Study On Social Influence Of Russian Eastern Orthodox Church After The Disintegration Of Soviet Union

The Eastern Orthodox is the traditional religion of Russia. It is the largest religion organization and possesses the higher social status and social impact in all period of Russia. The collapse of the Soviet Union is the key turning point of the development of Russia. Communist ideology which has been existed for 70 years in Russia is going to the end. The nation and the populace need a brand new ideology to fill the blank of spirit. The Eastern Orthodox is the first to be affected and as one of the important role. Thereupon, Russia appeared briefly orthodox boom and lasted to approximately 1993. During the last decade of the twentieth century, the Eastern Orthodox and revive of the Eastern Orthodox have been the main stream of Russia’s spiritual realm. With the regression of Eastern Orthodox’s traditional value, its inherent charisma and appealingness also have been prominent. As the national organization, the expressive force and osmotic force of the Eastern Orthodox Church in each domain of the society have also been increased.Nowadays, the Eastern Orthodox Church affects various social areas, the more typical areas such as political, military, education and social service. The influence of the Eastern Orthodox Church shows in political mainly reflects in three aspects. Providing legitimacy guarantee by implementing the ideology of the Eastern Orthodox Church, to gather the followers based on the religious doctrine and to form relative political viewpoint, to participate in relative policy formulation and implementation directly. The influence of the Eastern Orthodox Church appears in the military reflects as the clergies go to the army, host the religious activities and cultivate the moral and spirit of patriotism based on Orthodox values. The Eastern Orthodox Church established technical Orthodox education institutions, carried out Orthodox foundation course in secular schools and to carry on the patriotic education for teenagers. In the aspects of social services, the main scopes of influence are contributing the meals relief for the poor, assisting the patients, concerning the unemployed and retirees, helping the orphans, salvaging intemperants and drug users, making spiritual assistance for prisoners and emancipists, assisting refugees, preventing aborticide and protecting marriage.Whereas the Eastern Orthodox Church has made positive impact to the society, at the same time, it also has the negative aspect. Such as the excess participation in political, military and education, against the Russian constitution at a certain degree and has the magisterium. Overall, from the objective and neutrality value perspective, the social impact of the Eastern Orthodox Church not do more harm than good and also the impact is likely to continue.