(ZENIT News / Belfast, 10.13.2025).- Contrary to long-held assumptions that secularism is inexorably on the rise, a new survey from the Iona Institute suggests that young adults in Northern Ireland may be fueling a subtle resurgence of faith. The research, conducted by Amarach Research among 1,200 adults, indicates that those aged 18 to 24 display the most favorable attitudes toward religion of any age group, surpassing even the over-65 cohort.
The survey highlights that 30 percent of this youngest demographic hold a positive view of religion, while only 4 percent express a strongly negative opinion. Interestingly, 17 percent express a particularly strong attachment to the Catholic Church, exceeding the enthusiasm of older generations. Yet this age group also reveals polarization: roughly half identify as neither religious nor spiritual, indicating a community divided between engaged believers and those skeptical or indifferent.
Northern Ireland has long been characterized by a religious and cultural divide between Protestant and Catholic communities. Recent demographic shifts, including the rise of secular identification and the growth of the Catholic population, are reshaping these traditional patterns. The survey reflects this evolving landscape: 28 percent of respondents identify as Catholic, 14 percent as Presbyterian, and 11 percent as members of the Church of Ireland, while a remarkable 36 percent describe themselves as “nones”—having no religious affiliation.
Daily practice and ritual participation further illustrate a nuanced picture of faith. About 40 percent of Catholics attend Mass regularly, double the rate in the Republic of Ireland, while 51 percent of all respondents report praying, and 38 percent engage with religious texts such as the Bible. Notably, young adults lead the way in devotional activities such as prayer, meditation, and reading religious content, often exceeding the engagement of the 25-to-34 cohort.
David Quinn, director of the Iona Institute, interprets these findings as signaling a departure from the traditional “cultural Christianity” model. “We are moving toward a landscape divided less by nominal religious identity and more by genuine engagement with faith or the absence thereof,” he said. Quinn notes that this trend mirrors patterns observed elsewhere in the UK, suggesting that secularism alone may not satisfy the existential questions young people increasingly confront.
Despite liberalization of social norms—ranging from abortion laws to same-sex marriage—Quinn observes that the young Catholics and Christians drawn to religion often reject the liberal stances of some older believers, including baby boomers. This selective engagement points to a youth seeking spiritual depth rather than a wholesale adoption of institutional orthodoxy or modern liberal ideology.
The survey offers an optimistic counterpoint to the narrative of a faith in decline. While institutional skepticism and secular tendencies persist, the enthusiasm among Northern Ireland’s younger generation suggests that religion remains relevant, with a potential revival brewing quietly among those navigating the tensions between modernity, ethics, and spiritual searching.
In short, the data signals that the decline of faith is not inevitable. Northern Ireland’s youth may yet shape a new chapter for religion on the island—one characterized not by cultural inheritance alone, but by a conscious, reflective pursuit of belief.
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