Looking For More?

In March, The Times published an article documenting an unexpected phenomenon. While most non-fiction book sales have been declining in recent years, there was an increase between 2019 and 2024 of 87% in Bible sales, particularly to “Gen Z”- (people born between 1997 and 2012). The Bible Society said its “Good News Bible Youth Edition” had seen sales almost doubled since 2021.

The impact of COVID on people’s understanding of “what life is all about”, and an increased desire for meaning and connection seem to be driving this. It’s become far less likely for people of this younger generation to describe themselves as atheists than for their parents to do so.  It seems that, although the prevailing impression may be that our younger generation is relentlessly materialistic, this is not borne out in reality. Certainly it is my experience, going regularly into all our local schools, that our children are fantastically thoughtful, reflective, kind and empathetic: which is not to say that these characteristics are the exclusive preserve of the spiritually minded!

This  renewed focus of interest in spirituality amongst younger people, and our national crisis in mental health provision (with more than half of those on long term sickness benefits in the UK citing stress, depression and anxiety as primary causes) prompts some big questions.

People want to feel well, to find joy and connection, to have a sense of peace in their hearts and minds as they make their way through life. As we are constantly bombarded with more information than we can process or assess accurately, and as we lurch between economic crises, political crises and the ever-present concern of the climate crisis, people are asking:

Is there a way to live more joyfully and peacefully, a way of life that can make us less anxious and more thankful? 

The increase in Bible sales seems to indicate that some people are wondering whether there might be something worth investigating in a life of faith: whether, in fact, the many generations before us were exploring a “baby” of wisdom and love that may have been thrown out “with the bathwater” of social conventions and restrictive or paternalistic interpretation. In our churches, we are seeing a small but noticeable increase in the number of children and younger adults “dipping their toes in”. That might not be for you- or maybe it might be, just worth a try one Sunday morning?

Jesus says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened”

Whatever your thoughts on this, our church buildings are open for you to enjoy and explore, and my hope is that you may find peace and perspective this spring.

Every Blessing,

Revd Kalantha