Millennials and Gen Z Are Returning to God - Here's Why

In a world where conversations about God are often pushed to the margins, one Dutch Muslim is working to bring them back to the center of European life. Adrian Brower, founder of Day Explorer, believes faith talk needs to become "normal" again.

His platform creates safe spaces for dialogue, discovery, and spiritual exploration-helping people approach God without fear, prejudice, or the weight of dogma.

Brower calls this effort a response to Europe's "collective God trauma." For generations, many in the Netherlands and across the continent walked away from religion, seeing the Church primarily as a controlling institution. This left behind a deep suspicion of God-imagined as a harsh, punishing figure in the sky-and of religion itself. Yet, despite this cultural baggage, something remarkable is happening among Europe's younger generations: a renewed search for meaning.

From Atheism to Islam

Adrian's own journey mirrors this wider story. Raised in a secular Dutch family where religion was absent, he first encountered Christianity as a teenager. "It was the first time I saw that God could be something positive in your life," he recalls. But as he explored different traditions-Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism-one stood out: Islam.

What struck him most when visiting a mosque wasn't theology but serenity. "I saw people who weren't living in constant fear or anxiety like the rest of us. They only feared meeting their Lord and being accountable to Him. That gave them peace, and I wanted that."

Gradually, Islam's emphasis on equality, inner purification, and spiritual discipline drew him closer. Eventually, he began praying and learning Qur'an before formally declaring his shahada. "When I finally said it publicly, I cried like a baby," Adrian says. "I never cried like that before in my life."

The Spiritual Hunger of a Generation

Brower is quick to point out that his story is not unique. Across Europe, especially among millennials and Gen Z, there is a renewed thirst for spirituality. But unlike past generations who often sought identity in material success or radical individualism, today's youth crave community and purpose.

At the same time, many are "shopping" for spirituality the way they shop online: picking pieces of meditation, yoga, or self-help techniques without committing to a tradition. Adrian believes this leaves the ego in charge rather than genuinely transforming the self. For him, real spiritual fulfillment requires submission-to God, to a framework, and to a community that keeps one accountable.

Misconceptions and Barriers

Despite this hunger for meaning, Adrian acknowledges the barriers that keep Europeans from Islam. Among the biggest are:

• The perception of Islam as foreign: Many see it as an "exotic" faith tied to Arab culture. Adrian insists Islam belongs everywhere: "The message came for mankind, not for Arabs or Asians. Dutch Islam, English Islam-these are natural expressions of the same universal truth."
• Rules and restrictions: Many fear Islam is too rigid. But Adrian points out that Islam, like European law itself, is rooted in principles that offer guidance across a spectrum. "The Prophet never gave people a rulebook on day one. He started with belief, with shahada, and built from there."
• Women's rights and the hijab: In the Netherlands especially, headscarves are stigmatized, often seen as symbols of oppression. "I've never met a hijabi who was forced to wear it," Adrian stresses. "Every woman I've spoken to does it out of choice and dignity. But the stereotypes are deep."

Day Explorer: Making Faith Talk Normal Again

Day Explorer began as a small community of seekers-new Muslims, curious agnostics, even ex-Muslims-meeting to read, learn, and discuss. Today, it has grown into a broader platform with online content, personal stories, and public events.

Adrian's approach is pragmatic and prophetic. Just as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once welcomed Christians into the mosque in Medina, Day Explorer builds bridges of dialogue rather than walls of exclusion. The goal is not to water down Islam but to find cultural touchpoints that resonate with Dutch society: community service, spiritual resilience, justice, and art.

Last year, the group hosted open-mosque days that welcomed hundreds of non-Muslims. Upcoming events focus on themes like the Prophet's "Year of Sadness," offering lessons on how faith helps overcome adversity-something universally relatable.

A European Islam

Brower believes that Islam's future in Europe depends on Muslims embracing their identity as fully European and fully Muslim. "Just as Christianity indigenized Jesus into Western culture, we must indigenize Muhammad, peace be upon him, into ours," he says. For him, this doesn't mean diluting the message but expressing it authentically within Dutch values of humility, fairness, and equality.

Ultimately, his vision is simple: a Europe where conversations about God are as natural as conversations about politics or sport. A Europe where spiritual longing leads not just to self-help fads but to genuine connection with the Divine.

"Finding God is not about instant gratification," Adrian reflects. "It's about consistency, community, and submission. If Day Explorer can help even a few people take that first step, then we've done something worthwhile."