He says that this denomination of Christianity “doesn’t coddle you”.

“[The services of other Christian denominations] has become an entertainment spectacle with bands, with music, with dancing. And that’s not why I’m there.”

‘I’d tried everything else, and it was time to try God’

“[I] had the car, had the job, had the engineering degree on the way. Everything just seemed like it was going so well … and I honestly felt so empty … I didn’t know why.”

Evan says he had a religious of heart visiting the Taj Mahal last year. Source: Supplied

One day, a colleague invited him to a Sunday service at her Pentecostal church.

Evan says he has never looked back from that Sunday afternoon, seeing so many young people together.

Gen Z’s spiritual and religious rise

The 2021 Census found 43.9 per cent of people in Australia identified as Christian. This was down from 52.1 per cent in 2016, and 61.1 per cent in 2011 and marks a 17.2 per cent decrease over a decade.

The 2021 Census highlighted a decline in Australians identifying as Christian. Source: SBS

Dr Anna Halafoff, an associate professor of Sociology at Deakin University, specialises in spirituality and says there are certain groups within Christianity experiencing growth.

The 2022 NCLSR survey also reported Gen Z females were more likely to say “there is some sort of spirit of life force” at 34 per cent — compared to 26 per cent in gen Z males.

Some research suggests that more male members of gen Z identify as religious than female members do.

Halaloff says there is also substantive numbers of young people who stay in the religion they’re born into; these people can be described as nominally religious.

“Often people get involved in religious groups through significant relationships, whether that’s with peers or through a romantic relationship.”

Spirituality within organised religion

“When you exist as both a marginalised ethnic minority and also, you’re in a minority religion in a country like Australia, it’s pretty normal for culture and religion to become enmeshed,” Soaliha said.

Soaliha and her husband. Source: Supplied

While Soaliha never doubted her faith, she explored what it meant to her as a young adult.

She says that along with generosity, charity and mutual aid being key components of her spiritual and religious expression, community connection was likely a big part of her husband’s decision to convert.

A ‘third space’ alternative?

“And I think religion does offer a very viable alternative for a lot of people.”

Rajas started the group Dharma Down Under when he was aged 19. Source: Supplied

Rajas was raised by progressive Hindu parents. When he was 19, Rajas started the group Dharma Down Under for people aged 18-30 to meet and search for meaning.

“We look at our scriptures in a very critical way; we’ll discuss the worst parts of them.”