The Russian Orthodox Church is the dominant religious denomination in Russia. For generations, it was the country's official religions, and Russian people were automatically considered to be Orthodox, no matter what their personal beliefs. During the Soviet era, the government did much to weaken the church, including killing tens of thousands of priests, monks, and nuns, and closing most churches. The much smaller church that survived was largely controlled by the state. Because of state-sanctions atheism during the Soviet era, only 15 to 20 percent of Russia's population today actively practices Orthodoxy, although a much greater number claim to be Russian Orthodox Christians.

Question

Study the excerpt above. Based on this information, why wasn't the Russian Orthodox church more prominent or powerful during the Soviet era?

Responses

Answer 1

The Russian Orthodox Church was not more prominent or powerful during the Soviet era due to several key factors:

1. State Control and Repression: The Soviet government actively sought to weaken the influence of the church by implementing policies that targeted religious institutions. This included the execution and persecution of tens of thousands of religious leaders, such as priests, monks, and nuns.

2. Church Closures: Many churches were closed or repurposed for secular uses, significantly diminishing the spaces available for worship and community gatherings. This reduced the church's visibility and influence in society.

3. Abolition of Religious Practices: The Soviet regime promoted state-sanctioned atheism, which discouraged religious practices and fostered a culture that emphasized secularism. This further alienated people from religious communities and practices.

4. Government Control of Remaining Churches: The small number of churches that did manage to survive were often tightly controlled by the state, limiting their ability to operate independently or to mobilize their congregants effectively.

5. Cultural Shift: The promotion of an atheistic ideology often led to a generational shift in attitudes towards religion, where many individuals identified as culturally Orthodox but did not actively practice the faith.

As a result of these factors, the Russian Orthodox Church was unable to maintain its prominence and power during the Soviet era, leading to a significant decline in active participation in religious practices among the population.