Slide 1Slide 2Slide 3Slide 4Slide 5Slide 6Slide 7Slide 8Slide 9Slide 10Slide 11Slide 12RELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNIONRELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNIONSOVIET RELIGIOUS POLICY Varied significantly over time & circumstance Atheism was official doctrine State & Party took on attributes of religion Identified religion closely with nationalityRELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNIONMARXIST-LENINIST APPROACH Religion was “opiate of the masses” It was by-product of economic exploitation & social oppression Would no longer be necessary in socialist society But Soviet leadership never fully believed it would disappearRELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNIONSOVIET POLICY TOWARD ORTHODOXY Authorities sought to control, exploit, & ultimately eliminate it 1st ecclesiastical legislation = “Decree on the Separation of Church & State” League of Militant Godless harassed believers Anti-religious education & propaganda, propagated atheismRELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNIONSOVIET POLICY TOWARD ORTHODOXY Tolerance of Church during World War II to garner support for war  Khrushchev reversed policy of cooperation with Church Further crackdown by Brezhnev Non-Russian Orthodox Churches persecuted due to affiliation with nationalism Resurgence under GorbachevRELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNIONSOVIET POLICY TOWARD CATHOLICS Policies influenced by recognition of outside authority, i.e. Pope Linked to nationalism particularly in Lithuanian & Ukrainian republics Intense persecutionRELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNIONSOVIET POLICY TOWARD PROTESTANTS Some actually benefited from Soviet power• Communists lifted repression imposed by tsarist system But in 1929 Soviets issued decree outlawing proselytizing, arrested many Despite this, managed to attract many new membersRELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNIONSOVIET POLICY TOWARD ISLAM Soviets initially accorded more tolerance to Muslims• Allowed public rituals, sharia courts, Muslim schools, mullahs retained rights Mid-1920s saw change in policies• Muslim rebels, Basmachi, brought under control• Now state moved against Islam: closed schools, sharia courts, mosquesRELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNIONSOVIET POLICY TOWARD ISLAM Stalin launched campaign of direct persecution• Attacked Islamic traditions: veiling of women, polygamy, Kalym• Tried to end ritual prayers & fasts that interfered with labor discipline• Prohibited pilgrimage to Mecca Separated Muslim nationalities administratively to prevent unification  After Stalin, Soviet authorities allowed limited Muslim activityRELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNIONSOVIET POLICY TOWARD JEWS Jews designated as religion & nationality Tsarist persecution attracted many to revolutionary movement Bolsheviks tried to end discrimination against Jews• Assimilated Jews advanced in education & professions Created Jewish autonomous region = BirobidzhanRELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNIONSOVIET POLICY TOWARD JEWS Jewish religious practices suppressed• Abolished community councils, outlawed Hebrew language, training of rabbis• Most synagogues closed Anti-Semitism & violence never disappeared After World War II, Stalin initiated anti-Semitic campaignRELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNIONSOVIET POLICY TOWARD JEWS Official persecution & discrimination ended after Stalin But reintroduced after 1967 Many Jews became part of dissident movement Numerous appeals for right to emigrate to Israel =