Young men in Finland are showing increased interest in Christianity, more so than younger women according to new research.
Historically, women have shown stronger religious beliefs than men, particularly in Christian societies. According to the Pew Research Center 'On all the standard measures of religious commitment' Christian women are more religious than Christian men.
However, recent studies suggest a shift in this trend, particularly among young men in Finland, who are increasingly committing to Christianity at higher rates than young women.
Speaking to Evangelical Focus Kati Tervo-Niemelä, a Professor of Practical Theology at the University of Eastern Finland researched young people participating in confirmation preparation classes. The classes were for people aged between 14 and 15.
Since 2019 approximately a third of teenage girls who attend the preparation classes went on to say they had a belief in God with little variation until 2023.
But boys' interest in God has increased.
In 2023 half of boys (50%) say they have a faith in God and in 2024 that number was 62%.
Yet the percentage of adolescent girls with an interest in Christianity is also increasing.
60% of Finnish people identify as Christians. 5.6 million members are part of the Evangelical Protestant Lutheran Church of Finland.
According to agricultural and economics research centre AgEcon, most of the Church’s 562 congregations are in rural areas. The local communities play important roles in helping people with practical concerns, such as getting jobs and promoting social and mental health.
But according to Evangelical Focus recent surveys suggest young people in cities are actually more religious than those in the countryside.
In an interview with Uusi Tie magazine, Henrietta Grönlund, Professor of Urban Theology at the University of Helsinki, said part of that could be because of higher levels of immigration in cities where people are more open about their faith and cultural differences which can lead to conversation.
This latest research on young people's attitudes to faith ties in with a wider trend among teens to be increasingly open towards traditional forms of religion - including Christianity.
According to 2022 data from YouGov Gen Z are more likely to think religion has a place in the modern world than older generations.