Irreligion in Russia

Religion in Russia as of 2012 (Sreda Arena Atlas)[1][2]
Russian Orthodoxy
 
 51%
Unaffiliated Christians
 
 4.1%
Other Christians and other religions
 
 1.7%
Other Orthodox
 
 1.5%
Islam
 
 12.5%
Rodnovery, Tengrism and other native faiths
 
 1.2%
Tibetan Buddhism
 
 0.5%
Spiritual but not religious
 
 15%
Atheism
 
 7%
Undetermined/undecided
 
 5.5%

Irreligion was the official state policy during the Soviet Union and was rigorously enforced.[3] This led to the persecution of Christians in the country.[4] Since the collapse of Communism, Russia has seen an upsurge of religion.[5] Adding together those who are undecided, those who are spiritual but not religious, and those who are atheistic, as of a 2012 survey, 27.5% of Russians claim no particular religious affiliation.

Many Russian secularists feel that the new religious establishments are now abusing the system for their own advantage despite the separation of church and state in the Russian Constitution.[6][7][8]

  1. ^ "Arena: Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia". Sreda, 2012.
  2. ^ 2012 Arena Atlas Religion Maps. "Ogonek", № 34 (5243), 27/08/2012. Retrieved 21/04/2017. Archived.
  3. ^ "Russians Return to Religion, But Not to Church". Pew. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  4. ^ "Atheism: From Russia, Without Love". Time. 1964-03-13. Archived from the original on December 14, 2011. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
  5. ^ Steinfels, Peter (1993-12-10). "Atheism Is Said to Fade in Russia". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
  6. ^ "Russia's Atheists Organize to Protect and Promote Secularism". Georgia Daily. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
  7. ^ "In Putin's Russia, little separation between church and state". Washington Times. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  8. ^ "Russian church leader rejects criticism over state ties". Reuters. 2012-08-16. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved 2012-12-12.