Youth and Religion in East and Southeast Asia

This chapter maps out the different trends concerning youth and religion in East and Southeast Asia today. By drawing on recent case studies from various parts of the region, the chapter provides a fresh take on religious trends among young people, including conversion, intensification, identity construction, social engagement, and political participation. Invoking the coexistence thesis, these trends demonstrate that there is no one narrative or linear direction concerning religious change among young people in this dynamic region. They also point to the flourishing of religion among these youth. In the latter section, the chapter identifies the social conditions that account for these trends. These social conditions are all tied to social change brought about by economic growth and the precarity confronting young people. As an intervention in the literature, the chapter hopes to stimulate interest in conducting large-scale and comparative studies on youth and religion in East and Southeast Asia.