Posted on 11/22/2002 10:19:31 AM PST by Destro
Schools dust off religious studies
November 20 2002
Russia is to introduce Orthodox religious education in schools for the first time since the Tsars.
Under a controversial proposal by the Education Ministry, head teachers will be able to schedule courses in a subject called Orthodox Culture.
The Education Minister, Vladimir Filippov, has proposed the course, which will not be compulsory. Opponents of the plan say the multi-ethnic nature of Russia, home to many Muslims, Jews and Buddhists, makes it unsuitable.
In the time of the Tsars children studied divine law, a course offering Orthodox religious and moral guidance. After the revolution in 1917, religious studies were replaced by courses in Marxism and Leninism. History, geography and other subjects were tailored to suit the ideological requirements of the Communist leaders.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 education has remained secular, but in recent years the resurgent Orthodox Church has called for the inclusion of religious studies.
The timetable for introducing the new course is unclear, but officials say a 30-page document issued by the Education Ministry sets out the subject matter to be included. Topics will include the traditions of Orthodoxy, asceticism, the liturgy and the Bible, as well as religious art and literature.
The Orthodox Church says teaching religion will help counter alcoholism, AIDS, crime and drug addiction.
The Telegraph, London
I was born into the Orthodox Christian faith and admire and respect those Protestant denominations which minister to the unchurched and die martyrs' deaths all over the world. I would hope that the curriculum could be more inclusive and call itself Christian rather than Orthodox.
But I had never thought that Religious Freedom encompassed the right to do evil. Even if those doing it perversely think "good" might come of it.
But the Protestantism is a subset of Orthodox (or Roman Catholic) beliefs. If you reduce the curriculum to what is common you will get Protestant curriculum.
History of Russia is uncomprehensible without some knowledge of Orthodoxy same way as history of United Stated is uncomprehensible without some knowledge of Protestantism.
Much better solution is the one used in Polish public schools - non-Catholic minorities like Protestants get the instruction according to their own unadulterated uncompromised curriculum conducted by Protestant ministers or instructors. Orthodox students get Orthodox classes designed by Orthodox clergy and atheists get classes in ethics/philosophy.
Who says? By the time Protestantism appeared, I am not sure that either the Western or Eastern forms of Christianity were what the apostles had envisioned. Of course, magnificent and crucially important deeds had been acomplished by both (defeat of the Mohamedans) but especially in the west, the Roman version of Christianity had become more humanistic than spiritual. (The Eastern form survived barely and cruelly with no help from its spiritual "brothers" in the west after the fall of Byzantium)
If you reduce the curriculum to what is common you will get Protestant curriculum.
Not sure of your meaning - the fundamentals are common to all forms of Christianity no? Except maybe for some denominations calling themselves Christian but are neither Christian nor Godly.
History of Russia is uncomprehensible without some knowledge of Orthodoxy same way as history of United Stated is uncomprehensible without some knowledge of Protestantism.
I absolutely agree. So when the Russians are teaching history, the role of Orthodoxy should be included in the development of Russia, just as it should be in this country but is not!
No really. For example Catholics and Orthodox believe in the reality of sacraments, Apostolic Succession (unbroken continuity of ordination from the time of Apostles and related continuity of visible Church), communion of saints and prayerful relationship with them. Those are the fundamentals which cannot be given up without betraying the Christian Faith.
If you look what is common with Protestants you will find the doctrine that Jesus is the Saviour, and that God is Holy Trinity and that the Bible is inspired Word of God. But this limited set of beliefs is exactly what Protestantism is about. To be Catholic or Orthodox you must believe in more.
Agreeing to the "common" set would mean Protestantisation. Using another example, to "agree" to the "common" set of beliefs with Jews and Muslims would mean to agree that God is One and censoring out that God is also Holy Trinity and that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of all. This peeling of religious onion ends only when everything is peeled off and you are left with nothing.
Your very first post on this thread was insulting to all Christians not only Russian Orthodox.
You have out and out said you don't consider Russian Orthodox Christian.
I would have to say that shows your lack of Christian fellowship and knowledge.
I shall pray for you.
Yes you have dear...
Christianity is blossoming in Russia, but in spite of the Russian Orthodox Church, not because of it.
And if you think you can be a "Cultural Orthodox" and not be "living" the gospel, you are misinformed.
This is not even funny: what explains, then, the rampant, wild, centuries-old alcoholism before 1917? These people make it look as if all the evils came from communists. Patently false.
What you suggest has been done in this country for centuries, and students of all faiths had no problem learning these notions. This is because it was done in a history class when history was properly taught.
I see risks and no need for making a class such as the one mentioned. What we need is to return to proper education, especially history. NO Jew, Hindu, or Muslim would object to learning how a Christian movement and various philosophical teaching came together in the formation of this great nation --- if it is a part of a history course.
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