Religious Freedoms

Question 1

Alexander II [1855-81]

Religious Freedom

Answer 1

• tsars encouraged other religious groups to convert to Orthodox except Muslims as they were vastly different to the other variations of Christianity that these are usually convert to orthodoxy and due to this difference they did not attempt to russify them

• the Orthodox churches spread support of tsardom and it’s authority was based upon it
– as well as in forcing the idea of its rules upon the uneducated peasant majority
Increasing social control over them

To do this the Tsar blackmailed the clergy into doing it
as they paid for all of the clergy’s things
and encourage people to go to the services
so it was deemed that the Tsar was God’s messenger/ representative so the people had to do whatever he said and follow his rules

the peasants even called the Tsar their “little father”

Question 2

Alexander III [1881-93]

Religious Freedom

Answer 2

In 1883 the Old Believers of the traditional Orthodox church were allowed to pray but were unable to do this in any public space and had to do it in private

Question 3

Nicholas II [1893-1917]

Religious Freedom

Answer 3

In 1905 the Orthodox can convert into other christianities but this was short lived

and in 1910 there was an increase of restrictions especially on baptists

Throughout the period of the tsars it was illegal to convert from orthodoxy but it was very legal and encouraged to convert to it

so in 1905 that bit of legislation was short-lived has it decreased the tsar’s power and authority as it was not reinforced by the other churches

Nicholas II broke the tradition of not trying to russify Muslims by imposing conscription in 1916 during the holy month of Ramadan which pissed everyone off and started the conscription revolt

Question 4

Prov Gov [Feb-Oct 1917]

Religious Freedom

Answer 4

There was complete religious freedom

Question 5

Lenin [1917-24]

Religious Freedom

Answer 5

In 1917 the church was left to its own devices but attempted to bring back patriarchy

so Lenin separates the church from the state and also schools

during the civil war the churches were stripped of any property

Likely to give to peasants and also to fund the war for the red army

Lenin appoints a church spokesperson for the party

Question 6

Stalin [1929-53]

Religious Freedom

Answer 6

During the Second World War minority religions were targeted and accused of collaborating with the enemy

Stalin closed church schools as they were only 16 in 1938 but in 1930 there were 224 which meant that he decreased them by over 70%

Throughout the period the communists believe the religion keeps people in place and it was often described as “the opium of the people”

Question 7

Khrushchev [1953-64]

Religious Freedom

Answer 7

K opposed religion as he thought it was a waste of the time

and it needed to be removed

as well as removing religious Prejudice to speed up communism

K also removed priests

In 1958 he Bans religious practices outside of official places

At the 22nd Party Conference in 1961 he introduced the moral code which was a Bible substitute

He also claimed that Russia did not have a anti-semitism problem and he also claimed himself that he was not anti-semitist

He also carefully suggested that he was anti-islam rather than anti-semitist when he supports Arabs

He also suggests the Jewish were unable to do collective efforts and be disciplined (communism)

It was also said that he was suspicious of Jewish loyalty to the USSR

When denouncing stalinism he does not denounce his anti-semitis policies