The transformation of the relationship between Spanish youth and religion

Abstract

This paper examines the religiosity and spirituality of Spanish youth using data from the 2023 Footprints survey with 601 respondents aged 18 to 29. The findings show a significant decline in traditional Catholic affiliation (31%) alongside growing secular and non-affiliated spiritual identities (over 40%). Belief in God remains at 42%, illustrating complex religious transformations rather than complete disengagement. The study contextualizes these trends within broader social, political, and educational changes, emphasizing the reduced role of religious education and family religiosity in shaping youth beliefs. Immigration-driven religious pluralism introduces diverse spiritual options, fostering eclectic and hybrid practices. Despite widespread secularization, emergent Catholic youth movements, supported by digital media, reveal ongoing pockets of religious vitality. By integrating empirical data and relevant theories of secularization, pluralism, and individualization, this research reveals how Spanish youth navigate faith and spirituality in a post-Christian, multicultural context. The findings highlight the coexistence of institutional decline with personalized spirituality, underscoring pluralism and fluid religious identities as defining features of contemporary youth culture in Spain.