Typical Russian Urban Family Views on Religion

Although the term cult sometimes carries negative religious connotations, our present use of cult refers to mainstream religious practice within a cultural unit. The terminology is often linked “to a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding population considers to be outside the mainstream” (see Wikipedia on "Cult"). However, there are also a varied religious practices that can fall under that same category. Both religious structures and the communication within those structures make up the definition of cult in this sense. In Russia, anything outside the spectrum of the official Russian Orthodox Church was considered a "sect" or a "cult," so I wanted to find out more about how Andre, Olga and Daria thought through these issues (see previous posts to get up to date about this interaction in our home).

Religious Structure

Andre said he considered himself to be a staunch Russian Orthodox. Olga said she was Orthodox but was more open to other religions. Daria had no thoughts on the issue, but Andre wanted her to show her adherence to the faith. When I asked Andre about Moscow's religious structures, he said the biggest religious system in Russia is Russian Orthodoxy, but Islam is growing very rapidly. In Moscow now, Muslims make up about 25% of the population, according to some statistical studies (which are often unbalanced because they don't take into consideration the masses of unregistered illegal residents of Moscow). Even though Russian Orthodoxy is a predominant religious system, many people are Orthodox in name only. Many of them are not practicing Orthodox. Some of them only go to a temple on a holiday.

Andre helped me understand that the Russian Orthodox Church is led by a Holy Synod with the patriarch as a permanent member located in Moscow. This head of the church is the equivalent to a Roman Pope, but of course Eastern Orthodoxy does not accept the Pope’s papal authority. This patriarch infallibly leads the church as an apostolic leader, but his authority is one of leadership and not necessarily revelation. All revelation to the church is validated by councils and accepted by 135 million adherents. Large cities have other authority figures as well, like metropolitan archbishops. Smaller cities also have bishops who render rulings on local matters. The churches are governed by priests. Andre was quick to point out that the Great Schism between the Catholics and Orthodox might have been a thousand years ago, but Russians have long memories.  

Russian Orthodoxy’s primary document is the Bible, with Old and New Testaments and the Apocrypha. Having equal authority with the Bible are the writings of the church fathers. In regard to its dogma, Russian Orthodoxy uses liturgy, icons, and candles even in homes as well as temples. Olga said that there was a special place for the monastic order in the Russian Orthodox Church, as they helped to build the beautiful cathedrals in the forests and glens throughout old Russia. These traditions, as they are called, make up the generally accepted dogma of the church. Accordingly, they are as infallible as the Bible itself.

Russians are religiously paradoxical. It is interesting to note that most Russians might accept that Jesus is God’s Son, but at the same time they may doubt the existence of God. According to Andre, about half of the population is atheist and accept a scientific explanation for man’s origin, while the other half hold to a creation story. Religion, for Olga, is a way to help children live better; salvation is a secondary question. There is a deep spirituality throughout Russia and a wide acceptance of evil spirits at work.

Women especially are open to this strong adherence to both religious dogma and strong male leadership in the church. The Orthodox Church draws upon this to dominate the active role over women who must in turn accept a supportive role. Although the Orthodox Church does not allow women leadership in the church, it does offer its blessing to women leaders in the secular society. When asked about the potential of having a woman serve in an elected leadership position, Andre was favorable, but Olga was against it.

Russian Orthodoxy plays a huge role in society both socially and politically. It is a blended relationship between state and church whereby government functions are blessed by the church and church functions are governed by the state. As such, many do not see the difference between the two.

Religious Communication

The year 2008 was named the "year of the family" in Russia. As such, the Orthodox Church placed a big emphasis on family health last year. Priests offer family advice. Churches offer books and other resources to help families grow together. Public radio and television announcements by the church also encourage family togetherness and fight abortion.

The role of the individual is downplayed in the religious structure, perhaps because the church is reflective of the society. In the East, corporate decision outweighs any individual desire. Individualism is lost in the masses. Accordingly, the church sees itself as a corporate gathering of true church worshippers, both past and present.

Russian Orthodoxy can be accused of syncretism at some points. When Prince Vladimir made Russian Orthodoxy the country’s only accepted religion in AD 988, he made a blanket imposition of Christian beliefs upon a pagan people group. Accordingly, some Russian priests and bishops allowed for some concessions in relation to old superstitious and even barbaric beliefs. These became mixed with Christian elements to form what is Russian Orthodoxy in praxis, although at its deepest roots Orthodoxy claims to be pure religion passed down from the early church.

For both Andre and Olga, religion is a deeply personal thing and at the same time a deeply corporate expression of nationalism. This dichotomous mental model was even more firm in the way that Andre described creeds and beliefs (I'll post more on that later).