The text discusses the role and influence of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in contemporary Russia, particularly since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It highlights the significant increase in the number of Russians identifying with Orthodoxy, which now surpasses two-thirds of the population, reflecting a revival of religious identity and national pride.
Emphasizing the connection between the Russian Orthodox Church and the preservation of Russia's historical greatness, the text explores the church's role in upholding the memory of past achievements, including military victories, literary traditions, space exploration, and the resilience of the Russian people. It notes the high levels of trust in the church and the military compared to other institutions within Russia.
The paper aims to analyze the ROC as a religious fundamentalist group on an international scale. It covers various aspects such as the identification of the ROC as a fundamentalist group, details about its leadership, size, and structure, a historical overview of its development, challenges faced, initiatives taken, and successes achieved in meeting its goals.
Furthermore, the text aims to forecast the future impact of the ROC both locally and globally, considering its media presence and public opinion. It concludes by shedding light on recent events and providing a brief glimpse into potential future developments of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Table of contents
1. Introduction
2. Religious fundamentalism of the Russian Orthodox Church
2.1 History
2.2. Belief and Ritual
2.3 Successes
2.4 Challenges
3. Outlook
Objectives and Research Focus
This paper aims to analyze the development of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) as a religious fundamentalist entity, examining its historical trajectory, its relationship with the Russian state, and the sociological implications of its rise. The research explores how the church has evolved into a tool of political legitimacy for the current regime and discusses the contradiction between its religious mission and its support for state actions.
- The identification of the ROC as a religious fundamentalist group.
- Historical, political, and societal development of the ROC.
- Analysis of contemporary challenges and institutional initiatives.
- Evaluation of the church's successes in achieving its stated goals.
- Forecast of the ROC’s future impact on a local and global scale.
Excerpt from the publication
2. Religious fundamentalism of the Russian Orthodox Church
To understand why the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) is a subject of concern when we talk about religious fundamentalism, one needs to understand the concept of religious fundamentalism itself. Definitions of religious fundamentalism, of course, are often discussed within academia, clercy and beyond. However, addressing divergent interpretations would exceed this paper's purpose and, thus not addressing this issue appropriately. Rather than outlining the main distinctions of the term religious fundamentalism, this paper is using the definition of Gabriel Almond, R. Scott Appleby, and Emmanuel Sivan in their book “Strong Religion: The Rise of Fun- damentalisms around the World”, as I hold their interpretation as concise and extensive as possible. Their approach from my understanding is very valuable to ask what ‘religious fundamentalism’ actually means and whether or not the subject of analysis applies under this term. Without further ado we need to ask ourselves: is the ROC a religious fundamentalist group?
According to Almond, Appleby and Sivan there are nine features that characterize fundamentalist groups. The first five concern ideology while the remaining four are organizational characteristics. The first characteristic feature of fundamentalism, which underlies all the others, is the term reactivity. A defensive or protective attitude toward religious belief is necessary, in their opinion, for a group or movement to qualify as fundamentalism. If we look at the ROC, we can clearly identify this to be true.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the societal role of the Russian Orthodox Church as a guarantor of national identity and sets the framework for analyzing it as a fundamentalist group.
2. Religious fundamentalism of the Russian Orthodox Church: This section defines religious fundamentalism using academic criteria and evaluates the ROC's ideological and organizational alignment with those characteristics.
2.1 History: This chapter traces the historical evolution of the church from Kievan Rus' through the Soviet era to its post-1990 resurgence and entanglement with state power.
2.2. Belief and Ritual: This section outlines the theological foundations, liturgical traditions, and the structure of the Orthodox faith within the church.
2.3 Successes: This chapter documents the physical and institutional expansion of the church since the 1990s, including the reconstruction of cathedrals and its integration into state structures.
2.4 Challenges: This section critically examines the moral dilemmas and internal contradictions the church faces, particularly regarding political repression and the conduct of its leadership.
3. Outlook: The final chapter forecasts the future of the ROC in light of the war in Ukraine and the potential for international investigation into its institutional complicity.
Keywords
Russian Orthodox Church, Religious Fundamentalism, Kremlin, Patriarch Kirill, Soviet Union, Orthodoxy, National Identity, Political Authoritarianism, Religion and State, Russian Politics, Modernity and Tradition, Secularism, Human Rights, Religious Freedom, War in Ukraine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this research paper?
The paper examines the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) through the lens of religious fundamentalism to understand its role in modern Russian society and politics.
What are the main thematic areas covered in the analysis?
Key areas include the church's historical development, its ideological alignment with fundamentalist traits, its symbiotic relationship with the Russian state, and the ethical challenges posed by its public stance.
What is the central research question?
The work seeks to determine whether and how the Russian Orthodox Church functions as a religious fundamentalist group on an international scale, particularly in its interaction with the Russian government.
Which methodology is applied in this study?
The author uses a qualitative analysis approach, applying the fundamentalist criteria defined by Almond, Appleby, and Sivan to the organizational and ideological structure of the ROC.
What topics are discussed in the main part of the paper?
The main part covers the historical origins of the church, its theological beliefs, its institutional expansion after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and critical developments such as the church's support for state conflicts.
Which keywords best characterize the paper?
The paper is defined by terms such as Russian Orthodox Church, religious fundamentalism, political authoritarianism, and the intersection of church and state.
How does the author view the church's role in the Russian state today?
The author argues that the church has become a functional instrument for authoritarian power, sacrificing its own religious values for state political alignment.
What is the author's take on Patriarch Kirill's leadership?
The author characterizes the patriarch as a key figure in the church’s political alignment with the state and highlights criticisms regarding his wealth and support for military actions.
What does the "Outlook" chapter suggest about the future of the church?
The outlook suggests that the church's future is tied to the survival of the current Russian regime and notes the growing possibility of international legal scrutiny regarding its institutional support for war.
- Quote paper
- Florian Lehmann (Author), 2022, Russia’s Orthodox Church. Religious fundamentalism and its international implications in the past, presence, and future, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1430099
