RELIGION IN RUSSIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 June 1932, Page 4

RELIGION IN RUSSIA

PROSPECTS OF REVIVAL. “The dominating power in the Russian State is the Communist Party, which numbers nearly two million persons. Every member admitted to the Party must make a declaration that he is an Athiest. So also must every young person between 16 and 23 years of age who joins the Young Communist Party. Quite a number of convinced Communists have consequently been excluded from the ruling clique because they have retained some form of religious belief. “Clergy and ministers Qf all denominations are regarded as “non-work-ers.” They have no votes, no civil rights, no ration cards, and no claim to any house accommodation.* Their needs must be supplied entirely by the voluntary gifts of their congregations. “I think that it is true to say that there is no real persecution of religious belief of any kind in Russia today. A certain number of bishops and clergy have been imprisoned or shot, but. it is alleged that in every case they were counter-revolutionaries and were engaged in conspiracies to restore the Czarist regime. So long as a church dignitary takes no part in politics . and confines his labours to religious ministrations, he is not interfered with in any way. “Is it probable that the anticipations of the Communists that religious belief will die out in Russia in the course of a few years will be fulfilled? I can only reply by saying that in the history of Man religion has always played a vital part. In every nation and in every race throughout the ages men and women have felt tho call and influence of a Power outside themselves and greater than themselves.

“Man has always experienced an irresistible yearning to get into union and conscious living touch with this Power. Because 1 believe that behind the Universe there is God, Who made it for some purpose of His own, I am sure that it is not in the nature of things that dogmatic Atheism or Materialism will ever satisfy the human mind and spirit.

“Blank negation is not (enough. The Russian nature is essentially mystic, and I should not be surprised if, in the course of a few years, when (he present pre-occupation with urgent economic problems is over, Russia does not lead the world in a great spiritual revival.” —Dr Alfred Salter, M.P., who visited Russia recently.