Youth and Religiosity – A South African perspective

Youth and Religiosity: A South African Perspective, edited by Anita Cloete, is a peer-reviewed collection that explores the complex ways in which young people embody, contest, and transform religious traditions in South Africa. The volume positions youth not only as recipients of religious socialisation but also as active agents of ethical leadership, interfaith engagement, and social transformation.
The chapters bring together established and emerging voices in Practical Theology to address key areas such as youth spiritual formation, catechesis in Reformed traditions, religious socialisation, and the intersections of religion, media, and technology. Contributors also engage with questions of ecological justice, ethical responsibility, and interfaith dialogue, showing how young people navigate multiple identities in a pluralistic and often contested environment.
By examining how youth construct and express religiosity – through worship, ecological activism, interreligious encounters, film, and digital media – the book offers nuanced insights into the lived realities of South African youth. It serves as a critical resource for scholars, theologians, and practitioners concerned with the intersections of religion, culture, and social change, and contributes significantly to ongoing conversations about the role of youth in shaping the future of faith and society.
 
Prof. Anita Cloete is Professor of Practical Theology at Stellenbosch University. She has more than 22 years’ teaching experience and she in an NRF-rated scholar. Her research focuses on youth culture, spiritual formation, religion and media, and technology in education. She has published widely, edited academic volumes and journals, and supervised over 30 postgraduate students.