An international survey about young people, faith and religion: framework of the research and overall results

This article presents the results of a survey conducted in November 2023 on the faith and religion of 4,889 young people aged 18–29 from eight countries: Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines, Spain, and the UK. The study utilized representative quota sampling based on sex, age, and geography to reflect population distribution.The article also presents and justifies the underlying philosophy of the whole Footprints Project, which lies upon the framework of the anthropological relational sociology and specifically of the questionnaire of the first step (faith and religion) of the Footprints Project. It can be summarized in three propositions: Building personal identity and character is the primary goal of any educational project; relationships are key to achieving this goal, and faith and religion orient one’s way of being, becoming, and acting, thereby shaping personhood.The research examines how faith and religion shape identity and behavior. The study explores how religion, as an affirmative answer to God’s call, influences behavior and morality beyond adherence to rituals.