Orthodox ReliGion Has Invaded Russian Schools
Of late a most discordant & serious debate has been waging within Russian society is being waged about the Russian Orthodox religion being taught in Russian public schools. Now after almost 2 decades since the demise of the Soviet Union a return of religion to public life, the freedom to worship has made it the norm for municipalities all over Russia to begin decreeing that a proper public school education should include a curriculum heavily steeped in the doctrine of the Russian Orthodox Church, with all of its traditions, liturgy & history.
This new curriculum depicts Russia's ongoing struggle to adequately define what a Russian truly is in this post-Communist era. It is also a statement of what they feel religion's role will be in Russian society now after being brutally suppressed duirng the Soviet rule.
This theocratic drive by the reborn Russian Orthodox church to weave its tenets into the educational system has caused a an unexpected backlashfrom all parts of the Russian socio-cultural groups including as expected from the remains of the Communist Party.
It has been asserted that the Russian Orthodox hierarachy is subverting & thus causing a weakening of Russia's constitutional separation of church & state by this blatant proselytization in Russian public schools. Opponents state that Russia is a multi-ethnic & pluralistic nation. Thus it risks the alienation its large Muslim minority as well as its Jewish minority if Russian Orthodoxy continues this pathn to making Russia a theocracy.Of course the Russian Orthodox church says that such allegations & accusations are truly unfounded. It the church's stated purpose to maintain a course of cultural not religious historical direction.
This dispute has recently come to a head because 10 well known & very prominent Russian scientists, 2 of whom are Nobel laureates, sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, protesting their opposition & concern about the ''growing clericalization'' of Russian society. They were criticizing the religious teachings in public schools as well as also attacking the Russian Orthodox church's efforts to receive recognition of degrees in theology along with placing Russian Orthodox chaplains in the Russian military services.
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Comments: 11
the "State Religion" it often forgets it purpose which is to bring people tp God and not to control them It would seem to me if the Russion intlllectuals needed something to worry about they should look at the centralization of power by Putin. As to upsetting the Moslem minority, every thing except their own view of things upsets them
Ruth, dear... it all depends. I personally am a Russian Orthodox who's in love with an American Catholic. I know that conservators from both sides would be outraged even to hear about this... but I don't give for their opinion even a rusty Russian kopeck. ;-)
Blessings and warm regards - S.
On the whole, I've never understood the fear of religion, generally speaking. I hope that's not what's happening here, and I hope that the Orthodox Church in Russia does keep itself free from Russian Governmental edicts and control so that it can be a pure witness to the gospel of Christ.