The Orthodox Church and Civil Society in RussiaTexas A&M University Press, 2006 M08 9 - 270 pages In the void left by the fall of Communism in Russia during the late twentieth century, can that country establish a true civil society? Many scholars have analyzed the political landscape to answer this question, but in The Orthodox Church and Civil Society in Russia, Wallace L. Daniel offers a unique perspective: within the church are individuals who hold the values and institutional models that can be vital in determining the direction of Russia in the twenty-first century. Daniel tells the stories of a teacher and controversial parish priest, the leader of Russia’s most famous women’s monastery, a newspaper editor, and a parish priest at Moscow University to explore thoroughly and with a human voice the transformation from Communist country to a new social order. Daniel explores specific religious communities and the way they operate, their efforts to rebuild parish life, and the individuals who have devoted themselves to such goals. This is the level, Daniel shows, at which the reconstruction of Russia and the revitalization of Russian society is taking place. This book is written for general readers interested in the intersection between politics, religion, and society, as well as for scholars. |
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actions activities Aleksandr Aleksi attempts authority become believed bishops building called central century Christianity civil society close Communist conception connected continued council critical cultural deal difficult discussion document earlier early especially established expressed extremely faced faith Filatov forces foundation freedom future Georgii groups Holy ideas important individuals institutions interview issues July June Kochetkov late leaders living Maksim memory Metropolitan monastery moral Moscow Mother Serafima Novodevichy offered official organizations Orthodox Church parish past patriarch period person pointed political position present Press priests problems questions reform relate religion religious renewal restore role Russian secular seeking sense served significant social Soviet spiritual structure struggle tion took tradition tried Union University values women York
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Page 6 - I am willing to devote myself to — is simply a matter of serving those around us: serving the community, and serving those who will come after us. Its deepest roots are moral because it is a responsibility, expressed through action, to and for the whole, a responsibility that is what it is — a "higher