Religion under Stalin Flashcards
What was Stalin’s policy towards religion?
Stalin’s government was officially atheist and viewed religion as a threat to the authority of the state
The government sought to eliminate religion and replace it with a new Soviet ideology that emphasised scientific materialism and loyalty to the Communist Party
Why did Stalin view religion as a threat to the state?
Stalin believed that religion was a superstition that hindered scientific progress and undermined the authority of the state
He also saw religion as a tool that could be used by his political enemies to challenge his rule and mobilise opposition
What were some Stalinist policies towards Islam?
In the Central Asian Republics (where Islam was the dominant religion) the NKVD attacked local imams and intellectuals
The NKVD attacked groups that had been set up to defend Islam in the 1920s from Soviet attacks. This included attacking Jadids and Sufi groups who were dedicated to saving Islam
During the Second World War, who did Stalin make a pragmatic alliance with?
The Church
What was one of Stalin’s strategies for winning the war?
One of his strategies was to appeal to the patriotism of the Russian people to boost morale and inspire them to fight
This appeal to patriotism was combined with a new understanding between government and the Church
Stalin reached out to the Church during the war for a number of reasons - what were these?
The Russian Orthodox Church was linked to Russian national identity. Therefore as patriotism re-awoke, it was natural for Russians to look to the Church
The war was a time of continual crisis when all families faced losing loved ones. The Church provided comfort for bereaved families
Soldiers also found comfort in the thought that God would welcome them into heaven. When facing death in a battle, one soldier commented that there was more comfort and inspiration in a few of Jesus’ words than there was in the entire works of Marx and Lenin
Who did Stalin reach an understanding with early in the war?
Metropolitan Sergey
Who was Metropolitan Sergey?
Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens for the Russian Orthodox Church. He was also the de facto head of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1925–1943
What did Metropolitan Sergey do?
He urged Christians to fight for the motherland, proclaiming Stalin “God’s chosen leader”
What did the government do in return to the support provided by Metropolitan Sergey (as per the quid pro quo agreement)?
The government changed its policy towards the Church
How did the government change its policy towards the Church?
From the outset of the war, anti-religious propaganda ceased. Communist publications, such as Bezbozhnik (The Godless), were officially closed
Stalin granted Metropolitan Sergey an official residence in Moscow
Stalin promised to end censorship of religious magazines following the war
Stalin promised that Churches that has been closed during the war by the government would re-open
How many Churches re-opened during the final year of the war?
414
What did the easing of restrictions on the Church lead to?
It led to growth:
The Orthodox Church grew and the priesthood expanded from 9254 in 1946 to 11,827 in 1948
What did a Baptist pastor in Leningrad state about Stalin in relation to God?
“Stalin—we respect him, because he was put in place by the Lord God”
