Therefore, more young people are attracted to the church

Jesus will be trendy in 2025, according to a new report from the Youth Barometer.
At the same time, the Church of Sweden has the highest enrollment in decades and the young generation accounts for a large part of the increase.
– Jesus was already an influencer in his time, he got people to follow him even then, says Clara Olsson, chairman of the Swedish Church’s youth, in Efter fem.

Until November of last year, 12,788 new members have been registered in the Church of Sweden. This is the largest number who have actively joined since the statistics began to be kept in the 70s. The statistics include everyone over the age of 12, not the children who are baptized.

– The biggest dip came during the pandemic, then things have gone up. You have experienced how difficult the world can be and it has not gotten better since the pandemic. I think it supports young people to find their way back to security and something stable, says Clara Olsson, chairman of the Swedish Church’s young people.

Generation Z, people who grew up after the turn of the millennium, make up a significant part of the increase.

– I applied to the Church of Sweden via confirmation out of pure curiosity. Then you get stuck in quite quickly because it’s welcoming, you make friends easily and quickly. And you can talk about everything, says Ella Bursell, who is fifteen years old and recently joined the Church of Sweden, to Efter fem and adds:

– Church is not as boring as you might think.

Report: Jesus trendy 2025

At the same time, young people aged 15 to 24 believe that Jesus will be trendy in 2025, according to the analysis company Ungdomsbarometern’s new report. It also shows that almost twice as many people describe themselves as religious than a few years ago.

– We live in a complicated world where it becomes especially important to find faith and hope, explains Clara Olsson and continues:

– It’s tough growing up today with the school system and the climate in social media. I am happy that more young people find security and a home in the church.

“Another address today”

Joel Halldorf, who is a professor of church history, thinks the new numbers say something interesting from a historical perspective.

– According to some, Sweden has been Sweden’s most secular country, he says in Efter fem.

He believes that one explanation for more young people being attracted to the Church of Sweden is that the address has changed.

– For an older generation, the church was very much an oppressive organization and a moralistic power church. Today’s young people don’t see it that way. The church has a completely different appeal today.