Recently, an article was published in The Guardian arguing that modern education systems focus heavily on intellectual, physical, and social development but often neglect children’s spiritual education. This imbalance, the author suggests, contributes to rising levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and declining wellbeing among young people, both in New Zealand and globally.

The article explains that spiritual education is not about religious indoctrination. Rather, it involves nurturing children’s inner life, moral character, sense of purpose, and connection to something greater than themselves. Research cited in the piece suggests that experiences of awe, belonging, and moral development are crucial for young people to thrive. The author highlights various cultural and religious traditions that incorporate spiritual development into education and mentions community-based initiatives, such as Bahá’í children’s classes, which foster qualities like kindness, courage, and cooperation through reflection, service, and creative activities. The article concludes that young people are searching for meaning, not just academic achievement. Schools that fail to cultivate students’ spiritual capacities risk leaving them unanchored in a complex world, with consequences that may last a lifetime.

Looking specifically at England, the British newspaper The Times reports that Bible sales in the United Kingdom have increased by 87% since 2019. In France, the number of adult baptisms in 2025 has nearly doubled compared to the previous year. What does this mean?

As confirmed by the research group Footprints, young people have a need to explore spiritual issues. They ask questions that go beyond the material world, beyond information or any AI system. These are questions of consciousness that can only find answers from a metaphysical perspective.

The evidence does not point to an unavoidable process of secularization. The landscape is changing. It may be premature to speak of a religious awakening, but empirical data do not support the idea of an unstoppable trend toward secularization. On the other hand, religious pluralism—driven in Spain by immigration—has introduced a range of spiritual options, encouraging more eclectic and hybrid practices. The emergence of youth Catholic movements, with significant impact on digital media, shows that there are centers of religious vitality worth paying attention to.