Edward A. David

We are thrilled to announce that our book, The Spiritual Narratives of Gen Z: From Divine Disillusionment to Simple Faith, is officially under contract with Routledge as part of their Focus on Religion series! We can’t wait to share it with you when it releases in summer 2026.

What’s the book about?

Generation Z is often described as the most religiously unaffiliated generation in history, but the reality is far more complex. Many Gen Zers are not abandoning spirituality altogether—they are redefining it, questioning institutions, and forging their own paths in search of meaning.

Our book explores these spiritual journeys through an innovative narrative approach. We collected over 130 stories written by young people from around the world, each imagining an encounter with a religious or spiritual role model. Analyzing these narratives revealed five major spiritual “storylines” that Gen Zers use to make sense of faith today:

1. The Divine Disillusionment Narrative – A critical lens on religious institutions, exposing hypocrisy, exclusion, and ethical failures.
   
2. The Space Between Narrative – A story of existential uncertainty, where belief and doubt coexist.
   
3. The Self-Help Narrative – The rise of influencers as spiritual guides, blending personal empowerment with self-improvement.
   
4. The Lost-and-Found Narrative – Journeys of rediscovery, where faith is rekindled through digital or real-life encounters.
   
5. The Simple Faith Narrative – A return to faith in its most direct and heartfelt form, often rooted in embodied religious experiences.
   

Along the way, we propose a new framework for understanding the phenomenon of role modeling in a religious or spiritual context. We call it ‘spiritual exemplarism’ which identifies a core set of emotions involved when individuals encounter religious or spiritual role models. By blending theology, ethics, and participatory research, The Spiritual Narratives of Gen Z offers a fresh perspective on how young people relate to faith in an age of digital disruption and institutional distrust.

Why this matters

Understanding these narratives is crucial for educators, religious leaders, and anyone working with young people today. Whether you’re interested in Gen Z’s changing relationship with faith, the role of digital spirituality, or the future of religious and moral formation, this book offers both theoretical insights and real-world applications.

What’s next?

We’ll be sharing updates on the book’s progress, including sneak peeks, interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights. Stay tuned for more details as we move towards publication in summer 2026!

In the meantime, we’d love to hear from you. Do you have any questions or insights about Gen Z’s approach to faith and spirituality? Drop us a comment below!