Russia’s ‘Cursed Issues’, Post-Soviet Religion, and the Endurance of Secular Modernity

This chapter presents a brief overview of the Russian encounters with modernity and then test applicability of the &s;multiple modernities&s; and &s;post-secular&s; theoretical frameworks to the Russian material. It explains that these two frameworks are not necessarily linked to each other: a specific religious tradition does not necessarily offer a conceptual key to explain a different kind of modernity. In other words, the &s;modern multiplicity&s; can not be explained by the multiplicity of faiths, as might be deduced from the post-secular perspective. The chapter examines that the Russian case proves a stronger link between modernity and secularity than is usually held by the currently prominent critiques of the classical theories of modernization and secularization. The post-Soviet regimes tried to introduce a new, European type of moderate secularism; it was the first real experience of lacit in Russian history. Religious arguments, among others, were used to create a brand of new Russian nationalism.

Ancient history · Modernity · Political science · Secular variation · Sociology · Demography · History · Law · Religion and Society Interactions · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices

• Breakthrough to Modernity, Apologia for Traditionalism

  Alexander Agadjanian•Religion State & Society•2003

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