Spiritual Narratives of Generation Z

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

• 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