Religious Views and Value Orientations of Youth and Adolescents in Turkestan Region

Abstract

This study examines the religious views and value orientations of youth and adolescents in Turkestan Region in the context of historical, social, and transformations in the information environment. The purpose of the research is to identify the key factors influencing the formation of religious consciousness among adolescents and young people, as well as to determine their attitudes toward traditional spiritual values.
The study draws on archival documents from Turkestan Region, materials from periodical publications, and the results of an empirical survey conducted among adolescents. The research employs archival analysis, content analysis, the comparative-historical method, analysis of survey data, structural-functional analysis, and an axiological approach. Archival materials enabled a comparison between religious policy during the Soviet period and the changes that occurred after Kazakhstan gained independence.
The findings indicate that the religious worldview of young people is shaped by family upbringing, the educational environment, religious institutions, local historical and cultural memory, and the digital media space. The study shows that adolescents retain an interest in religion; however, their level of religious literacy remains uneven and largely depends on the sources from which they obtain religious information. Particular attention is paid to the role of social networks, where religious content is often perceived in a fragmented manner and without sufficient critical assessment.
The results highlight the need to systematically improve religious literacy among young people, develop critical skills for evaluating digital religious information, and strengthen traditional spiritual and moral orientations.