SOVIET CIVIL RELIGION
Dr. Nikolas K. Gvosdev
Although the Soviet Union was officially an atheistic state (with formal church-state separation but active discrimination against religion), this does not mean that it was an irreligious state. On the contrary, the Soviet state put into place an elaborate and quite developed system of civil religion, partly to combat traditional religiosity but also to serve important political goals.
The formal faith that undergirt the Soviet system was this: that the laws of history are inevitably moving mankind forward in terms of development. The Communist party, by understanding these laws of history, based upon materialism, can craft and develop policies that will accelerate this process. Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin are the key theoreticians whose ideas made the Soviet system possible, and their writings retained relevance for "present" day conditions. Communism's triumph is in fact inevitable; it is a process of evolution. Thus, there was a belief unverifiable by reason or proof, with a set of sacred texts for exposition and study.
The Communist Party put great stress upon proper ideology, of bringing the world into conformity with that ideology as much as possible. The Party set up schools to train ideological workers and propagandists who could bring the faith out to the masses and seek conversions.
The Communist Party created a civil calendar of events and festivals, days of rejoicing and days of remembrance. It created a hagiography of martyrs and heroes and achievers, and called upon the living to emulate their example. It attempted to create a series of rituals from birth to death to mark the major stages of human life and existence, with the greatest success in the areas of marriage and funerals. It created places of pilgrimage, places associated with the revolutionary struggle, or places with collections of items associated with the revolution, or places where key heroes and leaders were buried. It created organizations for training the youth and set out rites of passage by which ideological inculcation could take place.
The regime created a panoply of symbols and slogans to mark out its religious territory.
The state tried to encourage citizens to read and study the key texts, provided times and places for meetings to expound upon the faith, and even for citizens to display images of key leaders and figures in the civil religion.
The Party chose its first leader and key organizer, Vladimir Lenin, to serve as the incarnation of Communist values; with his life being set forth as an example and his body preserved as a living reminder of the vibrancy of Communist ideals. A quasi-form of immortality was also created in which Lenin's ideals were said to be deathless and on-going.
The purpose of Soviet civil religion was to provide a sense of unity to a disparate people and to provide a basis for societal cohesion and optimism--to provide faith in a better future. More importantly, it transmitted certain values and expectations to the populace. Even when treated as tongue in cheek by a majority of the population, it shaped attitudes and patterns of thought.
BASIC CALENDAR OF THE SOVIET CIVIL YEAR:
New Year's Day: gift-giving and celebration of the new year
International Woman's Day: recognition of the struggles of women and their role in society
May Day: spring renewal; stress on youth and optimism for the Communist future
Victory Day (May 9th): sacrifices recalled, the harsh and difficult struggle against the Nazi foe that resulted in final victory for the Soviet state (Golgotha and Resurrection)
Revolution Day (November 7th): birth of the Soviet state; primary legitimating event (onward rush of revolution)
BASIC LIFE CHART:
Birth: assigning of a name to the newborn. During heights of Soviet enthusiasm--choice of names that reflect ideology (VladLen (Vladimir Lenin), Ninel (Lenin backwards), Melor (Marx-Engels-Lenin-October-Revolution)
Education and youth: First day of school: "Study, study, study" (Lenin's quote). Stories of the young Lenin, his capacity for kindness and study. Study of ideology and inculcation in "communist morality." Desire to have the symbols of membership: pins, stars, red kerchiefs. Rites of passage through Young Pioneers and Komsomol (Communist Youth League). Graduation and determination of ideological purity (church-going, for example, disqualifies one for university admission)
Professional life: weekly party meetings, study of writings and ideology. Participation in rallies and parades. Membership in the union and perhaps in the Party itself, for which a candidate's entire life undergoes a screening and one must show proficiency in the ideology.
Marriage: Soviet wedding palace ceremony followed by leaving of bouquet at Victory monument or Lenin monument
Death: Soviet funeral, stress on how deceased worked to build up socialism and contribute to the cause