Features of the religious consciousness of Nizhny Novgorod students

The article analyses the structure of religiosity among student youth. As the empirical basis serves the online study of the Russian Society of Sociologists 2022 “Cultural heritage and connections between generations” (9,751 university students, Russian citizens living in various regions were surveyed). The multinationality and multiconfessional nature of the Russian people is reflected in the distribution of answers from respondents living in different regions of Russia. Therefore, from the total population of respondents, we identified 1699 (or 17.4% of the total) who are students at universities in the city of Nizhny Novgorod. The purpose of this work was to identify the significance of the regulatory function of traditional religions for young people. The conclusion has been made that the ideological searches of students are formed by the technological structure corresponding to the 21st century: a significant portion of respondents are critical of the content of traditional religious teachings, without having formed convictions in this direction. Hence they either show belief in the unknown supernatural, or indifference in one form or another, or identification of oneself as an atheist in the absence of sufficient grounds for this in the form of religious knowledge. Without being confined within the framework of traditional Russian religions, most students are aware of the cultural importance of traditional values, of which religion remains a significant element. Author's question: “Our countries are multi-religious. Do you share the opinion: “God is one, but religions are different”?” allows to measure not only the depth of faith in the truth of the religion with which the respondent identifies himself, but also the subconscious readiness for interfaith dialogue. Self-identification among those who share their values and lifestyle is important for respondents. According to these principles, a “social circle” is formed, the space of which is “set” by such coordinates as the level of education, material wealth, age, nationality, and confession. A decrease in the importance of religion as a factor ensuring the strength of family ties and the choice of a life partner has been revealed. At the same time, the importance of religious rituals that mark the stages of a person’s life is declining. To compare and substantiate conclusions, the results of sociological studies that are similar in topic or empirical object of study are used. Empirical data allow the authors to conclude: among Nizhny Novgorod students, a respectful and indifferent attitude towards traditional religions remains, against the backdrop of a decrease in the personal significance of religion as a social institution.