Teaching Comparative

Politics and Religion

Here's a policy topic that invites comparative study: What is the role of religion in politics? What is the role of politics in reilgion?

The BBC article immediately below, brought this topic to my attention, but the Moscow Times article that follows provides more detail and a broader consideration of the role of Orthodox Christianity in Russian society and politics.

Religion enters Russian schools

"The Orthodox Christian religion is being made a compulsory school subject in four of Russia's regions.

"Pupils in the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga and Smolensk regions will be taught the basics of Orthodox Christianity.

"It will also be included as an optional subject in the school curriculum in 11 other regions across the country.

"Supporters say the move will help protect traditional spiritual values in Russia. Critics say it violates the constitution of the secular state.

"In the Soviet Union the teaching of religion was strictly outlawed in schools and elsewhere.

"Orthodox Christianity is Russia's main religion, but the country's Muslim community makes up more than 10% of the total population. There are 86 regions and republics in the Russian Federation...

"Russian Education Minister Andrei Fursenko also voiced support, saying 'schoolchildren must know the history of religion and religious culture'.

"He said it was a matter for the regions to decide..."


Schools Told to Give Orthodox Lessons

"Compulsory courses on Orthodox Christian culture will be part of the curriculum in public schools in several regions of the country this school year, which begins Friday.

"In response, the Council of Muftis of Russia announced it would push the government to expand instruction of Muslim culture beyond the Muslim republics in the North Caucasus to other regions with established Muslim communities, Interfax reported Wednesday.

"Initiatives to introduce obligatory courses on religious subjects into public schools run counter to the Education Ministry's position. The ministry contends that such courses should be offered as electives only.

"In addition, the Constitution mandates the separation of church and state.

"The introduction of courses in Orthodox culture are just one example of the growing influence of the church...

"Most Muslims in Russia are concerned about the Orthodox Church's expansion into public schools, said Geidar Jemal, the head of the Islamic Committee, a nongovernmental organization.

"'This educational initiative ... is obviously backed by forces that want to drive a wedge between Russians and newcomers,' Jemal said, adding that most regions now hosted refugees from conflict zones in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

"Neither of Russia's two chief rabbis have received complaints from Jews living in regions where the Orthodoxy classes have been introduced. But Berl Lazar and Adolf Shayevich said all world religions should be taught in a culturally varied state such as Russia."

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And this example of policy debates about the roles religion plays in the state, brings to mind the controversy about what the EU constitution should say about Christianity. That topic came up again this week when German Prime Minister Angela Merkel discussed it with the Pope at the Vatican.

Merkel backs more Christian EU constitution

"Europe's 'Christian values' should be enshrined in a new version of the EU constitution, the German chancellor declared yesterday after meeting the Pope.

"In remarks which will reopen the debate on religion in the EU, Angela Merkel threw her weight behind Pope Benedict's campaign to recognise Europe's Christian heritage. 'We spoke about freedom of religion,' she said after talks at the Pope's summer residence near Rome. 'We spoke about the role of Europe and I emphasised the need for a constitution and that it should refer to our Christian values.'..."

Some background to that recent coverage comes in this 2004 article from The Guardian (UK):

Christianity bedevils talks on EU treaty

"Tuesday May 25, 2004

"The controversial question of Christianity returned to the EU yesterday when seven states, led by Italy, urged the union to recognise a 'historical truth' and refer explicitly to the 'Christian roots of Europe' in its new constitution...

"The preamble of the current draft treaty, drawn up by the former French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's convention, refers only to the 'cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe'. Specifically mentioning Christianity or God was considered too controversial in the face of furious opposition from secular France and Protestant northerners such as Sweden and Denmark.

"Opponents argued that it would be wrong to exclude Muslims and Jews, and would therefore be better to avoid any religious reference.

"The European parliament even rejected a proposal from Christian Democrat MEPs to mention the continent's 'Judaeo-Christian roots'.

"But the largely Catholic states of Italy Poland, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have made clear they want more..."


And then there are these recent religious issues in other countries:

Mexico: The entry about clericalism and anti-clericalism here last Sunday

Nigeria: Restoring Faith in the Polio Vaccine

"Across northern Nigeria health workers say that villagers... are slowly accepting polio immunisation again but not before the virus crippled many hundreds of children..."

Iran: Iranians taste freedoms on own terms

"TEHRAN -- Emad Baghi is a human rights activist who spent three years in prison for his writings. Shadi Vatanparast is a promoter of underground Iranian rock bands who, in the semi-privacy of her office, throws off her government-mandated headscarf. And Fazel Mehbadi is a mullah who preaches a message that's dangerously dissident in the theocratic Islamic Republic of Iran: Religion should be separate from government.

"These Iranians, in large ways and small, want more democracy and pluralism in their country, and they have taken risks to change their society..."

China: China 'frees' underground bishop

"China has reportedly released a bishop jailed for more than 10 years for being a member of the underground Roman Catholic Church, loyal to the Vatican..."


China Warns Hong Kong Cardinal to Avoid Mixing Religion, Politics

"Chinese authorities warned Hong Kong's newly appointed Cardinal Joseph Zen that the frequent critic of Beijing's policies should avoid mixing religion and politics..."

UK: Blair shuns US religion politics

"Religion should not play the same role in British politics that it does in America, Tony Blair has said..."

Muslim Miss England attacks Blair

"The country's first Muslim Miss England has accused Prime Minister Tony Blair of fuelling hostility towards Islam in the wake of the London bombings.

"Hammasa Kohistani, 19, said government statements since last year's 7 July attacks had created a 'negative image' of Muslims..."

posted by Ken Wedding @ 9:28 AM