Why More Americans Are Seeking Religion

The Daily

The New York Times

News, Daily News

4.3 • 107.6K Ratings

🗓️ 12 May 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The United States seems to be revisiting the role of faith. In essence, secularization is on pause.

Transcript

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0:00.0	From the New York Times, I'm Michael Bavarro.
0:07.0	This is the Daily.
0:09.0	Across the country, and here in South Central Pennsylvania, church leaders say they're
0:14.0	seeing a noticeable shift.
0:16.0	Gen Z is returning to faith, but in ways you might not expect.
0:21.6	You're seeing the largest number of converts in recent history.
0:25.6	Young New Yorkers have a new hotspot.
0:29.6	Sunday Mass.
0:31.6	We're learning that for the first time in decades.
0:34.6	Faith in this country appears to be growing. After decades of declining
0:40.4	church attendance and a profound rise in secularism, I was like, could I maybe go to a church
0:47.3	service with you just to like see what it's like? Religion is having a moment in America.
0:53.8	I think we do start to question, like, why is this happening?
0:57.8	Today, producer Astha Chathravati talks to our colleague, Lauren Jackson,
1:03.7	about why more and more Americans are now choosing to believe.
1:11.2	It's Tuesday, May 12th.
1:15.8	Hey, Lauren.
1:17.2	Hi, how are you?
1:18.6	I'm good.
1:19.2	It's so fun to see you in this space.
1:22.0	Oh, yeah, let's see how fun it is.
1:24.1	I love this angle.
	...

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