Religion under Chernenko Flashcards
What was chernenko’s policy towards religion?
Chernenko’s policy towards religion was similar to that of his predecessors
He maintained the official atheistic stance of the Soviet Union and religious organizations continued to be subject to strict controls and regulations
Was there evidence of increased religious persecution under Chernenko?
Yes, there were reports of increased religious persecution under Chernenko
For example, in 1985, the Russian Orthodox Church accused the government of conducting a campaign of harassment against the Church, including the removal of icons and crosses from churches and the confiscation of Church property
Did Chernenko allow greater access to religious literature?
No, there were no significant changes in policy regarding the distribution of religious literature under Chernenko
Were there more relaxed restrictions on religious practices under Chernenko?
No, there were no significant changes in policy regarding religious practices under Chernenko
Religious organizations continued to face strict controls and regulations
Did Chernenko engage with religious leaders?
There is little evidence to suggest that Chernenko engaged with religious leaders during his brief tenure as General Secretary
What was the overall attitude of the Soviet government towards religion under Chernenko?
The Soviet government continued to view religion as a threat to the state and maintained strict controls over religious organizations and practices
Conclusion
Successive Communist governments attempted to neutralise religion. In some cases this meant direct attacks on religious leaders; in others it meant working with religious groups and leaders to ensure support for the regime. Notably, while the regime could close churches and convert mosques into storage depots, they could not kill the faith of Soviet citizens who looked beyond politics for life’s ultimate meaning
