THE INFLUENCE OF UKRAINIAN CIVIL RELIGION ON THE IDENTITY FORMATION OF YOUTH UNDER CONDITIONS OF WAR
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/2520-2626/2026.38.18
Abstract
Abstract. The article examines symbols, meanings, and ideas that actively function within the sphere of Ukrainian civil religion during the war. It is demonstrated that symbols and meanings reflecting the values of freedom, justice, democracy, independence, and Ukrainian national identity, among others, acquire a sacred dimension. These elements form the foundation of Ukrainian civil religion and directly influence the identity formation of Ukrainian youth. The study emphasizes that Ukrainian civil religion, by sacralizing heroic events of the past, not only preserves the collective memory of the Ukrainian people but also constructs the present by actualizing the heroism of past generations.
The sacralization of military feats, places, and events associated with the nation's heroic history is currently closely intertwined with the sacralization of the image and deeds of our defenders fighting against Rashism. Symbols of resistance and courage have acquired particular relevance under wartime conditions. The image of the Cossack, now associated with the contemporary Ukrainian defender, serves as the embodiment of the love for freedom and martial prowess. Furthermore, the article presents 24 images identified by Ukrainian media as symbols of the struggle for Independence, which strengthen the faith of Ukrainians in Victory.
The article notes that the process of forming civil religiosity among youth often occurs through social networks. Media refer to this phenomenon as "youth civil religion in the digital age" or the new "religion" of the digital era. The study focuses on the reformatting of perceptions regarding the essence of war: the collective consciousness supplements the definition of war as "just" with the image of a "sacred war." The concept of sacred war, traditionally associated with religious conflicts, is transformed within Ukrainian civil religion, acquiring features that align it with the concept of "total war." It is underlined that the sacralization of the ethos of war is reflected in the symbolism of civil religion.
The conclusions emphasize that the consolidation of the people's heroic resistance against Rashist aggression within the sacred symbols and images of Ukrainian civil religion influences the identity formation and resilience of young Ukrainians during the war.
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