Srinagar, Feb. 18 -- Across much of the world, religion is quietly losing its grip on younger generations. Compared to their parents and grandparents, today's youth are far less likely to belong to an organised faith and far more likely to describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated, often called "nones". This shift marks one of the most significant cultural changes of our time, reshaping how societies think about belief, identity, and meaning.

Large international surveys show that in dozens of countries, young adults are less religious than older generations. The decline is most visible in the United States and Europe, where religion has steadily moved from the centre of public life to its margins. Churches, once key social institut...