In Christian circles, a major paradox is emerging: the rise of intellectualism that is, in practice, anti-intellectual. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and X are flooded with theological summaries, historical claims, and moral pronouncements that are delivered with confidence but very little accountability or accuracy.
In this digital era, where every meme is a manifesto and every reel a micro-sermon, young believers are reframing Christian witness in ways that bypass traditional church structures. This isn’t simply a crisis; it’s a new reformation.
We’ve seen this before. The printing press, credited to Johannes Gutenberg in the 1450s, revolutionized Christian communication. It enabled mass production of Bibles and theological pamphlets, fueling the Protestant Reformation by democratizing access to Scripture and religious ideas. Martin Luther himself praised it as God’s highest act of grace for the proclamation of God’s Word but in the same vein, condemned it for its unprecedented ability to mangle the truth beyond recognition. Today, social media plays a similar role with the biggest factor being the algorithms’ proclivity to reward speed and engagement over spiritual depth and accuracy. The result is a culture where intellectual posturing often eclipses genuine pursuit of truth.
Across platforms, Gen Z engage in digital rituals that shape their theology and identity. From curated modesty aesthetics to Bible journaling and micro-testimonies, spiritual expression is increasingly mediated through visual culture and short-form storytelling. The issue is not just that these practices are distractions or increasing screen time, it’s that they are seemingly more influential in shaping Christian ideology today than traditional sermons and catechism.
A 2025 study published in Religions found that social media significantly influences Gen Z’s religious identity, often replacing traditional catechesis with fragmented digital experiences. Young believers are increasingly shaped by content that mimics intellectual and spiritual engagement while bypassing its disciplines: study, context, humility, and dialogue. They can quote Augustine without reading him, critique church history without encountering its complexity, and debate doctrine without ever sitting under pastoral instruction. This isn’t Christianity but rather Chrisitan theater, a performance of intellect without the spiritual substance to sustain it.
Compounding the problem is the collapse of attention. Gen Z’s media habits are increasingly shaped by dopamine-driven feedback loops that reward speed, stimulation, and emotional payoff. A 2022 study published in the Journal of Student Research found that increased social media use among Gen Z correlates with dopamine fluctuations and attention dysregulation, reinforcing compulsive scrolling and diminishing cognitive control. A 2023 study published in Nature Scientific Reports reinforces this, linking social media addiction to dopamine dysregulation and impaired executive function. The result is a generation conditioned to scroll, not to sit. Church leaders are trying to teach the Psalms to kids who’ve been neurologically trained to expect resolution in under 10 seconds. Longform content such as sermons, Scripture, and theological reflections struggle to compete with the dopamine drip of digital media.
This fragmented reformation is unfolding almost overnight, driven not by councils or catechesis, but by algorithms and aesthetic appeal. Subcultures like the “OrthoBros” and “TradCaths” promote stylized, hyper-masculine versions of Christianity that emphasize hierarchy and rigid gender roles, often without theological nuance or pastoral grounding. Yet both Orthodox and Catholic traditions affirm the dignity and spiritual equality of women. The Orthodox and Catholic Churches venerate the Theotokos as the highest example of holiness, and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese explicitly states that participation in the royal priesthood is not based on gender. Pope Francis, in Dignitas Infinita (2024), reaffirmed that human dignity is foundational to Christian anthropology, condemning gender-based exclusion and calling for deeper esteem of women in ecclesial life. These teachings stand in contrast to the distorted witness promoted by self-styled apologists who present exclusionary views under the guise of tradition.
Distortion, however, is not confined to traditionalist spaces. Hyper-liberal expressions of Christianity are also gaining traction among Gen Z, often presenting faith as a vehicle for affirmation, identity, or activism. These voices emphasize inclusion and justice, but often at the expense of theological coherence, sacramental depth, and ecclesial accountability. For example, some influencers reframe Scripture as symbolic, downplay sin and salvation, or treat personal identity as the primary lens for theology. While critiques of traditionalist influencers are widespread, progressive figures often go unchallenged. Both ends of the spectrum risk replacing formation with performance. In this moment, the Church must resist distortion from all sides and recover a witness that is rooted in responsibility and capable of sustaining truth in the digital age.
The same dynamic is unfolding in the evangelical space. Influencer-pastors such as ‘Prophet’ Lovy Elias, Philip Anthony Mitchell, and Mike Todd have built massive digital platforms through charismatic preaching, emotional storytelling, and spiritual branding. Each of them has millions of followers across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, where their content blends motivational rhetoric with spiritual authority, creating parasocial bonds that shape belief and behavior. A 2024 study from the University of Cumbria found that parasocial relationships significantly influence Gen Z’s moral decision-making and religious affiliation.
While many of these leaders preach biblical values, their platforms also reinforce celebrity culture, theological oversimplification, and a performance-based model of faith. The result is theological confusion and ideological disunity. The influencers shaping Gen Z’s faith often disagree on core doctrines, from sacramental theology to the very nature of salvation, yet all claim to represent “real” Christianity. What we are witnessing is essentially a marketplace of individuality being branded as dogma, a mindset that ties in closely with the American ethos of consumerism.
At the same time, social media has sparked a genuine resurgence of spiritual curiosity, especially among Gen Z. Many are reattending church, exploring tradition, and asking deeper questions about theology, community, and purpose. For some, a viral sermon becomes the first step toward rediscovering faith. But while digital platforms can inspire reassessment, they cannot sustain formation. The Christian life requires more than content consumption. It calls for communion, accountability, and sacramental depth. Without these, even the most sincere rediscovery risks becoming another fleeting moment in a doomscrolling session.
If social media is becoming a battleground for truth, then Christians must respond with the full armor of God. The rise of anti-intellectualism online calls for a deeper witness that is rooted in tradition, study, and lived wisdom. Faith is a marathon marked by small, deliberate steps taken over the course of a lifetime, not a sprint designed to outpace the algorithm. While the race for attention is urgent, the pursuit of spiritual depth cannot be rushed. Gen Z is already making strides, the Church must meet them there, not with spectacle but with substance.
There is no fault in the youth for seeking meaning in familiar spaces, nor in the Church for struggling to keep pace. No one could have predicted the hold that social media would come to have on our collective imagination. Just as the printing press once reshaped the religious landscape, today’s digital platforms are distorting the truth in ways that demand our attention. We must preach the word in season and out. We must convince, rebuke, and exhort the masses with all patience and teaching. In an age of distortion, the putting on the full armor of God is not a metaphor. It is the only way to stand.
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” – 2 Timothy 4:2
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Anti-Intellectual Christianity’s Rise in the Digital Age – Juicy Ecumenism
ByEric Djirackor
Nov 7, 2025