Susan Korah
Troy Media
Pluralism may be eroding Christianity’s cultural dominance, but the faith is far from retreating. Young people, professionals and public intellectuals are quietly driving a resurgence that defies the secular consensus.
That was the takeaway from a recent webinar hosted by Cardus, a Canadian-based think-tank grounded in Christian social thought and known for its work at the intersection of faith, economics and public policy.
The event brought together two scholars who argue that despite being pushed to the margins, Christianity still speaks—and is being heard—in the public square.
Dr. Andrew Bennett, former Canadian ambassador for international religious freedom and now Cardus’s director of faith-community engagement, joined Dr. James Orr, associate professor of the philosophy of religion at Cambridge University, for a wide-ranging discussion on religion, politics and public life.
“I’m optimistic,” Orr said. “Since 2020—the year COVID made its appearance—belief in God among 18- to 35-year-olds has tripled. Bible sales have gone up significantly due to the influence of social media or the growth of the digital public square, and in the UK, Catholics are in the forefront of political activism.”
He added that this revival is not just ideological but active. “A disproportionate number of Christians are fighting in the trenches with me in all the political work I’ve been engaged in during the last six years.”
Orr pointed to students born as recently as 2007 who are exploring faith through online platforms, which have become unexpected gateways to religious reflection.
This generational momentum is also reflected in Canada’s professional class, Bennett noted. He pointed to the growth of the Cardus Young Professional Program, a year-long leadership initiative for Christian professionals aged 25 to 34. The program helps participants integrate their faith into both career and civic engagement—a goal Cardus has pursued since its founding 25 years ago.
“From its beginning, Cardus has been drawing from the deep well of Christian social thought to spur the research and dialogue we believe will result in a more flourishing society for everyone. Since we’re marking our 25th anniversary this year, we’re making a special effort to get some good ideas out (to) the public.
“As part of that effort, we’ve been doing a series of webinars throughout the year to enrich the public discussion on important issues, whether it is about how Christians fit within 21st-century pluralism, the devastating effects of euthanasia or better ways to structure our education system,” Bennett said.
But alongside this quiet renewal, Orr warned of the ideological drift reshaping pluralism itself. Today’s version, he argued, bears little resemblance to its roots in shared moral identity.