JPRS-UPA-89-021: Religion and Sociological Research in the Soviet Union

This document, dated April 4, 1989, is a compilation of reports and sociological findings regarding the state of religious belief and ideological trends within the Soviet Union. The text explores the persistence of religious practice among the youth and the intelligentsia, despite official state atheism. It highlights a dialogue regarding the baptism of children by Komsomol members and the challenges faced by local officials in managing religious matters. A significant portion of the document is dedicated to the findings of a sociological study conducted by the Higher Komsomol School of the All-Union Leninist Komsomol Central Committee. This study surveyed 420 representatives of the youth intelligentsia in Moscow and Leningrad. The findings indicate that while interest in traditional religious texts like the Bible and the Koran is present, there is a notable trend toward interest in 'mysterious phenomena of nature and the human mind,' specifically citing UFOs, telepathy, and biofields. The document suggests that for many young people, these interests are treated as a form of entertainment or a way to cope with boredom, rather than a deep-seated religious conviction. The text concludes by noting that the democratization of public life in the Soviet Union is expected to lead to an increase in the activity of non-traditional religious and interest-based groups, and suggests that Soviet social scientists are calling for a more nuanced approach to classifying these groups rather than relying on outdated ideological stereotypes.