Transformation of Russian Society and Religious Identity: the Modern Period

Introduction . In Russia, the majority of adults identify themselves as belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church, which receives significant support from the state. The Church actively participates in social, cultural, and educational life; it engages in the restoration of churches, participates in social and educational projects, opens theology departments in universities, and integrates the fundamentals of Orthodox culture into school education. However, actual participation of people in Orthodox practices remains low: only a small percentage actively engage in communal life and services. This creates a contradiction between mass self-identification as Orthodox and actual participation in religious practices. Unlike other cultural identities, such as sports or music, where active participation is the norm, there is a gap between religious identity and practice in Russia. Materials and Methods . The research methods employed include analytical, synthetic, deductive, inductive, comparative, descriptive, content analysis (studying texts and publications on the topic of interest), and historical analysis (investigating the historical context of religious identity formation). The research material consists of works by researchers on the phenomenon of religious identity. Results . The study shows that although many people consider themselves part of the Russian Orthodox Church, their actual participation in religious life remains limited. This is linked to social and cultural changes, as well as the fact that religious identity is often not supported by active spiritual experience. Additionally, the involvement of believers is influenced by the diversity of religious views and competition among various religious groups. To increase interest in religious life, it is necessary to develop new methods for organizing practices and engaging with youth. Discussion and Conclusion . The study analyzes the attitudes of Russians towards the Russian Orthodox Church. Special attention is given to the high level of identification with the Church despite the low level of actual participation in religious practices. The paper also examines the historical context that allows for the identification of the main reasons for this discrepancy. Particular emphasis is placed on social changes, demographic factors, pluralism, youth spiritual practice, and identity formation. In conclusion, it is stated that integrating people into religious life is a complex process that requires further research. New forms of socially-oriented practices are proposed to improve this process.