Open Forum

Flak, Volume 1, Issue 4, 30 April 1943, Page 5

Open Forum

RELIGION IN RUSSIA Probably one of the most controversial subjects of the day is the religious -situation in Russia. But in order to understand its present peculiarities it is necessary to glance at the historical background. Following his baptism into the Greek Orthodox branch-of the Christian Church’ in 988, the Czar Vladimir destroyed the people’s idols, and ordered the inhabitants of Kiev to gather at the Dnieper and be baptised. Thus Christianity was imposed on an ignorant and superstitious peasantry.

For nearly a thousand years the Czarist regime depended on •' the Orthodox Church for the enforcement of its claims to Divine Right and rule by royal decrees. In ' return the Church was rewarded by financial assistance of the State and the petty persecution of religious minorities. Six months after the revolution, the Bolsheviks modified the theory of religious liberty by prohibiting the teaching of the Christian doctrine to the young; while at the same time the religious dogma of atheism replaced the service of a personal God with the service of a class, i.e., the worker, as the supreme function in life. Thus atheism replaced orthodox Christianity as the established faith of the Soviet Republic. The militant Godless movement had enormous funds for > ; anti-religious propaganda and banned the Bible from .the nation. It has been said that “the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.” Russia was no exception to the rule. For instance, in spite of

ruthless persecution, the membership of the Baptist Church increased. This revival of genuine Christianity has had repercussions in the orthodox church itself, destroying much of "the' corruption. To-day Russia is a nation fighting for her life. Her ruler has been wise enough to seek the co-operation of every party and denomination. The franchise has been restored to. the clergy, and State aid withdrawn from the Godless movement. A religion without a personal God has proved of little comfort to soldiers dying in defence of their homes and loved ones. Perhaps the day is not far distant when the nation which has adopted

the communistic system will turn ' again to the Book in which it discovered the principles of'brotherly love, and find a God who changes hearts as well as systems.

Everyone likes a good argument. This column is going to be the place to have it in the open. Mn open forum everyone can ventilate his ideas but he lays himself open to anyone who disagrees. Anonymity will be retained./ The padre sets .the ball rolling with an article on Russia. You should have some ideas on the subject, and maybe they are .ideas that don’t agree with the padre’s. Put them on paper and send them in.

Chaplain.