Religion on the Mind Clergy vs. ICE & Thiel’s Antichrist Lectures (Religion News Roundup) (#357)
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Nov 3, 2025 Join theologian and podcaster Mason Mennenga as he dives into the latest religious news. He discusses the surprising openness of Gen Z to spirituality, even as church attendance declines. Mason recounts the brave actions of clergy protesting ICE and examines Peter Thiel’s controversial Antichrist lectures. The duo also debates the significance of faith in shaping politics, shares laughs over a biblical comedy series, and reflects on why climate positivity isn't making headlines. It's a thought-provoking chat that's both insightful and entertaining!
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Gen Z And The Flattening Secularization Curve
- Gen Z shows more openness to spirituality than millennials did at the same age, but not a mass return to church attendance.
- The secularization curve appears to be flattening, with more young people identifying as spiritual or theist rather than atheist.
Therapy Normalizes Spiritual Language
- Normalization of therapy, mindfulness, and meditation makes spiritual language more palatable to young people.
- Dan argues therapeutic practices create an easy bridge from mental-health practices to spirituality and prayer.
Historic Traditions Offer Stability And Meaning
- Young people's interest in historic traditions (Catholicism, Orthodoxy) often reflects a search for stable meaning amid cultural chaos.
- Dan and Mason link this to dissatisfaction with purely political worldviews lacking mechanisms for grace.
