What features characterize the spiritual life of modern Russia. Trends and perspectives of religious development

In order to identify the features of the spiritual life of modern Russia, first we need to determine what exactly is meant by this concept. The specificity of time dictates its own conditions for understanding the environment, and the law, as is known, "that the shaft". So you can reduce the spiritual life to a formal set of indicators of the development of cultural life - theaters, museums, libraries, books. Or it is possible, having left from statistics of consumption by a society of cultural products, to estimate its industrial potential. You can take care of monitoring the worldview of people's minds or bring a summary of religious development.

All these things (and not only these) constitute the totality of the spiritual life of the state, on the basis of which spiritual values are formed and developed . It can not be organically excluded from it, for example, hazing in the army or television propaganda. It is not easy to analyze the trends in the spiritual life of modern Russia in their totality. However, we will try to do this.

What features characterize the spiritual life of modern Russia

In order not to spray, the next part of the article is devoted to the tuning fork of the spiritual life of the nation - religion. Namely, the analysis of spiritual life in its religious refraction. Of course, such a review can not be exhaustive even within the chosen aspect. Religion is a complex thing, and its influence is ambiguous. The isolation of any regularities and the search for a common denominator of processes is always just a simplification of the real state of things. Religion in practice is closely connected with politics, with the economy, with many other factors of social life. And besides, every rule in the world of ideas always has at least one exception. So below are the most common and not always controversial thoughts and characteristics.

The centuries-old traditions of Orthodoxy and modern Russia

What features characterize the spiritual life of modern Russia? Firstly, this is, of course, the increased role of the ROC MP, which in 25 years has passed from a tolerant survival to a semi-state organization that claims to be a spiritual clasp of the nation and an ideological platform for the coming Russian world. The rise of the role of Orthodoxy was marked by an increase in the clericalization of secular institutions - educational, medical, forensic and other. The actual tandem of the ruling party with the leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate mobilized church forces in the sphere of social service and ensured its presence in virtually all key socio-cultural positions. As a reaction, a series of waves of frustration and a departure from Orthodoxy for the youth and intelligentsia took place in the country. The growing criticism of the ROC's hierarchy, characteristic of recent years, gives grounds to define this time as the beginning of the process of slow decay of the significance of Orthodoxy in the life of society. The Patriarchy has experienced a period of prosperity, and in the future it is expected to decline in the indicators of the dynamics of development. As a consequence, many people who previously found in Orthodoxy the basis for spiritual orientation are experiencing a process of rethinking spiritual values. And this gives reason to predict the formation in the next two or three decades of a new, unique environment, which will fill the spiritual life of Russia.

Spiritual values and Buddhist influence on them in Russia

As for other traditional religions of Russia - Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, their role, with the exception of Judaism, is somewhat similar to the ROC and, in fact, reflects it in the politics of the regions of its traditional confession. However, one can not do without one "but" regarding Buddhism. His role in the spiritual life of the country is filled with the process of religious expansion of the East. Along with other teachings, as will be discussed below, the Buddhist trend from abroad formed in the Russian society a large stratum of sympathizing citizens. The growing number of practicing religious communities, visits by overseas teachers, popularization of Buddhist literature increased the influence of Buddhist spirituality on the population of Russia outside the traditionally Buddhist regions.

The Islamic world and Russian spirituality

As for Islam, the promotion of Muslim spirituality often took an aggressive form of propaganda and forcing. On the one hand, this led to the Islamization of part of the population and the increase in the spiritual influence of Muslim traditions. On the other hand, reaction to Islamic expansion gave rise to a wide resistance movement in society, which is characterized by a decrease in the level of tolerance and tolerance, the growth of nationalistic sentiments and the principled politicization of spiritual institutions.

Elements of non-traditional spirituality in Russia in the 21st century

The spiritual life of modern Russia is inconceivable without the traditional for our days exotics, represented mainly by the derivatives of oriental culture and mentality. Russia is experiencing if not flourishing, then, at least, a significant increase in dharmic values among Russian citizens. What features characterize the spiritual life of modern Russia from this side? First, apart from Buddhism, which was mentioned above, various Vedic communities - yogic, ayurvedic, meditative, etc., significantly increased their weight. Such centers became an integral part of the spiritual life of Russia. In addition to traditional, the development received a lot of eclectic groups, representatives of the NewAge currents and organizations of occult orientation. Encouraging a significant part of the population of the country's eastern type of spirituality, all these organizations significantly influenced the development of the spiritual life of the population as a whole.

Separately, it should be said about the reconstruction of the Slavic pagan tradition. Its adepts managed to significantly popularize their teachings, which is reflected in the seriousness of academic research, the prevalence of converts and sympathizers (even among the Orthodox clergy), the growing cult construction, etc. It must be noted that for the last 10-15 years, neo-pagan Slavic organizations came out for The line of marginal organizations and now have a significant weight in the spiritual life of the country.

Conclusion

So, answering the question, what features characterize the spiritual life of modern Russia, it is necessary first of all to note the diminishing role of Orthodoxy in the real life of people. The Institute of the Russian Orthodox Church is still a powerful ideological and political resource, but it has less and less relations to the formation of the spiritual image of citizens.

The role of the Eastern and pagan institutions is also growing in the formation of a healthy spiritual image of the modern Russian citizen. Principles of nonviolence, developed mental and physical culture, adherence to the ideas of peace, attention to environmental issues make these organizations promising and potentially significant in the spiritual progress of Russia. With some amendments, one can even predict an increase in the future of neo-paganism of the national-Russian exodus, as one of the main spiritual driving forces of the country.

In general, the spiritual life of modern Russia increasingly focuses on the import of spiritual values, which gives sharpness to some conflict of Western and Eastern values, the place of clash which today is Russia.