Orthodox Churches Are Overflowing

After years of previous decline, the Christian population in the United States has now been stable for several years, according to the latest leading survey research.

Is this just a short run blip which will lead to further declines or is it the harbinger of a real turning point? Several leading social scientists have been trying to get a handle on this important question.

One leading source of information on the subject comes from Pew Research. They have noted a surprising shift behind the aggregate numbers. A key factor behind the change is fueled by young adults — particularly young men!

In the past, church attendance among young men has been notoriously low. But in recent years, the number of young men who are actively involved in Christian communities has dramatically increased.

The New York Times reports that “across the country, the ancient tradition of Orthodox Christianity is attracting energetic new adherents especially among conservative young men. They are drawn to what they describe as a more demanding common, even difficult, practice of Christianity.”

Repeating, “Some of the rhetoric of the so-called manosphere, new waves of young converts say Orthodoxy offers them hard truths and affirms their masculinity,” The Times notes.

Traditionally in the United States, Orthodox churches have been occupied mostly by immigrants from Greece, Russia, and a few other eastern European countries with large Orthodox populations. This also included populations from the Middle East.

But recent survey research shows that “homegrown” Orthodox Christianity is a new fact of life. Many of the young Americans new to Orthodoxy have made the move after following influencers on YouTube and other social media platforms. These American converts are often called “Orthobros.”

One recent American convert, Josh Elkins (a 20-year-old student at North Carolina University) puts it this way: “Orthodoxy appeals to the masculine soul. The orthodox church is the only church that really coaches men hard, and says, ‘This is what you need to do.’”

Personally, I love listening to the music and the liturgy of the Orthodox church. The Orthodox Church — be it in Greece, Russia, or other Eastern European and middle Eastern countries — traces it’s lineage to Jesus Christ and the early apostles. A schism in the 11th century over issues such as papal authority, divided the Orthodox church from Roman Catholicism.

Pew Research notes that Orthodox Christian converts in the United States are younger and more male than other Christian groups. More than 60% of the converts to Orthodox Christianity are young men compared to 46% for Evangelical churches.

Another Orthobro, Jerod Stine (who is 26) put it this way: “Young men are struggling to find jobs, they’re struggling to get into schools, and they’re really being told by society, ‘We don’t need you.’”

Meanwhile, in Catholic churches, a significant minority of young people prefer the pre-Vatican traditional Latin Mass, and attend parishes where women wear veils to mass, The Times reports.

Father Damick, a Priest in Pennsylvania, notes that many young men are drawn to concepts, such as “spiritual warfare.” He adds that, “you are much more likely to see growth in churches that are not just conservative, but take the unseen world seriously.”

There is a joke that is fondly repeated in many Orthodox circles, and it goes like this: How many Orthodox does it take to change a lightbulb? The answer: Change? What’s that?

So where does a typical Unity and New Thought congregation stack up in all of this? There is obviously a deep hunger among young adults in the area of spirituality.

Unfortunately, all too many Unity and New Thought communities are “No Shows” in all of this. Far too many in recent years have closed down their Youth and Family ministry programs.

I am so grateful that Spiritual Life Center is moving in a different direction and really trying to make a bold stand! We are so grateful for all that is being done to build a thriving Youth & Family program at SLC!

Beyond the traditional Youth & Family Ministries efforts, we are so grateful that SLC is helping advance the efforts of the small group “What's Next?”. This is a beautiful program to help young people find their way spiritually as they go through the often difficult “20 something” stage of life. Some Unity communities call their similar groups “Next Gen.”

“What's Next?” is a beacon showing young people that there is a place for them to find spiritual community within Unity and New Thought. I am so glad that SLC is playing a part in this process and awakening.

Many blessings,

Rev. Rick