In the early 1800s, the French political thinker and historian Alexis de Tocqueville visited the fledging new republic calling itself the “United States of America.”
One of his observations, which he wrote about in his book, Democracy in America, was that it was American churches and other faith communities that “formed a society.” If these institutions would weaken, or cease to exist, then American society, like so many before it, would disintegrate into individualism and moral confusion.
Sadly, de Tocqueville’s observation was prophetic as we look out on the American landscape in 2026. For the past several years, dire poll after dire poll has been telling us about how young people are abandoning religious faith because it is perceived as “intolerant” and no longer relevant to their lives.
Not all prophecies have to come to pass, though. They can also serve as a warning to a culture to turn back before it’s too late. And as Bob Dylan once famously sang, “The times they are a changin.” According to a new Pew Research survey, increasing numbers of young adults are returning to the Catholic Church, despite decades-long cultural attacks on that institution from political and cultural elites.
In addition, the overall percentage of Gen Z identifying as Christians increased from around 45% in 2023 to 51% in 2025.
When I talk with friends of mine who spend time with young adults, particularly those who are either Gen Z or late millennials, they find that these young men and women are desperately seeking authenticity and meaning. Digitally isolated and living in a culture awash with cynicism, they want more than just the pursuit of self-gratification.
Rather than living in a “swipe right” virtual community that promotes false perceptions, they want genuine and honest relationships. Rather than falling for the cultural fad for the moment, they want to invest in something that lasts longer than the latest Tik Tok craze.
The bottom line: they are seeking what I propose in my new book, What Really Matters: Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Freedom, and Family – columns I have written and now compiled into a new volume with the help of my good friend Craig Osten – that attempts to provide a blueprint for how we as a nation can not only return to those values, but bring about a great and glorious American restoration – starting with younger generations.
These three values – faith, freedom, and family – working together mold men into strong and compassionate leaders, provide protection and provision for women and children, and unify as one, rather than dividing us into competing tribes engaged in a zero-sum war for influence and power.
That is why I am so encouraged by these new findings from Pew. While interest in faith may only be a slight tide rise, it is my hope that it eventually becomes a wave that washes across our land and brings us back to these values upon which our great nation was based.
But for this to happen it means that we must continue to make an investment in our young people. We can sit around and be passive bystanders. We need to be actively involved in encouraging and nurturing their newfound interest in faith so it is not just another passing fad but instead becomes a lifelong legacy.
That is how a faith community, as de Tocqueville called it, is formed – with older generations and younger generations coming together to serve God, each other, and their citizenry. It is how democracy thrives. But it depends upon those of us who are older to put aside our personal preferences, to reach out rather than isolate ourselves from those younger than us and build bridges that link the past and present to the future.
Yes, I believe young adults are realizing that faith, freedom, and family really matter. Now it is our time and opportunity to show that it really does matter to us as well.
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