Man and Church
Young Men Are Turning to the Faith
What is drawing a new generation toward religion – and what their search reveals about the culture that raised them.
Many of us have heard about the recent trends: one specific demographic, men aged roughly 18-30, converting to Orthodoxy in large numbers. It’s not a myth, either: Matthew Namee at the Orthodox Studies Institute notes that Orthodoxy has become the most male-heavy Christian group in America. Many faith traditions – including Catholics, Evangelicals, and Pentecostals – are majority female, while Orthodoxy has gone in the other direction, with studies showing between 53-55% of its practitioners being men.
While this bare majority is not an overwhelming number, it does set Orthodoxy apart. It has also marked a departure from where Orthodoxy was even 15 years ago, with parishes nationwide and across jurisdictions reporting a noticeable increase in young men especially joining the catechumenate.
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