Religious conversion factors in the public opinion of Omsk region residents

The research identifies the specific nature of religious conversion among Omsk region residents. Based on the results of a sociological study on this issue conducted in September-November 2018, the author concludes that people in the region do not perceive religious affiliation as an ascribed feature. The dominance of religious pluralism in the regional community, the recognition of religion as a personal choice and a part of everyone’s private life create the favorable social and psychological conditions for religious conversion. At the same time, the key resource of religious conversion includes the social environment of atheists, followers of non-confessional spirituality, and citizens indifferent to religion. Since a few people are involved in interfaith shift, the author assumes that there is a stable core of followers in the main denominations of the region. Besides, this fact demonstrates the stable denominational structure of the population and the regional religious situation as a whole. Nevertheless, the ambiguous and disputable attitude of Omsk region’s residents towards religion is determined. On the one hand, nowadays, apostasy is rather an exception; therefore, religious affiliation is regarded as a social norm in public opinion. On the other hand, for the regional community, such secular structures as the family, state, and society are the decisive factors in the development of religious views while denominational institutions have a weak impact on religious commitment. The lack of unconditionally referential status of regional religious institutions facilitates personal spiritual quest and, accordingly, religious conversion as an act of personal choice.