By Romeo Honkanen
Although I can not with absolute conviction say that I believe in God, specifically the Christian God, it is something I have thought about and heavily flirted with for a long time. There are many things in life that direct me toward belief, but these thoughts and ideas are very often challenged by the secular society of today. Most institutions, services and other aspects of social life are largely secular, at least in the west, which I feel clashes with the belief in God and personal religiosity and makes these things harder to practice. However, I recently came across an article made by the University of Eastern Finland, or the UEF, called “Belief in God among boys continues to grow in Finland – study finds signs of growing belief among girls as well” which touched on a study that shows belief in God to be growing among young boys and girls in Finland. Reading this article, it made me very intrigued about how belief in God was actually on the rise among the youth in Finland rather than declining, which is to me an interesting phenomenon in the secular West.
It got me thinking about how complicated belief really is these days. We often assume that religion is on its way out in places where science and secular ideas rule the day. Church attendance is down, people say they’re “spiritual but not religious,” and skepticism toward organized religion seems pretty common. In fact, in the course “Religion and Society”, one of the major topics that we have touched on is the secularization and modernization of today, meaning that religion and faith by large have a lesser role to play in society. Because of these phenomena, it is typically the trend to either not heavily regard religion and/or find new spiritual alternatives, but this study suggests that’s not the whole story.
Maybe what’s changing isn’t belief itself, but the way people experience it. Instead of being part of a church community, young folks might be finding their own way to connect with spirituality or some higher power. It’s like belief isn’t disappearing, it’s just taking on a new shape, something more personal and less tied to institutions. I also wonder if belief offers some comfort when life feels uncertain. Finland, like many countries, is dealing with all kinds of big questions, economic challenges, climate worries, social changes. Many parts of the world even today are very turbulent and the threat of war or other horrors still exist, Finland being again an example. As such, it is not far-fetched to think that belief in God gives people a kind of stability or hope that’s hard to find elsewhere.
Culture probably plays a role too. Even if many people don’t go to church regularly, the country’s Lutheran background might still influence how people think about faith. Traditions, holidays, or even shared values can keep a sense of religion alive in subtle ways. For example, despite maybe not believing, most families in Finland and the west celebrate Christmas. Many things in western society that are Christian and religious in origin are so ubiquitous and present everywhere, that many tend to disregard that these things originate in religion.
There’s also the social side of things. Faith communities can be places where people feel like they belong, especially in a world that’s often disconnected and digital. That need for connection is powerful, and religion can fill it in ways other parts of society sometimes don’t. Of course, this trend in Finland is not the same everywhere. Different countries have different experiences with religion and youth. Some see belief dropping, others hold steady or even grow a bit.
Reading about this made me reflect on my own feelings about faith. Living in a world that often values logic and evidence, believing in God can feel like going against the current. But maybe there’s room for both, a respect for both science and spirituality in our own way. It also made me think about how secular societies treat religion. If they’re too strict or dismissive, people who want to believe might feel pushed out. But if there’s respect for all kinds of beliefs, maybe more people will feel free to explore their spirituality.
To summarize, the connection between belief in God and modern secular life is really complicated. This study from Finland shows belief can stick around and even grow in surprising ways, which challenges the idea that religion is just dying off in the West. It’s a reminder to look deeper at why people believe and what faith really means for them. For me, this means keeping an open mind. Belief isn’t something fixed or absolute, it’s a journey with ups and downs. Whether I end up certain about God or not, I know that faith and doubt are part of being human, no matter how secular our world seems.
References:
Porkka, J., & Tervo-Niemelä, K. (2024). Poikien usko vahvistunut edelleen — seuraavatko tytöt perässä? Pitkittäistutkimus rippikoulunuorten suhteesta kristilliseen uskoon ja rippikoulun vaikutuksesta siihen. Uskonto, katsomus ja kasvatus, 4(1). https://journal.fi/ukk/article/view/154948