Religious Freedom in Russia Today

Ecumenical Review, The, Oct, 1998 by Vladimir Feodorov

   Whatever may be the transition from the cruel and killing despotism of the
   Soviet authorities to freer and more vivifying forms -- whether the
   exclusive preponderance of their rule gradually loosens, with new forces
   gradually being invited to participate in ruling, or whether their fall is
   sudden -- the Russian people will not leave their sickbed unless religious
   and national resources awaken them. No political party can save Russia;
   only the spirit of the people awakening to the light of all things
   everlasting and holy will make it rise.(12)

Proselytism

In the 19th century, the term "proselytism" was normally used in Russia for efforts by sectarians or believers from non-Orthodox confessions to acquaint Orthodox people with their faith and convert them to it.

In recent decades it has become common in ecumenical meetings such as those of the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches, as well as in bilateral Orthodox-Roman Catholic dialogues, to condemn proselytism. Restraints on proselytism range from state legislation to tradition to tact on the part of those proclaiming their message or resentment on the part of those to whom it is addressed. Nevertheless, it is strictly speaking impossible to prevent individual conversions from one Christian confession to another. Canonical provisions to that effect by the church or legislative provisions to that effect by the state -- such as existed in Russia before 1905 -- are both unjust and ineffective.

The foundations of a bilateral recognition that proselytism is unacceptable are mutual respect on the part of the churches or religious communities in dialogue and the acknowledgment by each side that the other may possess elements of the truth. Conversely, a denial that another community possesses any of the truth would liberate a missionary (and nowadays many "ordinary believers" feel at least some compulsion to be "missionaries") to such converts among members of other Christian confessions and religions.

The most zealous proselytizers in Russia today are certain Baptist communities, Korean Presbyterians and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Characteristically, the tendencies to proselytism and ecumenism are negatively correlated. The more open and oriented to dialogue a situation, the greater the chances of overcoming proselytism. While it is the Orthodox Church which voices the greatest concern about proselytism in Russia, there are some Orthodox who equate mission with proselytism. Typical of this is a recent article "In Praise of Proselytism" in the newspaper Radonezh which, though founded with a patriarchal blessing, is not an official mouthpiece of the Church and has been increasingly coloured by fundamentalist attitudes. The author calls for active missionary work: "One cannot but wonder why the Roman Church is being accused of proselytizing among Orthodox believers ... One should not blame Catholics who think they are the true Christians for behaving in accordance with their beliefs." The author then goes on to insist on the right of the Orthodox to proselytize among other confessions, even to the point of establishing a "Roman Orthodox Church".