American Ark: young people in the USA are actively becoming involved in Orthodoxy
Christian youth in the United States are increasingly deciding to convert to another denomination. Orthodoxy, which until recently was practiced mainly by immigrants from countries with Orthodox populations, is gaining rapid popularity among generation Z. Mostly men convert to the ancient faith, preferring the stability of the traditions of the church. Where the trend towards Orthodoxy came from in the United States, why it is relevant and why young people need religion — in the Izvestia article.
The Orthodox community in the USA is expanding at the expense of young people: what is known
The number of Americans who have converted to Orthodoxy has increased dramatically. The New York Times reported that the previously small denomination has increasingly attracted traditionally minded citizens who came to religion "from scratch." "The ancient tradition of Orthodox Christianity attracts new energetic adherents, especially among conservative-minded youth. They are attracted to what they call the more demanding and even difficult practice of Christianity," the article says. Churches are recording a record number of parishioners and are thinking about how to accept those who wish, since the clergy will not be able to cope with the influx on their own.
Until recently, Orthodoxy was practiced mainly by immigrants from countries with "large Orthodox populations." The publication clarifies that the surge in popularity of the once "niche" denomination in the United States is associated with social networks. American youth began to learn about Orthodoxy thanks to conservative bloggers on YouTube and other popular platforms. "In the entire history of the Orthodox Church in America, there has never been such a thing. This is a new path for everyone," Reverend Andrew Damick, a priest of the Antiochian Orthodox Church from Eastern Pennsylvania, told the NYT.
Orthodoxy in the United States is more widespread among men. According to the Pew Research Center, young people represent more than 60% of all parishioners of the smallest of the three Christian denominations. Only 1% of Americans profess Orthodoxy, while other branches of Christianity — Catholicism and Protestantism — account for 20 and 40% of believers, respectively. Men are attracted to a strict lifestyle and clear religious laws.
Last year, another publication, The New York Post, reported that young Americans are massively switching from "traditional" faiths in the United States to "truly masculine" beliefs.
The conservative view
Believers approvingly note that Orthodoxy is more courageous than other faiths. Priests can get married, and there are always many children in their families. "Orthodoxy requires parishioners to make sacrifices, such as fasting, and does not offer them modern music or therapeutic sermons, which critics call typical practices of the 'evangelical megachurch,'" The New York Times emphasized. Many Americans believe that in this way religion hardens their will and elevates them to "masculinity." "The Orthodox Church remains a hope for those who want to be normal, healthy, real, and beautiful," Reverend David Wynn of All Saints Church told the publication.
Parishioners enthusiastically share details about the hour-long Sunday Divine Liturgies, veneration of icons and other attributes of Orthodoxy. Men are attracted to the antiquity, immutability and purity of religion, as well as the conservative views of the church on non-traditional values.
Telling the life story of Ben Christensen from Virginia, NYP explains why a man who grew up in a conservative Anglican family decided to convert to Orthodoxy after growing up. "He watched as traditions receded into the background: the choir in cassocks was replaced by a group for worship, the boundaries between the ordination of women were blurred, and long-standing views on LGBT issues (the movement is recognized as extremist and banned in Russia) changed," the article says. The source himself believes that "many Protestants want a more traditional, stable, historical faith." "I think it makes special sense for the young, because so many other things in our lives are constantly changing," said the 27—year-old American.
Speaking about why mostly men convert to religion, Orthodox catechist and publicist Ruslan Kalinchuk noted an important detail. Unlike Protestantism and Catholicism, which have progressive views on the church and the family, Orthodoxy leaves the role of head here to the father and husband. This is what attracts young Americans with traditional values, who are becoming more numerous every year.
— Based on the example of the last few election campaigns abroad, there is an interesting trend: the female electorate is "to the left" and the male electorate is "to the right." Young people vote for parties that promote a conservative agenda: the family raises children, protects them from homosexual ideas. Orthodoxy defines the dominant role of men, while in the Protestant-Catholic environment there are other views," the expert explains.
Malek Dudakov, an American political scientist, shared with Izvestia the opinion that Orthodoxy has attracted the attention of a certain part of American conservative-minded youth due to the loss of trust in religions that were previously more understandable and close to the United States.
— The Protestant denominations familiar to the United States have discredited themselves by adopting a racial and gender agenda, "vocalism" and recognizing non-traditional relations. Even in the Catholic Church, the processes of liberalization are gaining momentum, although same—sex marriages are not formally registered there, but there are a considerable number of cardinals who think that it is necessary to come to this, the expert is sure.
In addition to returning to the "masculine principle" and interest in the established features of Orthodoxy, its popularity was influenced by the refusal of many abbots to close churches and cancel services during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to surveys, 44% of parishes have never stopped worship in person, while the ROCOR (Russian Orthodox Church Abroad) has reached 93%. As a result, a survey of churches in the United States conducted in 2022 showed that in 2022 the number of new parishioners increased by 78% compared to the level of three years ago.
A new breath of Orthodoxy in the USA
Ruslan Kalinchuk stated that Catholicism and Protestantism can face serious problems, as confessions, in pursuit of trends, have exhausted their spirituality. Sincere believers want to be closer to God, pray and stay within the traditional framework much more than they want to get involved in the issues of the green agenda and LGBT issues.
— I think that Catholicism and Protestantism in the West have no good prospects. They have nothing to offer a person with spiritual needs. Sermons about ecology, ideas of homosexual relations are not what a healthy man, a man seeking God, wants to hear. I cannot say that the Catholic or Anglican Church will lose its parishioners tomorrow, and the whole of America will be Orthodox, but the trend is encouraging," the expert stated.
Malek Dudakov, in turn, believes that in light of recent events, it is too early to talk about Orthodox Christianity as the main religion for Americans, although the number of believers is certainly growing.
— Orthodoxy is really becoming an alternative for conservative-minded Americans. Nevertheless, we must remember that this is a very small part, and so far there is no need to talk about an imminent mass popularity," the expert concluded.
"Generation Z is refuting the expectations of many scientists and religious leaders who have watched the country's gradual secularization for decades," The New York Times article quotes data from a survey by the American Entrepreneurial Institute.
The study shows that "for the first time in modern U.S. history, young men are now more devout than their peers. They attend services more often and identify themselves as believers more often." The old parishioners are beginning to give way to the youth born in 1997-2012. Among them, 40% of women and 34% of men do not identify themselves as belonging to any of the existing faiths, and this is the first time such figures have been observed in Christianity. Therefore, according to some experts, Orthodoxy has a chance to actively maintain the current trend for many years.
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