“Okay, hear me out!” Lara shouted from across the room. “In the Quran, it says that Muhammad, peace be upon him, was told to pick up the pen and write. What if we, too, can form our own destinies through manifestation?” These types of comments from Lara are not too uncommon. A few weeks prior, we spent at least an hour talking about prayer, fate, destiny and tarot cards. The thing about working in creative communities in the Middle East is that you really never know what is going to come out of people's mouths. You can ask if they are religious, and get answers such as, “I’m spiritual,” or “50/50, but I work at a club.” After, you may end up spending hours discussing what that means specifically to them. These types of dialogue have been especially interesting when discussing Jesus, as well as holding onto personal and cultural identity. Many young creatives do not fit the mold of what I was expecting when I came to the Middle East. They use their voices boldly to express their opinions, dress in ways that would give their Tatas a heart attack, and explore gender identities that are still illegal in many places in the region. Their actions are not a rejection of spirituality, but evidence of a greater search for freedom, identity, and authenticity. Therefore, the way we engage spiritually with Gen Z must be different than other generations.

Many of my creative, Gen Z friends often quote Rumi. They love how he brought a different perspective to relationship with God. Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi wrote about finding oneness with God in spiritual mysticism. Rumi was a 13th-century Islamic scholar, preacher, and poet from modern day Türkiye. His poetry has grown in popularity more recently due to translations being available, as well as the message throughout it. His overall message is unity in the existence of the divine, as well as universal love. Rumi described a relationship with God much like a romantic relationship while also rejecting religious labels. In his poem, “Only Breath”1, he describes himself as, “Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi, or Zen. Not any religion or cultural system.” And finishes with, “I belong to the beloved, have seen the two worlds as one and that one call to and know, first, last, outer, inner, only that breath breathing human being.” This form of religion or spirituality is
attractive to this new generation, specifically in the Middle East, for a variety of reasons—including breaking away from older generations, wanting an escape from their realities, and seeking out genuine authenticity. While there is truth, beauty, and unity in Rumi’s words, they reveal a desire for transcendence that I believe only Jesus can fulfill.

Many Gen Zers have a desire for different religious practices than the generations that came before. I believe this is partly because they have grown up seeing abuse of power, lack of genuine worship, and people letting their words be one thing and their actions another. I do not attribute this to any one religion, as this has historically been the case in many religious systems. I have seen it in parts of Asia, the Middle East, and America. Gen Z is watching the people that came before them, and where there are holes in theological or religious beliefs, they want answers, as well as an escape from their current realities. This stems from a desire for freedom in their mental health journeys, a break from the materialistic world, and to truly know themselves and their identity. I think it is important to note that the desires are not bad, but merely a reflection of the world that we live in. This world is full of war, poverty, abuse of power, and unexplained loss. This generation wants to fix this, and they do this through authentic communities. Many Gen Z individuals from this region are seeking out authenticity, oneness, and community. While they have sought to find them in the traditions of their culture, they have seen firsthand the systems that have been broken long before they were born. Given this, the rise of activism among Gen Z is not a surprise. In a recent study, the United Way2 showed that nearly one third of all Zoomers are regularly involved in activism. This generation takes action with their beliefs. I have heard many say that their political beliefs stem from their spiritual ones. As this generation continues to seek out spiritual growth, their actions become an embodiment of their beliefs.

So, what do we do in response? Like any other relationship, we meet people with the love of Jesus. Jesus wants to bring freedom, healing, and identity. In Luke 4:18, Jesus quotes Isaiah saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” The things that Gen Z is seeking out—manifestation, activism, and mysticism—are the very things that Jesus came to do. What Jesus came to do is for everyone, young and old, rich and poor, Middle Eastern and American. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” We remember that Jesus does not change, but the way that we interact with Gen Z does. Gen Z desires to be fully known, so we must take the time to know them. I get asked all the time, “How do you make friends here?” and I tell them every time to find something that they are passionate about and join communities that have that in common. When we do this, we operate from who we truly are and can stay authentic in the ministry that we do. I do not believe that this practice is limited to this region. There are people all around us seeking something; when we step into their lives, right where they are, we are bringing the light of Jesus. We do not have the power to change lives, but Jesus does. Through dialogue, asking questions, and sharing truth, we can carry Jesus into the lives of Gen Z.

Additional Sources
Kapdakulture Admin. “Spiritual Shift: Why Gen Z Is Exploring and Embracing New Religions.” Kapda Kulture, 25 June 2025, kapdakulture.com/blogs/news/why-gen-z-is-exploring-and-embracing-new-religions?srsltid=AfmB
OopjICh4jIrVqy3szsCBbvnpZQHZ3VtCT4MHxjx4OoziR83_sD2t. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.

Chittick, William C. “Mysticism in Islam | William C. Chittick.” Newageislam.com, 2025, www.newageislam.com/ islam-spiritualism/william-c-chittick/mysticism-islam/d/11678. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.