JPRS-UPA-89-021: Religion

This document, dated April 4, 1989, is a compilation of reports regarding religious life and sociological trends within the Soviet Union. It features a narrative account of a dialogue with A. Volotina, the chairwoman of the Ust-Pechengsk rural soviet, concerning the presence of religious practices in her jurisdiction, including the baptism of children by Komsomol members. The text highlights the tension between official state atheism and the continued interest in religious traditions among the populace. Additionally, the document includes a summary of a sociological study conducted by the Scientific Research Center of the Higher Komsomol School. This study surveyed 420 students in Moscow and Leningrad, finding that approximately 40 percent of the youth intelligentsia were familiar with religious literature, such as the Bible and the Koran. The report notes that young people are drawn to these texts for their historical and literary value, as well as for their perceived wisdom and humanism. The document concludes with observations on the administrative handling of religious information, noting that local officials, such as N. Voronin of the Vologodskaya Oblast council on religious matters, often restricted the dissemination of data regarding religious activities under 'secret' stamps.