20.08.2007, [12:46] // Survey // RISU.ORG.UA
Kyiv – Modern youth needs spiritual markers, say the results of the research, which the Laboratory of Social Research released at the session of the Patriarchal Sobor of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) on 14 August 2007, which was devoted to youth matters. However, Viktor Markov, the Laboratory’s director, noted that the inability to handle things in life and lack of competent advisors largely contributed to the fact that young people created their own system of spiritual values, which are far from the Christian ones.
“Results revealed that youth in Ukraine (aged 17-23) are quite active in their spiritual search. Young people are very often unfamiliar with the activity of traditional Christian Churches; therefore, they often become attracted to new Protestant movements, Eastern religions or astrology. Feeling the need for spiritual markers, young people, often, come under the influence of non-traditional religions and become members of sects,” said Makarov.
According to Ihor Makarov, a large segment of young people have not decided upon their religious adherence yet, and the spiritual search of young people from central, eastern, and southern Ukraine are predominantly chaotic. As far as the west of Ukraine is concerned, the youth are mainly oriented toward Christianity; although this orientation does not extend to the sphere of social relationships between young people. In general, religious convictions of those surveyed have been the result of their personal search.
• http://www.ugcc.org.ua/ukr/press-releases/article;5613/