Single Men Joining Orthodox Churches

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It’s a very complex topic.

If one is led to believe that one denomination of Christianity is the sole truth and the sole path to salvation, it’s unlikely that they’ll leave that religion even if they dislike many/most things about it. Similarly, if one is led to believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, they might find themselves compelled to follow things they find deeply problematic or distasteful. For example, I used to try to be homophobic. I hated being a JW even in years where I tried to be a good one. I always had had doubts and actively disliked many teachings and aspects of the belief system, but I felt wrong and strived to be a good believer anyway. I know many others who had a similar experience. My aunt who still believes always struggled with the sexist teachings and sexist portions of the Bible although she thinks she’s wrong. She doesn’t like the religion; it’s been a constant source of inner turmoil. It works like that in other branches of fundamentalist Christianity as well and sometimes even in mainstream churches to a certain extent depending on certain variables.

Sometimes people feel pushed into going along with a religion for family, too. I’ve even seen concerns related to housing and employment, especially when it involves friends and family and when low education is a factor. That’s a big issue among the Amish. There are lots of possibilities. Among JWs, fewer women leave that were raised in than men. Some of that is related to being raised to be submissive. Boys and girls have very different upbringings based on stupid teachings about men and women’s roles. Men are encouraged to be more independent and to “take the lead,” women not so much. It seems likely that that could play some role in other patriarchal religions.

That’s not to say that all women dislike it. Women in any demographic aren’t all going to think and feel the same. However, internalized sexism and homophobia do happen as well sometimes. People can get acclimated to different types of unpleasantness. I often tried to convince myself that I was happy when I wasn’t.

Yeah, I mostly agree, I also don't like homophobia.
Your experiences with JW sound traumatizing.

I suppose what I was arguing for was the roles thing may not be that bad. Not "taking initiative" can also be negative framing of not "*having* to take initiative", and that is something some women like because business often involves a lot of risk and cutthroat politics. As a man I would not mind being a house-dad at times.

A flip side to this is also now labour bargaining power is less because whereas in the past a man was expected to earn for the whole family, now both people are expected to work.

Can you tell me more about the Russian church from your perspective?

I don't really know much about it other than the vague interactions I have had with friends.

I don’t know that much about the Russian Orthodox Church other than what I briefly researched although it’s something I would like to explore further. I might start with Wikipedia. I researched and mentioned homophobia because, in my experience, when a religion has “traditional values,” it most often involves homophobia on some level, which isn’t to say that all adherents will always agree with their church about everything. Some religions require more strict adherence than others. My criticism is on religion and beliefs, not believers. The Bible and religion is a special interest of mine. I do find it fascinating.

Interesting.

I am non demontional. I can attend any church that I feel worships appropriately,therefore should at least be able to attend some Orthodox Churches if I so wanted to.

I was schooled in Catholic schools and now attend a Anglican church in my local area. At times I do still attend the Catholic church I attended as a child. I just did so today as well. I can say that since 2014 when I started attending my local Anglican church most of the worshippers who attend are quite eldery. In 2014 I appeared to be the youngest at 41 in the services I attended. Now a few younger women are coming the early morning service I attend, but no young men. I attended a Catholic weekday mass today as I said it was majority older women who attended, absent of their partners seemingly.

The churches I attend are traditional churches. Perhaps with an older demography some want to worship with more of their own age group. I don't know perhaps some just want to worship or perhaps some may be looking to settle down as well.

I think some people may be pushing back on things now and wanting a return to core values in their life they may have known. So much change can sometimes be going on, that some want to return to having a faith in a world where so much seems changeable and fast paced.

I was not able to pull up any Orthodox church's in nature that had five hour services as mentioned in the article.
The longest running service I could find was for 3 hours. That said servkces of that lenght are not unknown to me and you will find some services around 4hrs or more in more Orthodox Charismatic African Churches.

During the pandemic many church's didn't open up properly until late 2022 so putting on services of lenght before this I don't know how possible it was in the person.

People can attend for a multiude of reasons for them.I know some church's that have events/programs for single people looking to settle down and seen it in others posting that was a main intention of them in going to church, to find a partner.

I wish them all well.

Some Black American churches have VERY long services. Lots and lots of singing and praising.