Russian Religious-Philosophical Renaissance as a Phenomenon of Spiritual Culture

Marina Cherkasova,Vladimir Khamov,Irina Mordvinceva,Vadim Cherkasov,Victoria Mashko

doi:10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s4p103

Abstract

The radical transformation of Russian culture in the perestroika and post-perestroika period, inevitably led to a fundamental rethinking of the attitude to religion. Transformation of assessing the significance of religion for Russian culture can be represented in the form of a pendulum, sharply swinging in the direction from the militant, uncompromising atheism, which had the status of official ideology in the USSR, to unconditionally positive assessment of Orthodoxy as a religion traditional for Russia. To the point was described the degree of radicalism of changing attitudes to religion in contemporary Russia academician L. N. Mitrokhin’s speech at the III Congress of Philosophy. He noted that 15 years ago “official, escort godlessness was rejected” and “the era of religious euphoria, which were summed up in the belief that without religion (it was mostly about Orthodoxy) Russia has no future, was began”. (Rationality and culture on the threshold of the III Millennium, 2003, p. 84) The new status of religiosity in contemporary Russia makes a very topical solution of a number of questions. It is necessary to understand: first, why does a movement from atheism to religion take place. Secondly, weather there is any reason to suppose that Orthodoxy will become the spiritual leader in modern Russia. And thirdly, are the modern Russians in need of religion, and in which namely. Informed decision of these questions is possible only at referring to the study of the history of religion in Russia of the Soviet period and makes necessary the depth analysis of religious processes in modern Russia. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s4p103

Highlights

In the late 80's - early 90-ies of the past century for the Russian Orthodox Church ended the era of total persecution
Any social activity was strictly forbidden in the Soviet Union by religious organizations
The exception applied only to activities in the international arena, since the Soviet state was considered by the Russian Orthodox Church as one of tools of its foreign policy influence

Summary

Introduction

In the late 80's - early 90-ies of the past century for the Russian Orthodox Church ended the era of total persecution. For the Church opportunities of unimpeded withinchurch life, missionary work, and active participation in solving social problems and cultural life of Russia are opened. Until all the activities of the Church was proceeding under hard ideological control, and was restricted by the temple protection. Any social activity was strictly forbidden in the Soviet Union by religious organizations. The exception applied only to activities in the international arena, since the Soviet state was considered by the Russian Orthodox Church as one of tools of its foreign policy influence. Abandoning the plans for the immediate physical destruction of the Church, the Soviet government adopted the policy of isolation of the Church within the country

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