Commentary for a Forbes Young feature by Elena Strelkova on why young people are increasingly turning to religion.
Forbes is one of the world’s leading business publications; the Russian edition has been in operation since 2004.
In the article I explain why religious communities appeal to Gen Z: the gym, the co-working space, the university are all places where people are near each other without being together. Religious communities have historically offered something different — a regular rhythm of shared practice and a common language for talking about what matters most. Compensatory mechanisms kick in.
I also discuss “patchwork religiosity” concept: most young people today assemble their faith from pieces, without committing to a single tradition.