“I Haven’t, But I Know Someone Who Has”: Gen Z and the quiet curiosity about the spiritual
How Australian young adults are thinking about mystical experiences—and why it matters in the classroom
What does it mean to believe in something you haven’t experienced?
That’s the question many Gen Z young adults seem to be holding when it comes to the spiritual and the supernatural. While they’re less likely to report having had mystical experiences themselves, they’re far from closed off to the possibility. This open-ended, imaginative posture is something educators can pay attention to—especially when teaching religion, ethics, literature, or personal development.
The Australian Community Survey (ACS) asked over 1,200 Australians—including a significant number of Gen Z participants—about their spiritual experiences. Here’s what we found, and why it matters for understanding and engaging today’s students.
Gen Z: Less Experienced, Still Curious
When asked, “Have you ever had a mystical or supernatural experience, either positive or negative, about which you have no doubts it was real?”, seven in 10 Gen Z Australians either said they had, or they were open to the possibility of such an experience.
| |
Gen Z
|
All Australians
|
|
Yes, I have had an experience like this
|
23%
|
25%
|
|
No, but I know someone who has
|
16%
|
9%
|
|
No, but I believe it could happen
|
31%
|
30%
|
|
No, and I don't think such experiences occur
|
19%
|
25%
|
|
Unsure
|
11%
|
11%
|
Source: Australian Community Survey run by NCLS Research (n= 1,212)
The data tells a subtle but important story: Gen Z may not claim direct experience of the mystical—but they aren’t dismissing it either.
A significant minority—nearly one in four—have had such an experience themselves. Nearly half (47%) are open to the idea: “I know someone who has” or “I believe it could happen”. This compares to 39% for all Australians.
What This Means for Educators
Today’s students are navigating complex inner and outer worlds. Many are encountering questions of identity, purpose, and meaning without a fixed framework.
Whether through literature, history, drama, or religious studies, the classroom is one of the few spaces where mystical or spiritual ideas can be discussed thoughtfully and questions asked.
Gen Z learners are not confined to rigid worldviews. Even when they haven't had a spiritual experience themselves, many are willing to entertain the possibility. This is a generation shaped by imagination as much as information.
The fact that Gen Z are more likely to say “I know someone who has” than all Australians reminds us that of the role of testimony and relationship. Spiritual imagination often comes through story, not argument.
In Practice:
- Use stories, poetry, or case studies that explore spiritual experiences from different cultural and historical contexts.
- Ask reflective questions like, “What do people mean when they say something felt sacred?” or “Why might someone see a moment as spiritual?”
- Create opportunities for students to discuss personal meaning and values, even if they don’t link it to religion.
- Invite students to bring in narratives—from family, friends, or community—that have shaped how they think about spiritual or mystical experiences.
Gen Z may not report many supernatural experiences, but they carry a kind of spiritual openness—one that values story, respects mystery, and remains curious about what they haven’t yet seen.
