Dear probonopublico-ga,
I think I can only summarise the events of this period and you will
then have to refer to my sources for a fuller account. I have tried to
rely on reliable sources, for, as you can imagine, much has been
written on the Communist?s attitude towards religion, both from the
left and the right.
Following the Revolution, the Bolshevik government took immediate
steps against all churches, and in particular, the Russian Orthodox
Church. To them, it was closely linked to the Tsarist State which had
been overthrown. The Land Decree of October 26, 1917, took property
from the church and nationalised all ecclesiastical lands. A later
decree in 1918, separated the church from the state, and removed the
church from any involvement in schools. The churches had lost all
right to own property and a special committees were set up to recover
the assets. Monks were evicted from their monasteries, church utensils
and bells were melted down and shrines broken up. There then followed
persecution and arrests of bishops ending in their trial and
execution.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Tikhomn tried to ensure its
survival and his successor Sergius swore allegiance to the government.
However, in the following years nearly all of its clergy were either
shot, sent to labor camps, went underground or changed their vocation.
Theological schools were closed, and church publications were
prohibited. By 1939 only about 500 of over 50,000 churches remained
open. As for other denominations and religions, by 1926, the Roman
Catholic Church had no bishops left in the Soviet Union. Attacks on
Judaism were also conducted throughout the period. Protestant
denominations and other sects were also persecuted. Under Stalin,
there was a further purge in 1937 ? 1938.
The Second World War however, saw Stalin relying on the Church to
became a source of ?moral strength? to help in the patriotic war
against the invading Germans.
These are some sites to give you a full picture of the events.
Russian Orthodox Religious History
http://wrc.lingnet.org/russorth.htm
This site has a general account of the persecution and statistics on
the drastic reduction in numbers of churches and monasteries during
the relevant period. Also a list of bishops who were murdered during
the period.
Orthodox Christianity and Militant Atheism in the Twentieth Century.
http://www.uq.edu.au/~laacassi/OrthodoxChristianityandMilitantAtheism.html
History of the Russian Orthodox Church
http://www.russian-orthodox-church.org.ru/hist_en.htm
Bolshevik Persecution of the Catholic Church
http://www.loyno.edu/history/journal/1987-8/byrnes.htm
A Brief History of the Russian Byzantine Catholic Church and the Russian Catholics
http://rumkatkilise.org/necplus.htm
Synagogues and the Jewish religion during the Soviet Period
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/worldwide/synagogues/part1b.html
History of Jews in Russia
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/vjw/russia.html
The Muslim Policy of Soviet Government (1917-1945)
http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/SH_CA/chapter_5.htm
General background information:
Section D of this Encarta site
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761553017/Union_of_Soviet_Socialist_Republics.html#p63
Rights and freedoms, Russia 1917-24 ? general essay
http://www.courseworkbank.co.uk/coursework/rights_freedoms_russia_-_1585/
Background reading
http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/soviet.exhibit/anti_rel.html
Russian religion
http://www.russianembassy.org/RUSSIA/religion.htm
Russian Orthodox Church
http://countrystudies.us/russia/38.htm
Both Lenin and Stalin sort to implement the communist manifesto of
removing religion from Russian life. Atheism was mandatory for a
communist party member. Atheism was the state policy.
Lenin prior to the revolution, wrote many articles on religion. These
are some examples.
"Religion is one of the forms of spiritual oppression which everywhere
weighs down heavily upon the masses of the people, over burdened by
their perpetual work for others, by want and isolation. [?] Religion
must be declared a private affair. In these words socialists usually
express their attitude towards religion. But the meaning of these
words should be accurately defined to prevent any misunderstanding. We
demand that religion be held a private affair so far as the state is
concerned."
Novaya Zhizn, No. 28, December 3, 1905. Signed: N. Lenin.
Source
http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1905/dec/03.htm
Also discussed in this article titled ?The Attitude of the Workers?
Party to Religion 1900 V I Lenin?
Source
http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm
And referred to in a speech in 1918
Source
http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1918/jul/26a.htm
This writer argues that not only did he want religion removed from the
State, but that he was a true atheist as well.
http://www.pravoslavie.ru/enarticles/031230131852
"Although many of Russia's revolutionary factions did not take Marx
literally, the Bolshevik faction, led by Vladimir I. Lenin, was deeply
suspicious of the church as an institution and as a purveyor of
spiritual values. Therefore, atheism became mandatory for members of
the ruling Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik). To eliminate as soon
as possible what was deemed the perverse influence of religion in
society, the communists launched a propaganda campaign against all
forms of religion."
http://countrystudies.us/russia/38.htm
According to many of his biographies, Stalin was an atheist, and as
can be seen from his actions during his time, he implemented many
attacks on religion and the churches.
"Communism had taught people that religion was "the opium of the
masses" (Karl Marx) and church leaders were arrested and churches
physically shut down. Stalin could not allow a challenge to his
position and anybody who worshipped God was a challenge as the
"personality cult" was meant for people to worship Stalin."
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/Stalin's%20Russia.htm
There is obviously a great number of books written on this topic, and
I can refer you to some of them if you wish to have a more in-depth
analysis of the events of this period.
I hope this answers your question. If it does not, or the answer is
unclear, then please ask for clarification of this research before
rating the answer. I shall respond to the clarification request as
soon as I receive it.
Thank you
answerfinder |
