Religious Life in the Late Soviet Union: From Survival to Revival (1960s-1980s)

This book provides a comprehensive overview of late Soviet religiosity, showing how it survived anti-religious repression and adapted to new conditions. It explores new forms of religiosity, religious socialisation, activism, and transnational networks, and examines the religious dimension of Soviet female activism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 18 August 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book offers a groundbreaking exploration of late Soviet religiosity, spanning multiple confessions and Soviet republics from the 1960s to the 1980s. Drawing upon a diverse array of fresh sources, including material from regional archives and oral history, it reveals that religion not only endured Soviet anti-religious repression but also underwent remarkable adaptations to the changing circumstances. Departing from conventional notions of a mere revival of suppressed beliefs, the book unveils how new forms of religiosity and religious socialization emerged, as individuals born into atheist families sought solace in religion in search of renewed meaning. This transformative process was further facilitated by perestroika, although it had already begun to take root before that era. Moreover, the book delves into the realm of religious activism and transnational networks between Soviet believers and Western organizations during the Cold War, shedding light on the religious dimension of Soviet female activism. It also shifts the focus away from the non-religious human rights movement and towards ordinary believers, providing a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of their experiences during this tumultuous period.

Weight: 630g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032317762