Is the premise true and if it is, why is it true?

Another illustrative article of the downfall of traditional journalism.  From No, Really, Why Are So Many Christians In Colombia Converting To Orthodox Judaism? by Scott Alexander of Astral Codex Ten.

He is responding to an article in the Washington Post, Why Are So Many Christians In [Colombia] Converting To Orthodox Judaism?

The Economist, The New York Times, The Washington Post - they all used to be salt and peppered with reporting substantive reporting about little known trends or issues.  Things happening around the world which might not be particularly relevant or momentous but which was worthwhile knowing.  They no longer have much of a supply of salt and pepper unless it comes in the form of a press release and even when they strive for their glory days of reporting, they fall short.  Articles dashed off with little reporting or knowledge or substance.  As in this instance.

According to Alexander,

I enjoyed reading a recent Washington Post article, subtitled Why Are So Many Christians In [Colombia] Converting To Orthodox Judaism? It had good interviews and beautiful photos. The only thing it lacked was any explanation of why so many Christians in Colombia were converting to Orthodox Judaism, unless you count answers like these.

He then quotes a couple of individuals in the article proffering generic, abstract emo explanations centered on their feelings.  

But apparently the article does worse than not answering its own question.  It doesn't even validate the asserted phenomenon of many Chrisstians converting to Judaism.   Alexander has a stab at establishing the empirical basis of what we are discussing.

Before we start - are we sure this is happening to any significant degree? On the one hand, no it isn’t, the article mentions seven synagogues’ worth of converts, and gives us some other information we can use to estimate synagogues at a few hundred people, so probably only 2500 - 5000 Jewish converts total in a country of 50 million. But it does suggest the new converts equal or outnumber traditional (ie hereditary) Colombian Jews. And also, nobody ever converts to Orthodox Judaism! Or, like, one or two people will, here or there, but it’s deliberately really hard, and has few obvious attractions. I don’t want to claim this is some massive important trend, but it’s unusual and worth pondering.

And over what time frame?  From other evidence in Alexander's article it appears perhaps ten or more years.  On the outside, in a country of 50 million perhaps as many as 500 a year are converting to Orthodox Judaism but it might be as a few as 250 a year.   

Further, how many stay converted?  Both articles have evidence suggesting that there might a sharp erosion after a year or two.  So Why Are So Many Christians In [Colombia] Converting To Orthodox Judaism?  From the Washington Post article we neither know if they are and we don't know why they might be converting.  

Ghost journalism you might call it.  The hazy outline of something that used to exist (well researched journalism) but now is an insubstantial shadow of its former self.

Scott Alexander, being fully employed as a professional and only doing journalism as a means of asking and answering questions in which he is interested answers the Washington Post's question and adds not only some useful information but some insights as well.

No, there is little evidence of a trend of conversions to Orthodox Judaism.  Yes, it does happen but usually episodically under very particular circumstances.  

His insight is that, unlike the implication of the WP article, there is not a steady trickle of individual conversions but rather there are occasional sizable group conversions as congregations follow the inspiration provided by charismatic leaders.

Along the way, Alexander draws attention to other trends in Latin America conversions - the 20% who have converted from Catholicism to Protestantism, the success of Mormon missionaries, the 400,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians among the Mayans, etc.

He also points out that Latin America is not secularizing as has happened in many countries in the West but rather, Latin Americans are leaving traditional Catholicism behind.  Now those are interesting observations worthy of reflection.  We have the same phenomenon in the US which has always stood out in the West as doggedly more religious than our fellow Westerners.  However, in the past thirty years there has been a notable shift.

Particularly the mainline Protestant churches have been bleeding congregants, apparently no longer providing the meaning and service they once did.  What is notable, though, is that people aren't becoming atheist or agnostic.  They are joining other, less traditional religions or groups.  They are leaving traditional churches but still seeking religious fulfillment.

Why?  And why is this more prevalent in the US and Latin America than in Western Europe?

Too deep for the Washington Post.

Alexander's post is full of insight and interest.  I didn't know that Drug Cartels will not allow members to leave and return to normal life, but they will allow them to leave if they are joining a religious faith.  

Read the whole article for interest, insight, new information and engaging speculation (and a plentitude of links).  The type of article which the mainstream media also used to produce but no longer can.  Now you have to go to Substack for real journalism of the old style.  Also, read Alexander's article for the lively and informative discussion in the comments.  Alexander has among the best commenters around.