More young men in church, but where are the young women?

Across the Western world, something surprising is happening. After decades of decline, church attendance among young men is rising. For the first time in modern history, men under 25 are more likely than women to attend church ^[1]. While this is a cause for celebration, it also raises an important question: Where are the young women?

The answer is not that young women are becoming less spiritual. On the contrary, many are deeply engaged in spiritual pursuits – just not in the ways or places the church has come to expect. Psychologist Sabina Brennan points to evidence that young women are particularly drawn to non-religious forms of spirituality, such as tarot, astrology, or manifesting. These practices are not spiritually neutral, and Scripture is clear that they do not lead to life. Still, if we hope to reach young women with the good news of Jesus, our response cannot begin with condemnation. It must begin with understanding the longings that drive their search.

Why young women are turning toward alternative spiritualities

Belle Tindale in a recent Woman Alive article ^[2] on the rise of witch-themed spirituality reveals several reasons why witchcraft, tarot, astrology and similar practices resonate so strongly with young women today.