Changing attitudes towards God and faith - any signs of that in your surroundings?

[knor (Kai)]

In Northern Europe, Finland and apparently parts of Sweden, there is happening a change in the attitudes and belief towards God among the teenagers. It started from boys (first clear signs were noted in the year 2021) but now signs of it is also seen among girls. During the year 2019, only one third of the 15-year old boys attending the Confirmation camps of the Lutheran church believed in God. Among the girls, even fewer believed in God.
During the last year (2024), 62% of 15-year old boys and half of girls attending those camps believed in God.
More than 60% of the population belongs to the national Lutheran church and the number of young answering the questionaries was >100’000, so the statistics represents a fairly large proportion of the young.

In Sweden, Jesus appears to be among the most influential persons among young. It seems that the interest of the young is directed to the person Jesus, more than towards Christianity as a religion.

There are also other signs telling about growing interest towards Jesus and the God of Christianity among teenagers. In contrast to previous assumptions, teenagers are more interested than their parents; boys are more interested and committed than girls; and the teenagers of the largest cities are more interested than the teenagers living in less populated areas.

Researchers wonder the reasons for this growing interest. Possible explanations offered include a counterreaction towards the atheism/agnostism of the parents of the teenagers; the growing uncertainty in the current world; and the multicultural atmosphere in the largest cities.

I wonder if this kind of change is just a local phenomenon or if there are comparable signs elsewhere? How about your communities, do you see anything like it around you?

[knor (Kai)]

The questionaries do not tell how many of the teenagers believe in creation but belief in God is the starting point of believing in it. Practically all children here receive teaching that follows the national curricula. Telling about the age of the universe, Earth and life is part of that teaching. I assume that the teenagers have that information as the starting point.

After the teenagers become believers, some of them may adopt alternative explanations, like YEC, from the social media. According to national questionaries, the main source of news for teenagers is TikTok. TikTok and other social media plays a major role in the formation of their worldview.

[Paraleptopecten (Timothy Campbell)]

@knor

I wonder if this kind of change is just a local phenomenon or if there are comparable signs elsewhere? How about your communities, do you see anything like it around you?

I am aware of similar phenomena in other more “post-Christian” areas, like the UK or New England; my immediate area is a gradually liberalizing part of the Bible Belt, and doesn’t seem to be showing such a shift yet. The primary changes that I’ve seen in the last few years are fewer nominal Christians, especially among my peers, and increased denominational variety–not just the generic regional “80% Baptist, 15% Methodist, 5% anything else”

[MarkD (A Whateverist, not a Christian)]

I’m noticing more people online who formerly identified as atheist looking for ways to make sense of God. Hard to miss when I’m one of them. Also this article I quoted elsewhere here is interesting.

Whisper it if you will, but an increasing number of observers are wondering if we are creeping towards some kind of Christian revival. High-profile public figures such as former atheist author Ayaan Hirsi Ali, novelist Paul Kingsnorth, comedian Russell Brand and storyteller Martin Shaw have converted. Articles and podcasts from secular writers and thinkers extolling Christianity’s influence on Western culture, the societal benefits of faith, or a renewed appreciation of the sacred, are becoming a more common sight than those tub-thumping for atheism.

[Terry_Sampson]

@MarkD

those tub-thumping for atheism.

Tub-thumpers???
Tub-thumping

• " Q From Donna Marie Watson, New Jersey: In a magazine article about Australia, the term tub thumping was used. My students asked me what it meant, and I couldn’t figure it out. Any idea?
  A Many americans are more familiar with Bible-thumping, which has much the same sense. The phrase originally referred to a preacher of a type still familiar: one who does so in an aggressive way and who bangs on the pulpit to give emphasis. At the time the expression was first recorded — in the Cromwellian period of English history, roughly the 1650s — the allusion was to nonconformist preachers. There may be a connection here with the literal tub-thumping of an outdoor orator using an inverted tub as an informal lectern, or perhaps the practice of converting wash-tubs into improvised drums during processions or demonstrations."

[MarkD (A Whateverist, not a Christian)]

I was thinking of this lively little ditty.

I confess I like it.

There are a couple of lyrics in there which may be worrisome “I used to cuss, cuss and fuss …” but here is what she is singing. Seems like a Salvation Army piece.

[Verse 1]
I used to smoke, I used to drink
I used to smoke, drink and dance the hoochie-coo
I used to smoke and drink
Smoke and drink and dance the hoochie-coo
Whoa, yeah
But now I’m standin’ on this corner
Prayin’ for a-me and you
Ah, hah

[Chorus]
That’s why I’m saved (saved)
I’m saved (saved)
People let me tell you ‘bout a kingdom come
You know I’m saved (saved)
I’m saved (saved)
I can a-preach until you’re deaf and dumb
I’m in that soul-savin’ army
Beatin’ on that big a-bass drum
Whoa, yeah

[Verse 2]
I used to cuss, I used to fuss
I used to cuss, fuss and boogie all night long
I used to cuss and fuss
Cuss and fuss and boogie all night long
Wah, hah
But now I’m standin’ on this corner
Ah, I know right-a from wrong
Uh, huh

[Chorus]
That’s why I’m saved (saved)
I’m saved (saved)
People let me tell you ‘bout a kingdom come
You know I’m saved (saved)
I’m saved (saved)
I can a-preach until you’re deaf and dumb
I’m in that soul-savin’ army
Beatin’ on that big a-bass drum
Whoa, yeah

[Saxophone Solo]

[Verse 3]
I used to lie (lie), I used to cheat (cheat)
I used to lie (lie), cheat (cheat)and step on people’s feet
I used to lie and cheat
Lie and cheat and step on people’s feet
Oh, yeah
But now I’m steppin’ on the glory
Salvation is-a my beat
Whoa, yeah

[Chorus]
Because I’m saved (saved)
I’m saved (saved)
People let me tell you ‘bout a kingdom come
You know I’m saved (saved)
Oh, saved (saved)
I can a-preach until you’re deaf and dumb
I’m in that soul-savin’ army
Beatin’ on that big a-bass drum
Whoa, yeah

I’ve done some tea dancing classes but cannot remember having learned to dance the Hoochey-coo. Sounds fun.

[T_aquaticus]

@knor

Researchers wonder the reasons for this growing interest. Possible explanations offered include a counterreaction towards the atheism/agnostism of the parents of the teenagers; the growing uncertainty in the current world; and the multicultural atmosphere in the largest cities.

From the studies I remember, the main determinant in the US is whether your parents, especially your mother, attended church. Those who went to church with their mothers were much more likely to be Christians into adulthood, which isn’t too surprising.

I do see some truth in your post, however. Society and culture do tend to move in cycles, and perhaps we have started a more religious cycle in Western culture. These upswings in religiosity have certainly occurred in the past, so I don’t see why they couldn’t happen again. I could also see people trying to find some sort of spirituality as a counter voice to modernity. Also, loneliness has reached epidemic levels in some populations, something a church congregation can certainly cure.