Is There a New Religious Revival?

Is There a New Religious Revival? report cover

A companion analysis from the Center for Demographics and Policy at Chapman University, exploring the resurgence of faith and its intersection with science and modern life.

The report examines the mobility, demographic, and intellectual shifts behind the question — and anchored the Center's Science & Religion convening.

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The Research

The Data at a Glance

A one-page visual summary of Is There a New Religious Revival? — the mobility, demographic, and intellectual shifts behind the question.

RESEARCH BRIEF • FEBRUARY 2026Is There a NewReligious Revival?By Bheki Mahlobo & Joel Kotkin50%+of Europeans under 40 claimno religion — seculardecline is still real45%growth in baptisms inFrance in 2025 — earlysigns of a turn4×rise in UK churchgoingamong 18–24s: 4%→16%since 2018600MPentecostals today,projected to reach1 billion by 2050I · THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FAITHReligion has become an engine ofmobility — and an elite markerIn the US, weekly attendance rises with schooling —the reverse of Europe, where the educated leavefaith behind.High school23%Some college26%Bachelor's28%Post-graduate30%US weekly attendance by education — Coop. Election Study, 2024.THE SOCIAL CAPITAL EFFECTFaith connects the poor to the affluentHarvard's Raj Chetty found cross-class friendship isthe single strongest predictor of escaping poverty —and congregations forge it better than schools orworkplaces.+20%lifetime earningslift (Chetty)−33%lower mortality>1×/wk (Harvard)THE CHARITABLE BACKBONEWho carries the safety netCharitable $73%Homeless beds60%Share of US giving and shelter from religious sources. 73% ofweekly attendees give to the poor — vs. 41% of non-observants.MOBILITY IN THE GLOBAL SOUTHNigeria: literacy despiteilliterate parentsChristian.786Muslim.466Traditionalist.229Intergenerational educational mobility — Brown Univ. / Nature.“For the first time in decades, Christianity hasstopped its nosedive in the US.”PEW RESEARCH CENTER · FEB 2025II · THE DRIVERSMeaning, men & the “God Gap”A crisis of meaning and digital isolation pull theyoung — especially men — toward tradition. Gen Z mennow adopt Christian identity at rates equal to or abovewomen.Demography favors the faithful: those who pray have morechildren, while the unaffiliated fall below replacement.III · NEW ATHEISM → “NEW THEISM”The epistemic elite changes its mindThe combative New Atheism of the 2000s has “largelyexhausted itself.” A post-secular turn runs throughintellectuals, scientists, even Silicon Valley.Ayaan Hirsi Aliformer New Atheist, 2023Richard Dawkinsnow “cultural Christian”Russell Brandbaptized 2024Musk · Thielpublic embrace of faith“The first gulp of natural science turns you atheist, but at the bottom of theglass God is waiting.” — HeisenbergTHE RESURGENCE OF ORTHODOXYAdherents crave a “full-fat” faithAs progressive mainline churches shrink, demandingtraditions surge. Orthodox parishes saw a 78% jump inconverts (2022 vs 2019) — younger, mostly male.<11%US mainline share— down 40% since 200770→45%say religion“very important”IV · THE NEW CRUCIBLE: AFRICAWhere the religious future is decidedSub-Saharan Africa now Christian9% → 63%Africa's share of world Christians24% → 38%Median age of African Christiansglobal 30 vs 20By 2050, 4 of every 10 Christians will live in sub-SaharanAfrica.CHAPMANUNIVERSITYCenter for Demographics and PolicyIs There a New Religious Revival? · Mahlobo & Kotkin, 2026© 2026 Center for Demographics & Policy, Chapman UniversitySources: Pew · Harvard · Chetty Social Capital Atlas · CES · Bible SocietyFUNDEDBYFieldsteadand Company
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Science & Religion: The New Nexus event flyer
The Convening

Science & Religion: The New Nexus

This report anchored a live convening at Chapman University — a dialogue on how an expanding scientific understanding of the universe and biology is opening new, compatible expressions of faith.

Friday, July 24, 2026 · 4:00–8:00 PM
Bush Conference Center · BK404, Orange, CA

Program
4:00 – 4:20 pm
Registration · buffet line opens
4:30 – 4:35 pm
Welcome remarks — Mike Ibba, Schmid College of Science & Technology
4:35 – 4:40 pm
Opening remarks — Congressman Lou Correa
4:40 – 5:05 pm
Keynote — Daniele Struppa, President Emeritus, Chapman University
5:05 – 5:50 pm
Panel #1: Personal Journeys — moderated by Joel Kotkin
5:50 – 6:20 pm
Panel #2: Reactions — moderated by Marshall Toplansky
6:20 – 6:50 pm
Audience Q&A
6:50 – 6:55 pm
Closing remarks — Joel Kotkin
7:00 – 8:00 pm
Sunset rooftop networking hour
8:00 pm
Event concludes