By Kristen Cavanagh, Florida State University
Over the last few years, there has been evidence that younger generations are becoming open-minded toward religion. Hostile atheism has been supplanted by a vague spiritualism and agnosticism. Taking it a step further, it appears young adults are interested in Catholicism and Organized Christianity. This trend has been well-documented in the United States, with some supposing that political motives could be responsible given the amount of young men returning to Catholic pews. This idea has been posited by secular media sources.
However, in recent years, the revival has been noted in Europe in addition to America, complicating the idea that partisan politics are the foundation for this return. Throughout these posts, I have been communicating my journey to England. I went to ascertain whether the reported Catholic Movement was being accurately portrayed by the media, trying to understand the true and unique motivations of this revival. As a historically Protestant nation, England has been skeptical of the Catholic faith, making receptions into the Church more curious. In connection with this, England tends to be a more progressive and (to an extent) secular nation than the United States. Thus, a return to a traditional religion like Catholicism is striking.
While there have been studies on conversion, few have focused on the particular situation in England. The select projects that interrogated this phenomenon are dated and their focus is aslant. Therefore, my study provides a particular perspective on the recent increase in Catholic conversions—one interested in cultural, political, and spiritual drives. In addition, my specific focus on Oxford enabled me to understand why young people and students are open to religion once more.
Gaining a grasp on why upcoming generations are disillusioned with the cultural landscape is imperative to comprehend where politicians and the culture has gone wrong. Moreover, religion is a determining force on how one leads their life and should not be disregarded simply because we exist in a pluralistic society. At the end of the day, the religion of the people decides the spirit of a country.
Beyond the importance this project has socially, it is also integral to my growth in academia. As a literature student, I hope to understand conversion narratives in literature. Specifically, I have taken note of comparisons between conversions in the twentieth century to the ones that define initiates’ experience today. This study has given me an understanding of how conversion is undergone and understood, showcasing the complexities that are often reduced to a nominal change in confessional allegiance.My immediate next steps would be to expand this project toward my Honors-in-the-Major thesis. While the parameters on my topic are still being figured out, I believe that my work in England has allowed me to approach my project in the literary field from a different angle. First studying the person outside the page provides me with the tools to understand the person within.
I hope to potentially get my work published in an official capacity. Whether it be a simple essay or a full-blown paper where I get to highlight my results in depth, I would be grateful for this acknowledgement. As of now, I remain focused on presenting my findings at the symposium this October. I am thankful for the opportunity I have been granted by the CRE. I look forward to where this experience will take me next.
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