A fifth of the Russian schoolchildren now attend courses on one of this country's mainstream religions

Friday, January 17, 2020

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A fifth of the Russian schoolchildren now attend courses on one of this country's mainstream religions, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchy's Exterior Church Relations Department, pointed out during a panel discussion. The discussion was devoted to prospects for the development of interfaith relations in Russia. "This does not lead to any interfaith conflicts, but, on the contrary, helps to expand cooperation," he emphasized. "Introduction to Orthodox Christian culture features as an optional course on the high school curriculum in twenty-plus of Russia's regions," Chaplin said. "In a number of regions, Islam and Judaism fundamentals are also taught at school." According to the Moscow Patriarchy spokesman, "which worldview to teach to children is something their parents should decide, not state or school." "Work is currently underway on a textbook that would tell of all [world] religions," Chaplin revealed. He believes that school students should be given opportunities to choose between studying all major world religions, one particular faith or denomination, or else Darwin's theory of evolution.

Bookmark A fifth of the Russian schoolchildren now attend courses on one of this country's mainstream religions