What's Driving the Orthodox Convert Surge? An Orthodox Anthropologist's Perspective

In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz to discuss how an uptick in converts, especially among young men, is impacting Orthodoxy in America. Dr. Riccardi-Swartz brings an interesting perspective to this topic as she is both an academic anthropologist and an Orthodox Christian herself. Her research is some of the first of its kind regarding Orthodoxy in America. Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicityBook a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austinRead my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.comGet her book, Between Heaven and Russia: https://amzn.to/3SdX6vdLearn more about Dr. Riccardi-Swartz: https://www.riccardiswartz.com/About the Guest:Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz is an assistant professor of religion and anthropology at Northeastern University, where she is also an affiliate faculty member in the women's, gender, and sexuality studies program. Before joining Northeastern University she was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Recovering Truth: Religion, Journalism, and Democracy in a Post-Truth Era project at the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict (Arizona State University). She has a Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from New York University. After completing an honors B.A. and M.A. in Religious Studies (American religions) at Missouri State University, she attended NYU to study and research religion and politics in the United States from an anthropological perspective. Along the way, she obtained a graduate certificate in Culture and Media (ethnographic filmmaking) and an M.Phil in Anthropology from NYU. Her research focuses on conservative politics, gender/sexuality, race, media worlds, and Orthodox Christianity.Chapters00:00 Orthodoxy: An Anthropological Perspective06:11 Media & Orthodoxy's Visibility09:07 Cultural Identity and Conversion 12:10 Politics & Conversion20:55 Community in Conversion Experiences23:56 ROCOR and the Fascination with Russia26:54 The Future of Orthodoxy in America30:36 Orthodoxy in Appalachia35:47 The Emergence of Political Conversations40:39 Understanding the Unique Nature of ROCOR42:24 Cultural Heritage45:49 The Internet & Orthodoxy53:02 Fr. Seraphim RoseSupport the show