Which is the future of Orthodoxy demographically speaking. The traditionnal craddle of Orthodoxy is located is EaStern Europe. This scountries had suffered from Atheist regimes... We are currently witnessing a rebirth of the faith but I doubt that the majority of people a recgular church-goers. The attitude towards religion would be like in Western countries... More a cultural matter. Moreover, sects and other religious groups are also spreading in these old Orthodox countries. Finally, these countries are really in a bad situation demographically speaking. Russia loses 1 million inhabitants per year for instance.
To keep an actual demographic weight, this decline should be compensated by a rise of the Orthodox population in the new countries. The fact is that it did not happen. Many people are used to saying that the Russian revolution and the Greek exile from Turkey spread Orthodoxy out of its traditionnal lands. That is right... Nonetheless, the number of Orthodox in the new countries remain unsignificant...
Let's see the example of France. It histed many Russian emigres. At one time there were maybe 100 Orthodox parishes in France (in the 1920s). Now if we merge all Orthodox parishes (whatever jurisidiction they may be) this number remains steady. Even worse, many parishes of the Russian emigratio disappeared... In fact it seems that the Orthodox melt in the society and quickly lose their faith... This may be due to a vision of the church as a "social or ethnic club". The young generations quit the church since they do not understand the language, and it is hard for converts to join the church due to the language barriers. We cannot forget the mixed marriages too...
I think one example of success in Orthodox epigration would be the USA, where this phyletism seems to be less important... However, the consequence is clear : emigration for the Traditionnal lands did not stop the demographical decline.
It could be stopped through two ways.
First, increassing missionnary efforts. But unfortunately, many jurisdictions do not have this intention. They are worried about their canonical territory or their "diaspora outside the country". Nothing is done for the average heterodox guy. If they had the willing of setting a mission, they would lack money... For instance, in Africa, the mission of the Alexandria Patriarchate is supported from Greece, Australia and the US... It is quite ridiculous compared with the Protestant missions in Africa. Furthermore some jurisdiction are more interested in ecumenism than mission and have (had) secret agreements with catholics to deter people from becoming Orthodox
Secondly, to stop the decline, it would be able to rise the fertility rate of Orthodox families. In the old countries in particular, the Church could insist on family values and discourage abortion and alcoholism.
Well definitely, I think we should wory about Orthodoxy's demographical future...
Any thoughts?