The religious situation in Central Asia

Abstract

Due to communist ideology religious education was not available to Soviet citizens. For a long time, Central Asian countries did not have their own religious educational institutions. After having had their independence and opening of the borders, active interaction of the Central Asian states with the outside world began: many citizens left to receive religious education in Arab countries. During the theological training of young people in foreign Islamic centers, students were imbued with religious views and values ​​alien to the mentality of their people. When they return to their homeland, they begin to promote the ideas of radical Islam. Islamists understand that such activities are prohibited and illegal, they go underground, having unconscious young people involved in the confrontation with the state. Radical religious preachers form a belief in the mass consciousness about the value of Islam as a worldview and social force that can solve all problems. However, the low level of religious literacy of the majority of Muslims, their inability to distinguish true religiosity from religious fanaticism and extremism, contribute to the spread of radical Islamism. As the number of adherents of Islamic extremism increases, their religious and ideological confrontation with the secular state may develop into a phase of armed struggle, into a terrorist underground. The article describes how administration of the republics representing the region has to balance between protecting the citizens from religious extremism and preventing the infringement of the rights and freedoms of law-abiding believers The article examines peculiarities of the religious situation in the post-Soviet countries of Central Asia, describes the legal basis for regulating religious issues,  significance of state concepts and programs. In addition, the article examines peculiarities of religious and theological education in the countries of Central Asia. The article defines the significance of secular principles and the regulation of religious issues in a secular country. Key words: religion, Central Asia, religious organizations, law, religious situation.