“When I suggested to some friends that they come and see me one afternoon at my parish for a JOC meeting [Jeunesse ouvrière chrétienne], they thought we were all wearing awns. They couldn’t believe seeing us playing Uno and eating pizza”, recalls with mischief Anne-Sophie, 22 years old, hospital worker in Lisieux (Calvados). Like the other young adults who agreed to testify, this fan of the series The Bridgerton Chronicles must often correct preconceived ideas linked to his practice of religion which no longer has much to do with that of past generations.
Believing in 2024 when you are a young person under 30 is first and foremost a personal and carefully considered approach. Anne-Sophie has been following catechism classes for a year to prepare for her first communion which will take place next year. For his part, Benoît, 24, member of a Catholic community in Hauts-de-France, reports an apprenticeship. “Going to meet God is a bit like making a new friend. We need time to build our relationship. Around the age of 15-16, I told myself that God existed, but then there was a whole journey through prayer, Christian summer camps, where I was able to nourish and improve this relationship. . I was baptized, I had made my first communion because my family is very religious. But I waited until I was 21, when I was sure of myself, to do my confirmation, which corresponds to the renewal of baptism. »
The family environment still counts for a lot in the transmission and choice of their faith, however nothing is set in stone. “I grew up Catholic with my paternal grandmother who raised me and had me baptized. I went as far as making a profession of faith. It was as I grew up that I gradually turned towards the Protestant Church because I am of Cameroonian origin on my mother’s side and my mother’s sister is a pastor, just like my fiancé is Protestant… », explains Solange, 28 years old, fashion entrepreneur and IT consultant, in the Paris region.
Disenchanted generation
Whatever their religion, for these young believers practicing meets fairly similar expectations. First, give meaning to their lives. Especially since they define themselves as the generation touched to the heart by Covid-19 and the challenges that this has entailed. They also bring forward ecological problems to explain the thirst for hope that they share. “To believe is to make sense of a very materialistic society and to affirm that life on earth is not just about buying a car. That there is something higher. Believing also means saying “it will be okay”, which, in my opinion, has never been more relevant than now because you need a huge dose of hope when you read the IPCC reports [le Groupe d’experts intergouvernemental sur l’évolution du climat] »analyzes Hippolyte, 24 years old, student at the Paris bar training school and of Protestant faith.
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