Interest in religion/ Proof that the younger generation still believes in itself

2025-11-15 10:16:00, Opinione Taulant Bica

A counterargument to the public statement of Mr. Ben Blushi, who claims that young people's approach to religion is the product of a pronounced identity vacuum.

In Albanian public discourse, the idea that the increase in young people's interest in religion is closely linked to poverty, economic insecurity and identity gaps has often been articulated. Recently, the well-known writer Mr. Ben Blushi reiterated it. Although this explanation sounds nice, it remains partial and reductive. The phenomenon of religion among young people is much more complex and cannot be explained only as a reaction to social crises.

First, international sociological studies show that the return of young people to religion is a global phenomenon, present even in economically stable societies. The Pew Research Center (2018) reports that the younger generation in the US, Western Europe and Asia shows an increased interest in spirituality, despite high living standards. This weakens the argument that the approach to religion is a consequence of poverty and an “identity vacuum”.

In fact, as Emile Durkheim points out: 'religion fulfills a fundamental social function.' It creates cohesion, meaning, and moral orientation. Identity construction is not a process so simple as to be limited to the economic aspect alone. It is a meaningful, ethical, and cultural process.

In this context, Albanian youth are not turning to religion as a refuge from despair, but as a source of moral stability and life orientation. This is clearly evident in religious practice. A young person who regularly follows religious obligations, reads sacred texts, or lives morally is not a person exhausted by failure, but an individual who exercises self-discipline, purposefulness, and moral maturity.

Even within the Islamic perspective, the idea that faith arises from a void contradicts the fundamental texts. The Quran describes man as a being created with a “fitrah,” an innate nature that seeks connection with God (Quran 30:30). This shows that the inclination toward faith arises naturally, not as a reaction to something. So, young people who turn to religion are not seeking “shelter from reality,” but are seeking meaning and harmony with themselves, a quest that religion actually considers part of human nature.

In conclusion, it is worth reiterating that the increase in young people's interest in religion cannot be explained simply as evidence of social despair or an identity vacuum. It is a sign of a much deeper phenomenon, where the individual seeks more meaning, moral integrity, and a stable relationship with the world and with himself.

Therefore, this interest is not a void but a maturity. It is not a symptom of the failure of youth, but evidence that the younger generation still believes in itself, its values, and its spiritual guidance. In a reality where uncertainties grow, religion is not an escape but an orientation.