The Spiritual Narratives of Generation Z From Divine Disillusionment to Simple Faith

Introduction

1. Understanding Generation Z

2. Exemplarist Narrative Analysis

3. The Divine Disillusionment Narrative

4. The Space Between Narrative

5. The Self-help Narrative

6. The Lost-and-found Narrative

7. The Simple Faith Narrative

Conclusion

Biography

Edward A. David is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Ethics & Values at King’s College London and a Research Fellow of Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford. Most recently, he was the McDonald Postdoctoral Fellow in Christian Ethics and Public Life at Christ Church, Oxford.

Claire MacLeod is a Communications Officer in the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford.

Ning Xu is a DPhil Student in Science and Religion in the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford.

Phoebe Kelly is a recent philosophy graduate of the School of Oriental and Asian Studies, University of London.

Saadadden Monajed is a recent law and theology graduate of the University of Cambridge and University College London.

"Gen Z and religion is a topic that is much discussed but little researched. This study addresses that in an innovative way by asking young people to complete a story about a religious exemplar. The results are fascinating—not least about gender—and the typology that is offered gives much food for thought."

- Linda Woodhead, F.D, Maurice Professor, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, King’s College London

"This is a very important work. Edward David and his colleagues have successfully engaged a wide diversity of young adult seekers in a creative exercise which has revealed a variety of stories of spiritual fulfilment. For all those working with a generation that has manifested a strong and surprising reversal of the secularisation narrative, this book is essential reading."

- Dominic White O.P., Prior and Official Fellow, Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford

"This book offers a rigorous and deeply insightful exploration of youth engagement, advancing both methodological clarity and participatory depth. It makes a valuable contribution to contemporary scholarship on religion, identity, and lived experience. A timely and compelling piece of work."

- Zaneera Azam, Lecturer of Islamic Studies, Forman Christian College University, Pakistan

 

"The Spiritual Narratives of Generation Z creatively applies participatory research methods to tackle notoriously sticky ideas about religion and spirituality among today’s youth. This ambitious project goes beyond simplistic categorizations to decode a range of religious experiences and aspirations through a timely and incisive examination of Gen Z’s narratives about moral exemplars."

- Erica M. Larson, Senior Research Fellow in Religion, National University of Singapore

"With its innovative blend of normative and narrative analysis, this book offers a rich and philosophically illuminating account of the moral psychology of Gen Z exemplars. Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the spirituality of this generation."

- Carl Hildeband, Assistant Professor, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong