Franklin Graham says young people reject ‘anti-God socialism’

Evangelist Franklin Graham, CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has attributed reported increased church attendance among younger Americans to their rejection of “anti-God socialism.”

In a social media post on Monday, Graham, the son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham, shared a video clip of his appearance on Fox News on Saturday. He was asked to react to statistical findings that Generation Z and millennials, the two youngest groups of American adults, have higher average monthly church attendance rates than their older counterparts.

“I think Gen Z and millennials have been fed the lie of socialism and socialism is basically anti-God,” he added. “They have been turned off, I think, by this, and they’re asking themselves, ‘there’s got to be something more.'” 

The statistics, first shared by the Barna Group in a September report, found that Generation Z churchgoers attend services an average of 1.9 times per month, while millennials attend 1.8 times per month.

By contrast, average monthly church attendance was lower among members of Generation X (1.6), baby boomers (1.4) and elders (1.4).

“I think it’s socialism,” Graham said as he reflected on the higher church attendance of the younger generations. 

Graham acknowledged that “they’re going to church” and cited reports that “Bible sales are up.” The 73-year-old expressed gratitude that “they’re buying Bibles, they’re reading for themselves, they’re going to church.”

Graham also cited the September assassination of conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk as another reason.

“The man supposedly who killed him said that too many people were listening to Charlie Kirk and he wanted to shut him up,” Graham said. “I think that’s just increased the appetite even more for this generation. What was Charlie Kirk saying? They tuned into his memorial service, 100,000 were there present, and they say 100 million were watching.”

“People are wanting to know the truth and that’s the thing. … Charlie was teaching truth,” he aded. “They’ve listened to lies and lies and lies from their university professors and those coming out of the Department of Education. I think they’re wanting to know the truth.” 

Based on interviews with 3,579 churchgoing adults conducted between January and July, the Barna report found that monthly church attendance rates among Generation Z and millennial adults nearly doubled from 2020 to 2025.

A subsequent report published by the Barna Group in December found that younger Americans were the most likely to take spiritual action following Kirk’s death. 

While reports published by the Barna Group this year have pointed to a resurgence in faith among young Americans, the American Bible Society’s “State of the Bible: USA 2025” report found that Generation Z has the lowest level of church engagement. 

Specifically, the report revealed that the youngest group of American adults were less likely to agree with statements asserting that they have had “opportunities to learn and grow in my faith,” they have a “best friend at church,” “there is someone in my church who encourages my spiritual development,” “my pastor, or other church leaders, seem to care about me as a person” and that they have had opportunities to use their “giftings.”

Evangelist Franklin Graham, CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has attributed reported increased church attendance among younger Americans to their rejection of “anti-God socialism.”

In a social media post on Monday, Graham, the son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham, shared a video clip of his appearance on Fox News on Saturday. He was asked to react to statistical findings that Generation Z and millennials, the two youngest groups of American adults, have higher average monthly church attendance rates than their older counterparts.

“I think Gen Z and millennials have been fed the lie of socialism and socialism is basically anti-God,” he added. “They have been turned off, I think, by this, and they’re asking themselves, ‘there’s got to be something more.'” 

The statistics, first shared by the Barna Group in a September report, found that Generation Z churchgoers attend services an average of 1.9 times per month, while millennials attend 1.8 times per month.

By contrast, average monthly church attendance was lower among members of Generation X (1.6), baby boomers (1.4) and elders (1.4).

“I think it’s socialism,” Graham said as he reflected on the higher church attendance of the younger generations. 

Graham acknowledged that “they’re going to church” and cited reports that “Bible sales are up.” The 73-year-old expressed gratitude that “they’re buying Bibles, they’re reading for themselves, they’re going to church.”

Graham also cited the September assassination of conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk as another reason.

“The man supposedly who killed him said that too many people were listening to Charlie Kirk and he wanted to shut him up,” Graham said. “I think that’s just increased the appetite even more for this generation. What was Charlie Kirk saying? They tuned into his memorial service, 100,000 were there present, and they say 100 million were watching.”

“People are wanting to know the truth and that’s the thing. … Charlie was teaching truth,” he aded. “They’ve listened to lies and lies and lies from their university professors and those coming out of the Department of Education. I think they’re wanting to know the truth.” 

Based on interviews with 3,579 churchgoing adults conducted between January and July, the Barna report found that monthly church attendance rates among Generation Z and millennial adults nearly doubled from 2020 to 2025.

A subsequent report published by the Barna Group in December found that younger Americans were the most likely to take spiritual action following Kirk’s death. 

While reports published by the Barna Group this year have pointed to a resurgence in faith among young Americans, the American Bible Society’s “State of the Bible: USA 2025” report found that Generation Z has the lowest level of church engagement. 

Specifically, the report revealed that the youngest group of American adults were less likely to agree with statements asserting that they have had “opportunities to learn and grow in my faith,” they have a “best friend at church,” “there is someone in my church who encourages my spiritual development,” “my pastor, or other church leaders, seem to care about me as a person” and that they have had opportunities to use their “giftings.”