There are so many stories about Gen Z conversion to more traditional or more conservative denominations of Christianity. Whether this is a trend is debatable, but the lived experience of young adults in this cohort provides truly valuable insight into this cultural moment. Emily Dinneny is a prime example. She is a Gen Z convert to Roman Catholicism who also has a significant social media presence and now works in Catholic apologetics. Here she shares her journey from non-denominational Christianity to Catholicism, exploring the appeal of liturgy, tradition, and community.

Links:

Emily on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@catholic.converts/

Emily on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/catholic.converts/

Emily’s at Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/emily-dinneny

Saint Ignatius of Loyola's Prayer: https://prayerguide.org/ignatius-prayer

Topic Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Gen Z and Religion

03:12 Emily's Conversion Journey

06:06 The Appeal of Traditional Liturgy

08:54 Mental Health and Religion

11:55 Navigating Online Discourse

14:46 Authority and Trust in Online Content

17:46 Constructive Argument vs. Conflict

20:47 The Noise of Modern Discourse

23:34 Diversity in Catholic Worship

26:45 Comparing Protestant and Catholic Practices

31:32 Exploring Community and Church Engagement

34:26 The Role of Rituals in Faith

35:39 Personal Experiences with Liturgy

41:00 Human Dignity and the Value of Life

45:58 The Impact of Consumerism on Faith

48:13 The Search for Authentic Community

53:13 Redefining Freedom in a Religious Context

59:11 Perceptions of Religion Among Generations

01:02:41 Meaningful Practices and Reflections