A new study from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem explores how the Israel–Gaza war is transforming religion and spirituality among young adults. Surveying over 1,200 students, the researchers found that half reported changes in their religiosity and/or spirituality, with increases more common than decreases. The findings show that cultural background and direct exposure to conflict shape whether people deepen their faith, turn to spirituality, or step away from religion.
[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]– For centuries, people have turned to faith and spirituality to help them endure life’s darkest hours. But what happens when war itself becomes the constant backdrop of daily life? A new study from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem sheds light on how conflict reshapes people’s inner worlds of meaning, revealing that war can both strengthen and weaken religious and spiritual beliefs.
The research, conducted by Yaakov Greenwald, Prof. Mario Mikulincer, and Prof. Ariel Knafo-Noam from the Department of Psychology, surveyed more than 1,200 Jewish-Israeli university students during the ongoing 2023–2025 Israel–Gaza war. Participants were surveyed about their religious and spiritual beliefs, and the findings reveal a striking picture: half of respondents reported some form of change.
Notably, increases were more common than decreases. About one in four students became more religious, while one in three became more spiritual. For many, exposure to the trauma of war seemed to amplify the search for comfort through religion/spirituality. At the same time, however, a significant minority moved in the opposite direction—turning away from or rejecting religion.
The researchers explain that these transformations cannot be understood in isolation from cultural context. In Israel, Jewish communities are divided into secular, traditional, religious, and ultra-Orthodox groups, each with its own relationship to faith. The study found that members of more religious groups were far more likely to increase their religiosity during the war, while secular participants often leaned toward spirituality over organized religion. Some students, especially secular students, even reported decreases in religiosity, underscoring the fact that conflict does not push everyone in the same direction.
To frame these findings, the researchers turned to Terror Management Theory, a psychological model suggesting that reminders of mortality may lead people to seek existential security through cultural values or spiritual beliefs. According to the theory, war heightens death awareness on a daily basis—through rocket attacks, media coverage of casualties, and military service—which can drive people either toward or away from religion depending on what their community values most.
Greenwald notes: “Periods of protracted stress don’t just strengthen faith for everyone. For some, they bring people closer to religion, but for others, they reinforce secular values or spark spiritual searching outside of organized religion.”
Importantly, the study also showed that direct exposure to war events—such as being injured, losing a loved one, or living under rocket fire—was linked to increases in both religiosity and spirituality. This suggests that the more directly individuals are touched by war, the more likely they are to re-examine and reshape their belief systems.
The findings offer a rare, real-time look at how faith evolves under the pressure of prolonged conflict. Previous studies of religion and war have often been retrospective, conducted years after the fighting stopped. Here, the researchers were able to assess changes in the first few months of the war, giving unique insight into how quickly belief systems can shift in response to crisis.
While much past research has focused only on increases in religious devotion, this study highlights that decreases are also part of the story. For some, disillusionment, grief, or frustration with religious institutions can drive them away from faith at the very moment others are embracing it. Recognizing both trends, the authors argue, is essential for understanding the full picture of how humans seek meaning in times of trauma.
Ultimately, the study underscores that war is not just a political or military event—it is also an existential one. It reshapes not only landscapes and communities, but also the deeply personal beliefs that guide human lives. By showing how religion and spirituality can both rise and fall during war, the research provides valuable insight for mental health professionals, educators, and community leaders working to support populations under chronic stress.
As the conflict continues, the study reminds us that faith is not static—it shifts, adapts, and sometimes fractures under pressure. For some, it becomes an anchor. For others, a burden. But in every case, it reflects the deeply human drive to make sense of life in the shadow of death.