Religion Flashcards
(30 cards)
What did Karl Marx mean when he called religion “the opium of the masses”?
Marx believed religion was used to pacify the working class, offering comfort from suffering without addressing its real, material causes.
It distracted people from the need for social and economic change.
Why were Communists generally opposed to religion?
Religion promoted obedience and acceptance of suffering, which contradicted revolutionary ideals.
It was seen as a tool of the ruling class to control the masses.
Religious institutions had strong influence that could challenge Communist authority.
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What role did the Russian Orthodox Church play under Tsarist rule?
It was closely tied to the Tsar and upheld the autocracy.
It supported the divine right of the Tsar and discouraged resistance.
It was wealthy, with many priests enjoying luxury while most Russians lived in poverty.
Why did the Bolsheviks view religion as a threat?
Religion undermined the atheistic and materialist basis of Marxism.
It encouraged loyalty to institutions outside the Communist Party.
Lenin feared that religious leaders could mobilize people against the regime.
What was Lenin’s personal attitude toward religion and priests?
Lenin had a deep hatred for priests, seeing them as reactionary figures.
He believed they were enemies of progress and socialism.
He saw them as allies of the Tsarist regime and capitalist values.
What was the 1918 decree on freedom of conscience
Officially separated the Church from the state.
Removed the Orthodox Church’s official status and influence.
Confiscated Church land and property without compensation.
What happened to church buildings after 1918?
- Many churches were destroyed or closed down.
- Some were converted into secular spaces like warehouses, clubs, or museums.
- This was part of the wider campaign to reduce religious influence.
What happened to the head of the Orthodox Church in 1918?
- Patriarch Tikhon was placed under house arrest by the Bolsheviks.
- His confinement symbolized the state’s desire to suppress religious leadership.
How were priests treated during the Russian Civil War?
- Denied the right to vote and excluded from rationing systems.
- Targeted in the Red Terror, a campaign of repression and violence.
- Viewed as class enemies and enemies of the revolution.
How many clergy were killed by 1923?
At least 28 bishops and over 1,000 priests were executed or killed during this period.
What cultural changes were made to religious practices like baptism?
- Traditional baptisms were replaced with “Octoberings”, named after the October Revolution.
- Children were given revolutionary names, symbolizing the new Soviet identity.
How did Stalin’s policies toward religion compare to Lenin’s?
- Stalin intensified repression during collectivization and the Great Purge.
- Many churches were closed; clergy labeled as “kulaks” or counter-revolutionaries.
- Mass arrests and executions of religious leaders continued.
What was the impact of the Great Purge on the Orthodox Church?
- By 1939, only 12 out of 163 Orthodox bishops were still free.
- The Church’s hierarchy was effectively dismantled.
What caused Stalin to change religious policy in 1941?
- The German invasion (Operation Barbarossa) during WWII.
- The need to boost national unity and morale led to a temporary alliance with the Church.
What happened to the Church during WWII?
- Churches reopened and services resumed.
- Seminaries were re-established to train new clergy.
- The Church supported the war effort and was used to promote patriotism.
What was Khrushchev’s view on religion?
- He was aggressively anti-religious, seeing it as incompatible with communism.
- Launched a renewed campaign to suppress religion, especially from 1958 to 1964.
What did Khrushchev’s anti-religious campaign involve?
- Closure of thousands of churches.
- Suppression of religious education and rituals.
- Religious leaders harassed, monitored, and restricted by the KGB.
What changes were made to the role of priests under Khrushchev?
- Priests were allowed to provide only spiritual advice.
- They were barred from any social or political involvement.
How many churches were closed under Khrushchev’s campaign?
- Around 10,000 churches were shut down in just four years.
How were clergy treated under Khrushchev?
- Monitored and harassed by the secret police.
- Many were arrested or intimidated into silence.
How did Brezhnev’s religious policy differ from Khrushchev’s?
- Brezhnev reduced active persecution of the Church.
- Allowed religious activity under strict government control.
Why did Brezhnev ease religious repression?
- Concerned about negative reactions from the West.
- Wanted to improve Soviet foreign relations and image abroad.
What roles were churches allowed under Brezhnev?
- Conducted formal religious services only.
- Could assist with social services, like helping the poor.
- Required to publicly support Soviet policies.
What was the Christian Committee for the Defense of Believers’ Rights (1976)?
- Formed by Orthodox priests to document religious persecution.
- Aimed to raise awareness of human rights abuses in the USSR.
