State Confessional Policies with Respect to Western Siberian Muslim and Christian Communities in Second Half of the 1970s—Early 1980s

Abstract

The paper analyzes the influence of state confessional policy on Muslim and Christian communities’ position and activities in Western Siberia in the second half of the 1970s—early 1980s. During the specified period, the state-confessional relations were modernization in the Soviet Union in general and in Western Siberia in particular. Using legal documents and archival data, the authors examine the regulation practice of religious community registration in the region. During the studied period also resumes the registration process of the All-Union of the Evangelical Christians-Baptists, Mennonites, and Lutherans communities. The authorities tried to control the opposing to legalization communities of Pentecostal and All-Union of the Evangelical Christians-Baptists Council. The study unveils the peculiarities of Muslim and Christian communities, namely, the community registration process, economic, social, and demographic changes within communities, religious education of children, and church ministers’ education. It concludes that there is a change in the state confessional policy towards religious organizations—the communities resume the registration process, and Muslims, the All-Union of the Evangelical Christians-Baptists Council, Baptists, Pentecostals, Lutherans, and Seventh-Day Adventists revive their activities.