Stephen G. Adubato, associate editor of Compact Magazine, has articulated a critical perspective on the emerging "online religious counterculture" among younger generations, arguing that its "mimetic narratives of resistance" ultimately undermine individual agency. In a recent article published in Compact, Adubato contends that these online movements, while appearing to challenge the status quo, instead reinforce the very impersonal systems they claim to oppose. His analysis highlights a perceived superficiality in the religious shift among "zoomer converts."
Adubato, who is also a professor of philosophy, posits that this phenomenon is characterized by a "reactionary, performative, and individualist charge." He suggests that many young converts adopt religious views influenced by social media trends and influencers, often without deep, reasoned inquiry. This approach, according to Adubato, tends to conflate religious belief with anti-establishment political ideologies, creating a form of online religiosity that lacks substantive engagement.
The core of Adubato's argument, as summarized in his tweet, is that these digital forms of opposition function as "simulations of a challenge to the status quo that only further cede our agency to impersonal systems." He elaborates that these "mimetic narratives," whether "woke" or "based," proliferate in public discourse but fail to genuinely reclaim individual power. Instead, they contribute to a broader generational trend where competence and agency are waning.
Compact Magazine, where Adubato's article appeared, is described by Media Bias Fact Check as "Right-Center" with "mostly factual" reporting, though it notes "inconsistent sourcing practices." The publication aims to establish a "new political center" and advocates for a "strong social-democratic state" that defends community against both "libertine left" and "libertarian right" ideologies. Adubato's work aligns with the magazine's focus on cultural and societal critiques from this perspective.
This critique suggests that while a "religious vibe shift" is occurring among Gen Z, its online manifestations may not offer the profound spiritual or societal transformation many participants seek. Adubato's analysis calls into question the efficacy of purely online resistance, suggesting it may inadvertently strengthen the very structures it intends to dismantle by channeling dissent into performative and ultimately disempowering forms.
