Peculiarities of Interaction of Orthodoxy and Secular Culture in Modern Conditions

1. Entity type Lemma
2. Original titleОсобенности взаимодействия православия и светской культуры в современных условиях
3. Language term Russian
4. lemma author Asliturk, Miriam
5. lemma category Concepts of knowledge and modes of reasoning > Materialism/Idealism - Orthodox theological tradition and practice > Premodern _modern_ postmodern - Culture and national identities
6. Publication date 12-07-2018
7. lemma work Кожич, Наталья Михайловна [Author]. Особенности взаимодействия православия и светской культуры в современных условиях
8. lemma manifestations Труды БГТУ. Серия 6: История, философия
9. Keywords Belarus - Russian Orthodoxy - consumerism - Christian philosophy - culture - dialogue - modernity
10. Url Click Here
11. Citations
    1. <p>Кожич Наталья Михайловна (2015). Особенности взаимодействия православия и светской культуры в современных условиях. <em>Труды БГТУ. Серия 6: История, философия</em>, (5 (178)), 136-139.</p>
12. Lemma body

    1. The article analyzes the activities of the contemporary Orthodox Church in Belarus. The author points out that the role of religion in society has declined significantly under the influence of science, technology and changes in social patterns and lifestyles of the 20^th century. Modern Russian Orthodoxy adapts its activities and teachings to these new conditions. The Church has changed its attitude towards science. Now religious ideologues claim that religion and science represent complementary spheres of the spiritual life of society. At the same time, theologians often repeat the thesis about the "religious foundations of science," which affirms religious faith as the starting point of the process of cognition. It is also believed that all scientific achievements and discoveries constitute new evidence of the existence of God. On this basis, church representatives begin to manifest an interest in the development of science and technology and at the same time discuss the ethical use of scientific achievements. Theologians actively discuss current scientific and technical problems in various forums and mass media, in particular issues of ecology, bioethics, elimination of manmade disasters, etc.

       The Orthodox Church has also engaged in discussing pressing economic problems. Since 2009, under the auspices of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the Expert Council "Economics and Ethics" has tried to understand the economic processes in post-Soviet states and the world in general. The cause of all economic problems, in accordance with Orthodox spiritual values, is seen via the degradation of morality, the rejection of the idea of building a harmonious and socially just society, and the ideological disorientation of people. The economic crisis is seen as a spiritual challenge, which will force society to bring about a fair distribution of the products of human labour. 

       The author points out that Belorussian society has, for the last thirty years, lived through “a religious Renaissance.” The nature of this renaissance is, however, formal. Religious values do not influence people’s outlook significantly. Access to the global religious experience has led to the emergence of a new type of religiosity, which is determined by values of mass culture. The philosophical pluralism of modern culture thus allows any person to create a religion, choosing elements from different religious systems. This, the author argues, tends to make today’s Belorussian religiosity syncretic and superficial, and its society has a consumerist attitude toward the Church. The priest is perceived as a social worker and someone who carries out rituals, but not as a spiritual mentor. 

       The author argues however, that from a social point of view, the role of the Church in society has increased significantly. Being neither a political nor an economic institution, the Church is strongly involved in charity, peace-promoting activities, religious education, education of youth, and the promotion of traditional values.