1. RELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNION

2. RELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNION
SOVIET RELIGIOUS POLICY
Varied significantly over time & circumstance
Atheism was official doctrine
State & Party took on attributes of religion
Identified religion closely with nationality

3. RELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNION
MARXIST-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 disappear

4. RELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNION
SOVIET 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 atheism

5. RELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNION
SOVIET 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 Gorbachev

6. RELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNION
SOVIET POLICY TOWARD CATHOLICS
Policies influenced by recognition of outside authority, i.e. Pope
Linked to nationalism
particularly in Lithuanian & Ukrainian republics
Intense persecution

7. RELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNION
SOVIET 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 members

8. RELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNION
SOVIET 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, mosques

9. RELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNION
SOVIET 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 activity

10. RELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNION
SOVIET 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 = Birobidzhan

11. RELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNION
SOVIET 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 campaign

12. RELIGION IN THE SOVIET UNION
SOVIET 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 = REFUSNIKS