Sitnikov Alexei

ORTHODOXY INFLUENCE ON RUSSIAN CITIZENS’ SOCIAL ACTIVITY AND POLITICAL VALUES

The article contains the results of the study addressing the level of the correlation between the Orthodox Church membership and Russian citizens` social activity and political preferences. Using the analysis of the data of the poll conducted in January-March 2006 at some Moscow secular and religious educational establishments the author shows that Orthodox religiosity as such does not influence believers` political orientation and social activity. In his opinion the influence is exerted by a certain subculture conditioned more by special ideological segments and traditions around the church than the religious dogma.

DOI: 10.30570/2078-5089-2007-46-3-93-99

Religious Factor of the Modernization of the Russian Society: on the Problem Definition

According to the author in Western science the role of Christianity in the development of European democratic institutions was thoroughly studied. While in Russia understanding of the role and place of the religious factor in transformational processes has only begun. The author poses such questions as “What are relationships between the Orthodoxy and Democracy?” “Does Russian Orthodox Church accept liberal democratic values emerged within Western European civilization?” A. Sitnikov reviews the traditions of the national political culture, the role of the Orthodoxy in the legitimization of power in the historical retrospective. It is stated in the article that the modernization of the Russian society took place without any influence of the religious factor and in many ways against it.

DOI: 10.30570/2078-5089-2006-40-1-131-148

Pages: 131-148

Orthodoxy and democracy. On the impact of religion on Russia’s political perceptions and political culture

The author believes that the main problem in building a democratic society does not consist in proclaiming certain principles or norms. Rather these principles and norms need to be accepted by the society and “work” in its real life. The democracy in the West has long ago been integrated into the history, and traditions and customs of each people co-exist in some indissoluble unity. A.Sitnikov puts forward a thesis that in Russia too moral principles of Christianity could contribute to the creation of spiritual prerequisites for democracy, civil society and legal culture. The article provides proves of that most orthodox believers are oriented on a democratic state system.

DOI: 10.30570/2078-5089-2004-35-4-77-95

Pages: 77-95