History/2. The general history
Senior lecturer Artemova S.F.
doctor of historical sciences Koroljev À.À.
Penza
State University of Architecture and Construction, Russia
BELIEVERS-MOSLEMS
AND THE POWER IN MODERN RUSSIA
Process of refusal
of a socialist ideologizing went to the USSR very roughly, the Soviet
management didn't have an accurate program and in general understanding of
democratization of the country. So, at XXVII congress of the CPSU new edition
of the program of Communist party in which necessity and the importance of
distribution of scientifically-materialistic outlook, overcoming of religious
prejudices was underlined has been accepted. According to the CPSU charter,
each communist should struggle resolutely with religious prejudices as with
alien to a socialist way of life. Without being limited to appeals of the
general character, the authorities showed the vigorous activity and concerning
each faith in territory of the USSR, including Islam. At sessions of Secretary
and the Political bureau of the Central Committee of the CPSU (1986). The
question «About strengthening of struggle against Islam influence» was
considered, the religious situation in Checheno-Ingushetiya, Uzbekistan was
discussed. In 1988 of the Central Committee of party has charged corresponding
party and to state structures to prepare «the Long-term program of
scientifically-atheistic education of the population of the USSR».
Change of social
and economic conditions in the country reduction in conformity and legislative
base have demanded. Since 1990 religious associations of the Russian Federation
have received the status of the legal person that has allowed Russian to Muslim
community to begin process of integration into a legal field of Russia. From
now on in the Russian Federation were a number of statutory acts in the spirit
of tolerance and the toleration, the religious organizations regulating, to
some extent, activity (the Law of the USSR «About a freedom of worship and the
religious organizations» from October, 1st, 1990 is accepted; the Law of RSFSR
«About freedom of religions» etc.).
In the Constitution
of the Russian Federation 1993 to any citizen the right to a freedom of worship
and a freedom of worship for the first time was guaranteed, the right to practice
religion or not to profess any, freely to choose, have and extend religious
beliefs and to operate according to them (item 28). The constitution proclaimed
the Russian Federation the secular state. The given positions have been
developed then in the Law of the Russian Federation «About a freedom of worship
and about religious associations» from September, 26th, 1997 Feature of this
regulatory legal act is that representatives of religious faiths of Russia took
part in its working out at all stages actually. In the preface to the Law it is
underlined that Islam, as well as the Buddhism and a Judaism, acts as a
compound integral part of a historical heritage of the people of Russia. The law has fixed the formulation «traditional
religions» which number includes Islam.
Since 1990th
practice of the conclusion of the contractual form of regulation of the
relations connected with activity of traditional faiths in Russia was widely
adopted. The state concludes the contract
or the cooperation agreement with religious association.
According to the
Russian independent institute of social and national problems, in 1990th in the
country strengthening of positions of religion was fixed. So, to believers
carried itself about 50% of all population of the country; religiousness «has
considerably looked younger» - about 60% of believers people from 22 till 50
years make. Moslems have made 19%, from them about 50% have secondary
education, 30% - higher education. In the early nineties about two thirds of
Tatars of Russia considered themselves more or less religious, and, more than
thirds of city Tatars have declared themselves believers and about third –
fluctuating between belief and unbelief, among peasants of the first there were
already 43,4%, and the second – 19,1%.
And still, such
increase of number of the people recognizing with believers, it is impossible
to regard as absolute increase in religiousness, as demonstration of cardinal
changes in outlook of modern Tatars. In a certain measure it is reaction to
change from the state ideology of the middle of 1980th when rigid ideological
control was replaced by orientation to democratic standards, including in
questions of religion. Other factor which has defined change of the relation to
religion in mass consciousness, feature of the transition period endured by the
Russian society was. As to "quality" of religious feeling the
majority of believing Moslems pray only sometimes, execute only some religious
practices and celebrate separate religious holidays. The religious outlook at a
part of believers is characterized in many respects by an illegibility,
uncertainty, absence of clear understanding. Obligatory ceremonies for the
Moslem – «five giants of the faith» – are carried out by rather insignificant
part. Islam has got household character. Frequently religious
self-identification is carried out not on an accessory to Islam, instead of as
a result of an accessory to certain culture, a national way of life: the Tatar
– means the Moslem.
Besides, a considerable part
of the Moslems who have grown in the conditions of domination of atheism, it is
simple not in a condition at once to the full to seize all obrjadovo-cult
system of Islam, much difficult enough manage to observe posts or to carry out
daily prayful rituals.
Nevertheless, in new political
conditions of the power of modern Russia can't ignore so serious force, as
Moslems. The management is compelled to search for new mechanisms and forms of
mutually advantageous state-Islamic relations.