Archbishop of Sydney

Spirituality and Young People

By + Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Sydney
16 October 2005

Last month the annual Clemenger Report on the values and attitudes of Australians was published.  For some, one of its more surprising findings was the increasing importance of religion and spirituality, especially among young people.

The report found that, contrary to expectations, “formal religion has enjoyed something of a resurgence” since 1978.  The proportion of young people who say that religion plays an important part in their lives has risen from 21 to 35 per cent over that time.  And 56 per cent of young people say they consider themselves spiritual even if the don’t go to church.

As the report’s authors point out, religion and spirituality are no longer synonymous.  In some cases this can mean that the importance of religious needs in young people can be understated if we only focus on their affiliation with a church.

There is no doubt that young people have a different approach to religion and spirituality to that of previous generations. Qualitative surveys conducted in Australia and the United States point up some interesting contrasts and similiarites among teenagers in these countries.

In both the US and Australia religion among teenagers is not in conflict with the religion of their parents and tends to follow conventional patterns, although there are more signs of tension on this score among Australian than American teenagers.

Teenagers in the US see religion very positively, as something which is helpful for life and good for people.  Many Australian teenagers feel the same way but feelings are sometimes more mixed than in the US.

There seems to be low levels of religious knowledge among teenagers in both countries, with most speaking vaguely about what their religion stands for, and only a few being able to clearly articulate or explain their beliefs.

Australian teenagers see religion as something optional, a matter for each person to decide for themselves, not to be imposed by parents or others.  In a related but different manner, American teenagers emphasise tolerance and are wary about truths or values which are likely to be contentious.

Another common finding is that the actions of teenagers do not bear out what they say about the importance of religion in their lives.  It is not something to enthuse about, and being “too religious” is seen as a danger, to be avoided.

While the approach is different it is clear that the interest and need for religion among young people has not disappeared, as some optimistically predicted or hoped a generation ago.

The Clemenger Report makes no bones about it: “This group is searching for meaning in their lives”.  They seek it in “brands” that offer integrity and tradition, as well as “stimulation and freshness”.

A niche market, it seems, for the message of Jesus, which is both eternal and always new.