Gen Z is growing up in a world that’s more connected, more informed, and more sceptical than ever before. They’re not interested in blindly accepting traditions or following institutions just because their parents did. And when it comes to religion, especially organised religion, the disconnect is becoming more obvious. While some still find comfort in faith, many are quietly backing away from the church, and it’s not just because they’re “lazy” or “rebellious.” These reasons explain why Gen Z is increasingly walking away from what the church is trying to offer.
1. They’re allergic to hypocrisy.
Gen Z has grown up watching powerful people say one thing and do another, and they’re not having it, especially from religious leaders. When churches preach love and acceptance but turn around and promote judgement or exclusion, it’s a major turn-off. They value authenticity over tradition. If an institution claims moral authority but behaves in a way that feels manipulative, controlling, or bigoted, Gen Z will walk—and not look back.
2. They want open conversation, not rigid doctrine.
Gen Z questions everything, and they want spaces that allow for that. Churches that demand blind obedience or treat curiosity like a threat are losing younger minds fast. They’re not trying to be difficult—they just want room to explore and wrestle with ideas without being told they’re wrong for asking. If the answer is always “because that’s what it says,” they’re not sticking around.
3. They’re not buying the “us vs. them” mindset.
Churches that frame the world as good vs. evil, believer vs. non-believer, saved vs. lost—it doesn’t sit well with a generation that’s been raised on inclusion and nuance. Gen Z tends to resist divisive thinking. They’re more interested in building bridges than drawing lines. When religious communities come across as exclusive or elitist, they’re more likely to feel alienated than inspired.
4. They’re turned off by performative faith.
Gen Z can sniff out inauthenticity a mile off. If your church is more focused on image, social media aesthetics, or loud declarations of righteousness than actual kindness and accountability, they’ll tune out fast. They’re drawn to quiet integrity over flashy spirituality. They don’t want a sermon— they want to see how you treat people behind closed doors.
5. Mental health isn’t being taken seriously.
Many churches still fall back on advice like “pray more” or “have more faith” when someone is struggling with anxiety, depression, or trauma. But Gen Z knows better—they’ve grown up with better access to therapy, psychology, and open conversations about mental health. When their emotional struggles are brushed off as spiritual failures, it feels dismissive and damaging. They want support that recognises the mind and body, not just the soul.
6. The church’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues feels outdated.
This is a big one. Many young people have LGBTQ+ friends, family, or identities themselves. As a result, they can’t reconcile a message of “love” with policies or beliefs that marginalise or condemn people for who they are. If a church still teaches that queerness is wrong or “needs healing,” Gen Z isn’t sticking around. They want safe, affirming spaces, not tolerance with conditions.
7. They want action, not just talk.
Gen Z is socially aware, politically active, and impatient with inaction. Churches that preach about helping the poor or loving your neighbour but rarely do anything about it lose credibility fast. They’re looking for communities that show up—at protests, food banks, climate marches—not ones that just say nice things on Sundays. They want faith in motion, not just faith in theory.
8. They see through fear-based messaging.
Messages like “you’ll go to hell if you don’t believe” or “bad things happen when you stray from the path” don’t scare Gen Z into obedience. They just sound manipulative. Fear might have worked on past generations, but Gen Z isn’t motivated by guilt or threats. They’re looking for belief systems that uplift, not ones that try to control behaviour through dread.
9. They’ve seen how power gets abused.
Whether it’s scandals involving pastors, church finances, or abuse within religious institutions, Gen Z has grown up seeing the cracks in the system, and once you see it, it’s hard to unsee it. Many feel betrayed by churches that covered things up or protected abusers. The trust is gone—and it’s not coming back just because someone smiles and says, “God is good.”
10. They’ve found spirituality outside religion.
Just because someone isn’t in church doesn’t mean they’re not spiritual. Gen Z is still exploring meaning, purpose, and connection—it’s just happening outside traditional walls. They’re drawn to mindfulness, nature, astrology, creative rituals, or personal introspection. It’s not about rejecting all belief—it’s about finding something that feels real and personal, not forced and institutional.
11. They want communities that feel safe, not policed.
Many churches still carry an air of moral surveillance, like everyone’s watching to see who’s messing up. Gen Z wants spaces where they can be human without constant judgement. That includes showing up with doubts, flaws, and unconventional lives. If they feel like they have to “clean themselves up” just to be accepted, they’ll go elsewhere.
12. They’re not waiting around for the church to modernise.
Gen Z grew up with instant access to information, evolving social norms, and constant cultural change. If churches insist on doing things “the way they’ve always been done,” they’ll be left behind. Young people aren’t going to pause their growth just to make the institution comfortable. They want places that are willing to evolve with the times, not double down on outdated values.
13. They value belonging over belief.
At the end of the day, Gen Z is searching for connection. However, belief alone isn’t enough—it has to come with genuine community, shared values, and emotional safety. Churches that prioritise belief above all else, especially when it’s rigid or exclusionary, end up missing the point. Gen Z wants to belong somewhere that makes space for difference, not just demands agreement.
