Several quantitative studies have shown growing interest in Christianity among young men in Finland, and there are indications of a similar development in many other Western countries as well. A recent study shows that this interest cannot be explained by a single factor; instead, the phenomenon is linked to a broader search for meaning, community and identity.
Young men find meaning in their lives through Christianity. They also describe Christianity as providing them with a moral compass and guidance for everyday life. Christianity offers an experience of continuity and permanence in an era marked by uncertainties and rapid change. For young men, the church is a place where they feel accepted without an emphasis on performance. According to young men, models of manhood are often polarised: they are either overly masculine or vague and weak. Christianity is perceived as offering a model of manhood that is decent and ordinary, one that is between the extremes.
These findings come from a study by Professor of Practical Theology Kati Tervo-Niemelä at the University of Eastern Finland and University Lecturer of Practical Theology Pietari Hannikainen at the University of Helsinki. The study examined aspects of Christianity that appeal and are of interest to young Finnish men. Published in Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, the study is the first to provide an in-depth analysis of the reasons behind the phenomenon.
An engaging and more profound alternative
The researchers interviewed 30 young men with diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds who were interested in Christianity, aged between 16 and 30. The interviews showed that young men see Christianity as a counterculture to society that was perceived as superficial, fragmented and individualistic. Christianity represents an alternative to a way of life that emphasises individual self-interest and constant performance. Instead, young men seek permanence, depth and responsibility.
At the population level in Finland, non-religiosity has increased and fewer people identify with Christianity. This has, in part, made Christianity a novel and appealing alternative for young people. It no longer represents a majority culture or something that is assumed or imposed, or something one would need to distance oneself from.
“The young people among whom this change is visible are the same ones whose formative years have coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and numerous other major incidents that are generating uncertainty within society. According to several studies, such crises have the strongest impact precisely on young people and young adults,” Tervo-Niemelä notes.
In the current media landscape, crises also enter young people’s news feeds in real time, increasing their feelings of uncertainty.
The data also point to a rise in ideas linking “home, religion and fatherland”, a traditional Finnish expression emphasising family, faith and national identity. This is shaped by contemporary experiences of uncertainty, war and increasing cultural diversity. Young men express a sense of pride in being Finnish and often associate Christianity with both national identity and a broader sense of European belonging.
A new kind of openness challenges the myth of secularisation
Changes in the media landscape have also meant that today’s young generation has been socialised, from childhood, in different ways from previous generations. This naturally also affects religious socialisation and the ways in which religious influences are received and passed on, creating space for developments that are difficult to predict.
“Social media seems, in general, to be breaking the culture of silence around religion that has prevailed in Finland and has previously created a strong myth of secularisation. When religion is not talked about, this is often assumed to mean that people are not religious,” Hannikainen notes.
Young people’s new kind of openness, both on social media and more broadly in relation to religion, nevertheless appears to be challenging this culture of silence and encouraging others, too, to believe in God and to be open about their faith.
Beyond a strengthening of conservatism
In public debate, young men’s renewed interest in Christianity has often been linked to a strengthening of conservatism. The new study, however, suggests that this interpretation is overly simplistic. While young men, on average, are more conservative than young women, there are both liberal and conservative orientations among young men who are attracted to Christianity. The search for permanence, security and meaning unites young people regardless of their values.
“Reducing interest in Christianity to a phenomenon linked solely to conservatism does not do justice to the multifaceted meanings people seek in Christianity. This is not about a single ideological shift, but about a broader need to find meaning and direction in life in a world characterised by uncertainty about the future and constant change," Tervo-Niemelä concludes.
The new study is part of the broader Religion, Meaning and Masculinities: Religion in the Lives of Men in Finland project, funded by the Research Council of Finland, for which data collection is currently ongoing. The project will paint an increasingly detailed picture of men’s relationship with values, meaning and religion in Finland.
Research article:
Tervo-Niemelä, K., and P. Hannikainen. 2026. “Why Are Young Men Increasingly Drawn to Christianity? A Study of Finnish Young Men.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. https://doi.org/10.1111/jssr.70043
For further information, please contact:
Professor Kati Tervo-Niemelä, [email protected], tel. +358 50 325 3876
University Lecturer Pietari Hannikainen, [email protected], tel. +358 50 319 9625
