Religious Values in the Modern Family: Preserving Traditions and Adapting to a Changing Society

Across the world, and in Russia in particular, the traditional understanding of family and marriage, once rooted in religious dogmas, is undergoing change. According to the World Values Survey, religion is important or very important for 49% of Russians, with women showing higher religiosity than men (55 versus 40%). Survey results from VCIOM in 2025 reveal that one-third of Russians (41%) see family and family values as central to national traditions, while religion is considered a traditional value by only 10%. Furthermore, 88% of respondents state that raising children in religious faith is not essential. Leading global religions generally emphasize similar aspects of family life, including the distribution of gender roles, child-rearing responsibilities, and the reproductive purpose of the family. In low-birthrate societies, religious families tend to have more children due to higher marriage rates. Current transformations of the family institution are largely explained by the secularization of consciousness, the declining authority of religion, and the individualization of marriage.