Post-Pandemic Religious Revival in Asia: The Spiritual Quest of the Younger Generation and Its Social Impact
University of Metaphysical Sciences
Abstract
This essay explores the post-pandemic religious revival among Asian youth, particularly focusing on Japan and Thailand, where traditional religious practices have experienced renewed interest. Following the social isolation and existential questioning triggered by COVID-19, young Asians aged 18-35 have shown increased engagement with Shinto shrines in Japan and Buddhist meditation retreats in Thailand. This phenomenon is more than a mere reaction to crisis; it is a deeper spiritual quest for significance, community, and identity in societies which have undergone such rapid modernization that they may feel alienated from their culture. The revitalization takes place within both the physical structures of traditional places of worship, and the digital realm of information on spirituality. This paper considers the motivations of the quest and the desire for significance in an uncertain and hostile environment to hyper-materialism. It also explores the social implications of the revitalization, from tighter-knit community bonding towards incipient disintegrations caused by modernization. The spiritual revival among Asian youth merits further research, particularly regarding its sustainability, digitalization, and impact on broader societal values in post-pandemic Asia.
Keywords:
religious revival; spiritual quest; post-pandemic; Shinto practices; Buddhist meditationCopyright Notice & License:
All articles published in Global Review of Humanities, Arts, and Society (GRHAS) are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
This license allows anyone to share, copy, distribute, transmit, and adapt the work, including for commercial purposes, provided that proper attribution is given to the original author(s) and the source.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
PDF Downloads
Journal Info
How to Cite
References
Apisarnthanarak, A., Greene, M. T., Collier, K. M., & Kasatpibal, N. (2024). The influence of spirituality, religiosity, and self-care on well-being among Thai infection preventionists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology, 4(1), e26. https://doi.org/10.1017/ash.2023.510
Asian Development Bank & International Labour Organization. (2020). Tackling the COVID-19 youth employment crisis in Asia and the Pacific. ILO and ADB. https://www.adb.org/publications/covid-19-youth-employment-crisis-asia-pacific
BookRetreats. (2025). The 10 best meditation retreats in Thailand. Retrieved from https://bookretreats.com/s/meditation-retreats/thailand
Britannica. (2022). Japanese religion: Beliefs, percentage, Shinto, Buddhism, & pie chart. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Japanese-religion
Elevate Destinations. (2023). Thailand: Demystifying spiritual explorations in Asia. Retrieved from https://elevatedestinations.com/2023/09/01/thailand-demystifying-spiritual-explorations-asia/
FinancesOnline. (2024). Essential meditation statistics for 2024: Benefits, technology & practice data. Retrieved from https://financesonline.com/meditation-statistics/
GoWithGuide. (2023). Tourism in Japan statistics 2023: The ultimate guide. Retrieved from https://gowithguide.com/blog/tourism-in-japan-statistics-2023-the-ultimate-guide-5411
Jin, L., et al. (2024). Comparing role of religion in perception of the COVID-19 vaccines in Africa and Asia Pacific. Communications Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-024-00628-2
Japan National Tourism Organization. (2024). Number of international visitor arrivals to Japan from 2005 to 2024. Statista. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/654263/japan-number-foreign-visitors/
Pew Research Center. (2022). Key findings from the Global Religious Futures project. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/12/21/key-findings-from-the-global-religious-futures-project/
Thailand Foundation. (n.d.). Spiritual values & meditation. Retrieved from https://www.thailandfoundation.or.th/buddhism_categories/spiritual-values-and-meditation/
The Broke Backpacker. (2025). 10 best meditation retreats in Thailand. Retrieved from https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/meditation-retreats-in-thailand/
U.S. Department of State. (2022). 2022 report on international religious freedom: Thailand. Retrieved from https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/thailand/
U.S. Department of State. (2023). 2023 report on international religious freedom: Japan. Retrieved from https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/japan/
Wikipedia. (2025). Religion in Japan. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Japan
