Religious attitudes and tendencies toward paranormal beliefs among young individuals in the age of uncertainty

In the postmodern era, as one of the advanced stages of modernity, profound changes and transformations have occurred in the social structure. The weakening influence of traditional religious institutions has allowed individuals to demand greater freedoms, which in turn has led to a rapid rise in individualization. In fact, from the moment of birth, human beings have felt a need to believe in a place, person, situation, or idea, and to give meaning to the life they live. This is because people inherently seek to question what or whom they believe in (or do not believe in), and why they exist. It can be argued that the need to find meaning in life and to feel a sense of belonging has increased significantly for the modern individual, who is increasingly isolated due to the processes of modernization, secularization, and individualization. In this respect, societies have continuously undergone change and transformation from the past to the present. The dissatisfaction and disappointments caused by modernization, secularization, and excessive individualism may lead to a crisis of meaning and a search for something to hold onto—especially among the younger generation of the modern age. Within this framework, the main aim of the study is to determine young people's attitudes toward traditional religions, their level of belief, the nature of their existential crises or quests, their overall well-being, and the extent to which they give credit to various rituals, practices, and superstitions grouped under the term "paranormal beliefs." The scope of the study is structured around four main dimensions or axes: (i) The first axis focuses on contemporary young individuals' attitudes toward traditional religions, their level of belief, the degree to which they adopt secular lifestyles, and the nature of their relationship with the sacred in general. (ii) The second axis addresses young individuals' approaches to existential questions, their search for meaning, and their perceptions of life and death. (iii) The third axis aims to identify young individuals' levels of loneliness, alienation, and overall well-being. (iv) The fourth axis investigates the extent to which young individuals give credit to rituals, practices, and superstitions categorized under paranormal beliefs, and how these are positioned in their daily lives. In this context, the target population or sample of the study consists of the younger generation, who, in the current late-modern social structure, are increasingly isolated and alienated, and who bear more of the responsibility of individualization in this new era. While the target group is defined in this way, the universe of the study has been determined as young individuals aged 18–28, currently residing in Aydın province and studying in associate or undergraduate degree programs at Aydın Adnan Menderes University. A quantitative research method has been adopted for the study, focusing on comprehensive measurements to statistically and numerically describe social phenomena. A structured questionnaire form comprising 36 main and sub-questions was used as the data collection tool. In order to ensure the validity and reliability of the questionnaire, a pilot study was first conducted with a smaller, limited group. Following the pilot study, a total of 1,232 individuals participated in the main survey. Undoubtedly, the meaninglessness caused by modernization, secularization, and excessive individualism may lead to greater difficulties for young individuals in constructing their daily lives. It can be stated that the current late-modern era brings about a more intense need for meaning and a search for something to hold on to, especially among young generations, compared to previous eras. Ultimately, in an increasingly secular world, young people are distancing themselves from traditional religious institutions and exhibiting a more ambiguous outlook in terms of faith. The data strongly suggests that a significant portion of young individuals have weakened or completely severed their relationship with the sacred. This argument highlights the diminishing need for religion in society and, consequently, the declining influence of institutional religions. However, it is also possible to suggest that a return to the sacred is occurring—or will occur—due to the void created by modernization and secularization. Indeed, in this late stage of modernity in the 21st century, marked by technological breakthroughs, people are becoming increasingly lonely, individualized, and are more frequently confronted with disappointments. Simultaneously, individuals' relationships with institutional religions are evolving in this new era; many people express dissatisfaction, experience crises of meaning, and turn to new forms of sacredness. It is also evident that the visibility of certain rituals, practices, and superstitions grouped under paranormal beliefs is increasing within society. In this framework, it can be stated that the weakening of institutional religions due to rapid secularization has caused people to lose their explanatory schemas regarding existence. Those who have lost traditional explanatory frameworks often fall into a void and begin to search for new schemas of meaning. In this context, the study has identified that the meaning void created by a secular life plays an active role in the rise of beliefs that may be defined as superstitious or paranormal. In the end, in today's world—which can be referred to as an "age of uncertainty"—the search for meaning, existential questioning, the quest for the sacred, and many other phenomena exhibit a highly ambiguous nature. KEYWORDS: Secularization, Individualization, Modernization, Paranormal Beliefs, Superstitions, Alienation, and Loneliness.