Turning Outwards or Turning Inwards? The Russian Orthodox Church Challenged by Fundamentalism

Bibliographic Data

ID11046076
AuthorsPhilip Walters (corresponding author)
Year2007
Volume35
Issue5
Pages853-879
Publication date2007-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNationalities Papers (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-5992 • E-ISSN: 1465-3923
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1080/00905990701651836
OpenAlexW2258975205
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited16

The 1997 Russian law on religion recognizes Orthodoxy, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism as the “traditional religions” of Russia. These religions see themselves as having an important role to play in achieving social stability, and particularly in overcoming religious “extremism” and the perceived threat it poses to society. “Traditional'” religions stand shoulder to shoulder, explaining that the values they champion tend towards the creation and preservation of peace and reconciliation in society, and that, moreover, these are shared values, common to all “traditional'‘ religions. Indeed, the primary criterion for identifying a “traditional'” religion in Russia today may be that it is “noncompetitive” with other religions. The Moscow Patriarchate rejects the idea, for example, that Orthodox Christians should proselytize among Muslims. The fact that each religion sees itself as having possession of the “truth” does not endanger the cooperation, harmony and mutual respect among the traditional religions in Russia at the level of official and institutional interaction. Regarding the controversy over the school textbook, Foundations of Orthodox Culture , which human rights activists accused of constituting pro-Orthodox propaganda, an Orthodox priest and a Muslim chief mufti filed a joint claim against those who initiated the case, and a Protestant leader came out in support of the use of the textbook in the public schools

Buddhism · Champion · Christianity · Fundamentalism · Harmony (color · Islam · Islamic fundamentalism · Judaism · Orthodoxy · Political science · Politics · Possession (linguistics · Protestantism · Sociology · Theology · Law · Philosophy · Political Conflict and Governance · Religion and Society Interactions · Religion, Society, and Development · Religious studies

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