But when researchers focused specifically on those members of Gen Z with an active Christian faith and regular reading of scripture, a much different picture emerges:
“When Gen Z adults are Scripture Engaged, they overcome the downward trend of their generation. In every domain, their Human Flourishing scores are better than the overall average,” according to the report.
The report authors caution that they “do not want to imply that picking up a Bible will instantly cure a person’s mental health issues and make them thrive in every aspect of existence.
“Scripture engagement is a way of life, in which people meet with God regularly and recast their thoughts and activities in response to God’s guidance. According to our data, this ongoing interaction is associated with mental health and human flourishing.”
The data behind the accompanying chart on how respondents rate themselves on the five measured factors of Human Flourishing is especially revealing because of the three factors on which Gen Zers who regularly engage with Scripture are strongest, compared to all other groups within the Gen Z generation.