Published on 10.12.2024 in Eesti Päevaleht.
Estonians have been called a Christian nation through their historical heritage, and indeed, at least on Christmas Day, most people find their way to church. But what does faith mean to us today?
According to the Statistics Estonia census, 54% of Estonians did not profess any religion in 2011 and 58% in 2021, and according to the methodology compilers, the increase was due to the fact that more people were willing to answer such questions in 2021. As a comparison, the representation in the categories of earth religion, taara religion, Buddhism, and other faiths, which has increased significantly over the decade, could be highlighted. Although more than half of Estonians do not identify themselves as followers of a single religion, some are gradually but consistently finding their way to religions, where oriental and other philosophies have been added to local traditional beliefs. Belief in witches, shamans, and the afterlife is a separate category that is difficult to measure as a religion, but at one time, one of the most watched programs “The Fire Test of Clairvoyants” and the esoteric events that are growing year by year indicate the openness and interest of Estonians in the topic.
I remember the words of my late grandfather: "I believe in something, I'm not one of those who believes that they don't believe in anything." I think many Estonians feel similarly - I believe in something, but I can't or don't want to define it.
The damage to Christianity's reputation by spreading the faith by the sword and the pedophilia scandals of Catholic priests are obvious reasons, but there are probably more circumstances that have turned many away from Christianity. At the same time, Christianity continues to live a quiet life among us in traditions. Santa Claus and the Easter bunny do not remind us of anything Christian, but it is rather a rule that a person who defines himself as an atheist dreams of a wedding in a church or wants to bury a deceased loved one in a churchyard.
The words "god" and "devil" have passed through the mouth of almost every Estonian at one point or another in various life situations, as has the superstitious expression "good health" to a sneezing person. We consider this to be colloquialism.
How many of us have done, thought, or found our way to a “wise man” or witch for help in the most difficult moments of our lives? Do we do things out of habit, from what has been done before us, or is there something more hidden there, perhaps faith? When we believe in a “higher power,” is it an almighty god, or is it the source of souls that we visit with rebirths, or simply something universally natural?
It seems like a Christian concept, but in fact it is a matter of our time, what we today call mental health care.
Living in harmony with nature is certainly a matter of concern for many Estonians. The connection of energy and physical well-being not only with actions and consumption, but also with thoughts, seems acceptable to most. There remains the question of spirituality – whether and how we take care of the soul. It seems like a Christian concept, but in fact it is a question of our time, which today we call taking care of mental health. Living in a world where negative information, fears and anxiety come from every screen and voice, the time has definitely come when we should find additional support for the spirit.
Endless distractions in digital devices that distract from reality or other unhealthy coping mechanisms are not sustainable. Living in a constant state of stress is also not sustainable. Yelling, criticizing and blaming do not bring solutions closer. Helping yourself is difficult, especially when socially worshipping the altar of pessimism seems to be the main religious expression of Estonians and optimism is arrogantly equated with stupidity. It is easy to think of yourself as sick, but almost impossible to think of yourself as healthy. To achieve inner balance, a sense of peace, and lightness, you need to find within yourself, beyond reason, strength and, again, a certain faith.
Surprisingly, it is science that increasingly supports esoteric theories, previously called beliefs.
If the different behavior of electrons depending on the presence of an observer has been proven, the aura has been photographed, the positive effect of meditation on brain waves has been measured, and grounding in direct contact with nature has also been proven, then are we on our way to becoming tree huggers? How many other beliefs are ridiculed, but are scientifically confirmed over time, and how open are we to them today? Yoga, meditation practitioners, and believers in psychics are no longer publicly ridiculed, but there is still a long list of practices and beliefs, including ancient ones, that are still taboo.
There seems to be a societal attitude that one can practice for health or problem-solving purposes, but not believe in it, because it is still a ridiculously irrational activity.
Beliefs that vary depending on the situation create the impression of a religious existential crisis. A Christian at Christmas, weddings, and funerals, a pagan on Midsummer's Day, a Wicca in difficult times, and a hedonistic atheist in good times. Rääkimata televiisoriusust, mille eeskujul kõrvitsaid kaunistame ja lapsevarbaid kastame.
You don't have to define yourself religiously, but you shouldn't belittle the importance of faith and deny it in yourself either. Faith in yourself, faith in things getting better, but why not also faith that nature gives you energy, conscious breathing calms you, and even more so, that someone is watching over you and helping you, can significantly change the course of each individual's life and how they cope with challenges.
We all want to be happy, but is the drive in life that supports it achievable without faith? As Dante Gabriel Rossetti says: “The worst moment for an atheist is when he is very grateful and has no one to thank.”
