who embrace it do so by personal choice and often after a long journey.
So is what we are witnessing possibly the next “Great Awakening?” Where are you on your faith journey? Is now the time to take that leap of faith?
Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Tagged: Christians in culture, mental health
