In my formative years, religion and spirituality showed up on Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights, and during bedtime prayers. While TV preachers showed up on television from time to time, for most young people, the only “influencers” around were their pastor and youth group leader. Your faith was rarely enriched by strangers.

A couple of decades later, young people can simply look to their smartphones to find an entire cast of religious and spiritual influencers ready to share their form of the Good News. Catholic priests use humor to share larger beliefs of the faith, while “deconstructed” Christians show what life is like after leaving the faith of their youth. Mormon women showcase their lives to demonstrate how modern life can be infused with traditional Mormon values, while young students of Buddhism offer breathwork and meditation to help improve well-being. There’s seemingly endless content on social media, and yet these influencers are captivating more and more young people. What is it about........

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