Teaching ABC of Orthodox Christian Culture at Russian Secular School: A Social and Legal Analysis

Abstract

Many parts of Russia have adopted local bylaws to introduce a new teaching discipline-"ABC of Orthodox Christian culture". The author analyzes clauses of the Russian Constitution and legal acts that precisely determine the limits of regional administrative competences, and confirm freedom of conscience and religion to offer a detailed and substantiated proof of the constitutional and legal non-compliance of those bylaws. Meanwhile, overzealous religionists and their supporters in secular ruling bodies are implementing their ideas more and more aggressively, which cannot but worry believers of other religions and Christian denominations, human rights activists, atheists and people who cannot put up with Orthodox Christian culture taught in an utterly uncultured manner.