Why Are Young Men Increasingly Drawn to Christianity? A Study of Finnish Young Men

ABSTRACT Recent surveys in the Global North suggest a possible reversal in established gender patterns of religiosity, with young men increasingly engaging with Christianity. This study examines this development in Finland, a highly secular country, drawing on qualitative individual and small‐group interviews with 30 men attracted to Christianity. Our analysis identifies multiple, overlapping reasons for this engagement. Some reflect long‐standing religious functions, such as the search for community and meaning, particularly in times of personal crisis. At the same time, the findings highlight time‐specific factors shaping contemporary interest in Christianity, including experiences of societal fragmentation and insecurity, perceived moral and cultural uncertainty, and ongoing debates about masculinity and gender roles. Christianity was often framed as countercultural, offering structure, responsibility, and stable role models in contrast to relativism and individualism that were seen to characterize the society in general. In addition, digital media and online religious content played an important role in initiating and sustaining interest in Christianity. The study contributes to debates on secularization, gender, and youth religiosity by showing how young men draw on faith to construct alternative identities in a late‐modern, Global North context.