The death of Charlie Kirk has led to a reported surge in younger Americans turning towards faith. From the thousands who gathered in a football stadium for Kirk's funeral, to the explosion in interest in Kirk's speeches, writings, and his organization Turning Point USA, which unapologetically promote Christianity and belief in God. But mainstream pollsters apparently aren't finding the faith. The Pew Research Center's latest report on religion in America finds it is essentially flat over the last five years, but also notes there is "no clear evidence of a religious revival among young adults."
"Some media reports suggested there may be a religious revival taking place among young adults," the Pew report writes. "But our recent polls show no clear evidence that this kind of nationwide religious resurgence is underway."
Youth leaders and those who work with young people on a regular basis disagree. "I really do believe there is a resurgence, and it is a revival," says Christian Collins, founder of the Texas Youth Summit. "For one thing, bible sales are up one million over this point last year, the second thing is church attendance is up by 15 percent, and youth pastors I talk to are holding campus revival nights...they're seeing this happen all across the country."
Collins' observations match polling from earlier this year, before Kirk's death, that already showed renewed interest in God among young people. Even the Pew poll shows a growing interest in religion by the youngest adult age group. It finds that church attendance is higher among those born between 2003 and 2006 (30%) than in those born between 1995 and 2002 (24%).
Collins has seen this phenomenon with the youngest generation, as well. "Based on all my working with young people in politics, I do believe that this generation---Gen Z---is more religious than Millennials and Gen Xers and Boomers," he tells KTRH. "They are more interested in God, they're more interested in faith...and I'm just very inspired by what I'm seeing with our young people."
Photo: Arrollado, Jean (uploader)