Types of reaction of Orthodox Christians and adherents of Christian sects to the antireligious activities of Soviet atheists in the 1920–1930

Annotation

This article systematizes and classifies for the first time the reactions of Orthodox Christians and adherents of Christian sects to the anti-religious activities of Soviet atheists in the 1920s and 1930s. The relevance of this study lies in the fact that, in the current context of the growing role of religious factors in the modern world, research on the reactions of followers of a particular religion to dramatic changes in socio-political conditions, which, in turn, directly impact the possibility and comfort of openly practicing religious beliefs and observing established religious rituals, is becoming increasingly important. A study of archival materials, published sources, and scholarly literature revealed that the reactions of Orthodox Christians and adherents of Christian sects to the anti-religious activities of Soviet atheists took a variety of forms, ranging from a hidden reaction caused by discontent among believers to mass local protests sparked by some resonant event in the anti-religious life of a particular administrative-territorial unit. The anti-religious policies pursued in the USSR were the cause of many family conflicts and the rise of anti-Semitic and anti-Soviet sentiments among the Orthodox community. Overall, the reactions of Orthodox Christians and adherents of Christian sects to the anti-religious activities of Soviet atheists in the 1920s and 1930s can be divided into active and passive.

Keywords

• anti-religious activity
• anti-religious propaganda
• anti-Semitism
• anti-Sovietism
• communism
• counteraction to atheists
• Soviet power
• USSR
• NKVD
• OGPU
• ODGB
• Union of Militant Atheists
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References

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