The Hillsong church is a Sydney-born megachurch, whose order of procession is more akin to that of a Beyoncé concert than a humble religious sermon. As atheism and spirituality steal would-be religious devotees, Hillsong is modernising religion for Gen Z who want a greater sense of belonging. We explore the science behind its appeal to youngsters in Australia.
A Hillsong Church sermon is known for its elaborate light shows, loud music, and massive karaoke-like screens with lyrics for churchgoers to follow along with, rather than the sleepy processionals more associated with the processionals with Orthodox Christian denominations. Hillsong gears faith towards young people, by turning church into a fun, immersive experience, often housed in industrial warehouses, much like a nightclub. The church’s foyer features a coffee stall, juice bar, and music shop, as well as god-based apps for learning and donating to the church. Hillsong’s approach has earned it over a million Instagram followers and Youtube subscribers, and boasts attendance figures across its churches of more than 40,000 people a week.
In Australia, young people are losing interest in faith, with an increasing number reporting to be non-religious. But the sects that are managing to hang on to their congregations are those who adapt themselves to the current zeitgeist by modernising their aesthetics and practices – pentecostal churches like Hillsong are growing steadily because of this. As other schools of spirituality – from witchcraft to secular meditation –compete for young people’s attention, churches like Hillsong are looking to prove that tradition isn’t incompatible with Gen Z’s lifestyle and interests.
Mira Kopolovic is a behavioural analyst at Canvas8, which specialises in behavioural insights and consumer research. She has a MA which focused on visual culture and artist-brand collaborations, and spends her spare time poring over dystopian literature.
