Why are Young People Becoming Orthodox?
Christianity has been on the decline in the United States; this is confirmed by a recent survey from the Pew Research Center which has shown that the percent of American Christians has dropped ten points from 2009 to 2019. Yet despite this downward trend of Christianity in America, news outlets such as the New York Times and the Huffington Post have noticed an increase in church attendance among young people, particularly among more traditional Christian groups such as Orthodoxy or Catholicism. Tara Burton from the New York Times notes that, “More and more young Christians, disillusioned by the political binaries, economic uncertainties and spiritual emptiness that have come to define modern America, are finding solace in a decidedly anti-modern vision of faith.” From my experience, this “anti-modern vision of faith” is encapsulated perfectly in the ancient faith of Orthodox Christianity, to which I have witnessed many friends and family convert over the past few years. Although there is no single, uniform reason why young people convert to Orthodoxy, my experience as a young man who converted to the faith has led me to believe there are (at the very least) three main reasons:
Orthodoxy Gives you something to do
In a culture where nihilism has run rampant and depression rates are higher than ever before, the very fact that Orthodoxy offers something constructive for young people to do is of monumental significance. Having concrete, visible things to do such as going to church services, going to confession, and receiving Holy Communion help provide young people with a sense of structure and meaning in their lives. Much like how Jesus’ call in his earthly ministry to “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” attracted many sinners, tax collectors, and prostitutes to follow him in the first century, the same call of repentance is now attracting the young, the disenfranchised, and the hopeless to follow Christ in the twenty-first century. This call of repentance is particularly attractive to young people who have borne the brunt of recent economic and political crises in America.
Orthodoxy provides a sense of purpose in life
More so than simply providing constructive activities to fill one’s time with, Orthodoxy provides meaningful activities to fill one’s time with. The act of going to liturgy and receiving Holy Communion is not simply going to an ancient ritual and eating some bread and wine; instead, it is the act of receiving the very body and blood of God himself, thus rendering those who receive it “partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:4) The act of going to confession is not simply telling someone your thoughts and feelings about what you have done wrong; it is instead conversing with Christ himself, receiving forgiveness of sins, and getting the strength to move on in life. As a young convert to Orthodox Christianity myself, I can testify that confession and Communion have filled my life meaning and have directed me when I have felt lost. The sacraments of the Church have helped fill countless young people’s lives with meaning in ways that are difficult to find elsewhere.
Orthodoxy offers a history and continuity that other forms of Christianity can’t
Unlike Protestantism and Roman Catholicism, Orthodoxy has a continuity with early Christianity that can be easily traced; a brief reading of St. Ignatius of Antioch’s epistles from the late first century or St. Hippolytus of Rome’s Apostolic Tradition from the mid-second century will begin to show one how far back the practices of Orthodoxy go. This history and continuity helps one feel like they are engaging in a form of Christianity that is not simply old, but timeless enough to have affected the lives of countless generations of believers.
Although this list is by no means exhaustive or true for everyone, I believe the reasons therein offer a glimpse into why young people convert to Orthodox Christianity. May we continue to be the light of the world and so let the world know the truth of Orthodox Christianity (Matt. 5:14)!
