Тренды религиозного возрождения в регионах России (на примере сибирских татар-мусульман)

Abstract

The paper analyzes some features of religious revival in various ethnic groups within Russia’s regions. The case in point here are Siberian Tatars living in Tyumen oblast. Our study came as the outcome of an ethnosociological survey of the current religious situation in Tyumen oblast, conducted in 2014 as part of the project “Tatars in the Russian regions: Religious Revival and Identity Issues”. The project is done under the aegis of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan and supported by the State Program “Preservation of Tatars’ National Identity” (2014–2016). The body of respondents comprised experts, clergymen, believers among the national intelligentsia (15 people all in all), who gave us in-depth interviews. Among the objectives of our study were identifying the specifics of Tatar religiosity, of their religious practices and channels of obtaining religious knowledge, determining the directions of change in this religious identity and its relationship with other identity forms, and defining the role of Islam in the preservation of ethnic identity. The respondents’ answers reveal a positive assessment of the role of religion in the life of Tatars. According to the experts, in the modern world religion has primarily spiritual and moral functions. Most believers think that religion gives meaning to life; contributes to the moral state of society, keeps from immoral acts; brings the feelings of peace and comfort, helps to weather the difficulties of life; contributes to the preservation of national culture and traditions; and finally, promotes understanding of believers in different religions. Socio-demographic differences between religious and non-religious Tatar population are quite blurred. It is difficult to clearly link the level of religiosity with respondents’ age, social status, place of residence, education, marital status or income level. This was fully corroborated by the in-depth interviews held in summer 2014. Monitoring data have revealed the dynamics of the respondents’ opinions on whether there is a perceived danger of ethnic identity loss for Tatars. Between 2001 and 2010 the percentage of respondents who do not fear such loss has increased from 11.8% to 17.3%. The data obtained must be taken into account when developing the federal and regional ethnic policies in order to help revitalize ethnic identities and harmonize relations between representatives of various nationalities and religions.