TO END RELIGION

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 25 January 1933, Page 7

TO END RELIGION

SOVIET'S FIVE-YEAR FLAN. RUSSIA WITHOUT GOD. . Tile Soviet Government's determination to exterminate ail religion, all belief in the Supreme Deity, and all sacred teaching, is expressed in a decree now being put into effect (wrote a special correspondent of the London “Morning Post” recently). This decree, signed by Stalin, Bekhterof. Jarroslavsky. Kogan and Lobatchevsky, approved by the Supreme Council of the Communist Party and ratified by the High Commission ot the Soviet Republic, came into operation ou May lo last. It fixes live years for the “liquidation of all religions” as from tlnrfc date, and provides an annual time-table- for the oregressive accomplishment of its unholyends.

To appreciate the full significance of this measure, it must he noted that it is not only Christian faith which is assailed, but all faiths. The people therefore most affected in Russia along with the •Christians are the Jews and the Mohammedans. . . As persons of Jewish origin have been notoriously conspicuous in the building up -ot tlic- Bolshevist State, and as the condition of the Mohammedans of Russia (totalling about 30 million souls) affects the Soviet's relationship with Turkey, the publication of the terms of the “Five-Year Godless Campaign” decree has been marked with discretion. Jll Russia itself everyone knows the. terms of the decree, but care is taken that a transcription of the actual document is not available. It is left to certain atheistic agencies to explain in detail the terms of this decree to end religion.

PROPAGANDA WORLD WIDE. The Official Soviet Press refers to the plan only in generalities. 1‘ rom other Bolshevist sources, however, the following details are gathered ot the programme a-t present being developed not only in Russia but in all countries of the world by Bolshevist propagandists. , . ■ . 111 the first year of the I lve-Ycai Plan provision is made for the closing down of all religious schools, seminaries, and theological courses. During this period everybodv connected with or known to be in the service of any religious cult is placed in the category of those, to whom a Government ration rard is denied; that is. they are deprived of all means of subsistence. It is now a year since this repressive measure lias been in operation, so this part of the plan refers, to a * lait accompli.” The plan does not include for the first year the- immediate closure. of churches, nor the official liquidation of ecclesiastical associations. These are reserved for later. In 1933 the “active irreligious campa ion must be redoubled.so as to ensure the definite abolition of relu/ion in the home and in the officially iC ; gistered associations of believers ho. in the old monasteries. This. work, it is contemplated, will be completed in October, 1933. The printing of books, reviews pamphlets, and manuals, of a religious nature will be forbidden. I hose responsible for the manufacture ol objects intended to serve religious purposes or usages will hi' most severely punished. ' In the course oi the year theie. win he launched propaganda with the .special object of instilling the principle-, of reasoned unbelief in the ma-sses. .Atleast LSO films dealing with Atheism are to he prepared for free circulation. “ATHEIST CELLS.” The third year is dedicated to the development of “Atheist yells.” During this phase- provision is made lor the deportation of such remaining “servitors of the enjjts” as have not already renounced their religious 1 unctions and beliefs. By May 1 of this I. ..ear the definite and filial closure' ot all churches or temples of worship and the dissolution of all ecclesiastical associations must he- completed in all populous centres. • In the fourth year all churches, synagogues, mosques, temples. • and houses of prayer must lie placed at the disI po-sal of' idle Government institutions in order to ho transformed into ifneinas. clubs, and “other places ol reasonable recreation.” In the fifth year closure of churches and religious buildings must lie completed in the mral area. May 1. 1937 is supposed to see a Russia with God driven out.