How did urbanization and mass media threaten the survival of ancient Finno-Ugric folk beliefs?

Urbanization and mass media have posed a significant threat to the survival of ancient Finno-Ugric folk beliefs by disrupting the traditional social and cultural environments that sustained them.1

Historically, Finno-Ugric folk religion demonstrated a remarkable capacity for resilience through syncretism. Even when faced with the introduction of Christianity or Islam, these traditions were often molded into an active system where folk practices continued to serve essential functions that institutional religions did not replace. This persistence was largely supported by oral tradition, which thrived in peripheral or rural settings where ancient beliefs remained deeply intertwined with daily life.12

However, the rise of urbanization and the influence of modern mass media have fundamentally altered this dynamic. Unlike earlier religious shifts that allowed for the integration of new elements into a "depth structure," these modern forces have jeopardized the tradition by eroding the specific social contexts and isolated environments where these ancient beliefs were historically practiced and transmitted.1