종교교육 문제는 러시아 정치와 종교 분야의 당면 토론에서 가장 논쟁의 여지가 많은 주제 중의 하나이다. 러시아 학교에서 종교는 어떻게 교육될까? 최근 러시아 사회는 학교교육에 도입된 ‘정교문화의 기초’ 과목을 둘러싸고 뜨거운 논쟁이 일어났다. 이는 곧 러시아 정교회의 역할, 즉 정교회가 현실정치에 영향력을 미치려고 하는지, 아니면 러시아 정치인들이 정교회를 자신에게 유리한 방향으로 제도화 하려는지의 여부와 밀접한 관련을 맺고 있기 때문이다. 전제정부는 국가체제의 안정과 질서 유지를 위해 정교회를 이용하였다. 국가의 근대화를 위해 세속적 교육기관이 설립되었지만, 충성스런 신민양성을 위한 도덕교육은 항상 교회의 몫이었던 것이다. 소연방의 해체와 함께 찾아온 정교회의 부활은 러시아 민족주의의 부흥과 직결되었고, 점증하는 범죄와 비례하여 찾아온 도덕적 정체성의 위기는 정교회의 새로운 역할을 요구하였다. 그 실천 방안으로 ‘기초’ 과목이 도덕교육의 필수요건으로 도입되었으며, 정교부활을 통해 국가안정에 기여한다는 임무가 부여되었던 것이다.
The question of religious education is one of the most controversial themes in the current discussions on religion and politics in Russia. How should religion be taught in Russian schools? Nowadays in Russian society occurred hot discussions about the new subject of Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture(FOC). Because it concerns with the role of the Russian Orthodox Church(ROC)：the ROC exercises influence over political life, or Russian politicians have been instrumentalising the ROC when they have found it useful to do so. To investigate the relationship between state and church this article examines the historical background of the Orthodox education in Russian schools, grasps the aspects of ROC in the post-Soviet era and the core of discussions on religious education, and analyzes a meaning of the introduction of the subject FOC. Imperial government took advantage of ROC for a stability and an order of the state. Secular educational system was established to modernize the state, but entrusted ROC with moral education of bringing the royal officials and people. With the demise of USSR, the resurrection of Orthodoxy was connected with the restoration of Russian nationalism. The crisis of moral identity with the increasing of crimes assigned ROC to a responsibility of moral education including the program of upbringing. The subject FOC as a kind of 'Culturology' was introduced to practice a mission, and the Orthodox culture is regarded as a spiritual basis. Finally, FOC is a requisite of moral education in modern Russia, and contributes to the national stability by means of the resurrection of Orthodoxy.
The question of religious education is one of the most controversial themes in the current discussions on religion and politics in Russia. How should religion be taught in Russian schools? Nowadays in Russian society occurred hot discussions about the new subject of Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture(FOC). Because it concerns with the role of the Russian Orthodox Church(ROC)：the ROC exercises influence over political life, or Russian politicians have been instrumentalising the ROC when they have found it useful to do so. To investigate the relationship between state and church this article examines the historical background of the Orthodox education in Russian schools, grasps the aspects of ROC in the post-Soviet era and the core of discussions on religious education, and analyzes a meaning of the introduction of the subject FOC. Imperial government took advantage of ROC for a stability and an order of the state. Secular educational system was established to modernize the state, but entrusted ROC with moral education of bringing the royal officials and people. With the demise of USSR, the resurrection of Orthodoxy was connected with the restoration of Russian nationalism. The crisis of moral identity with the increasing of crimes assigned ROC to a responsibility of moral education including the program of upbringing. The subject FOC as a kind of 'Culturology' was introduced to practice a mission, and the Orthodox culture is regarded as a spiritual basis. Finally, FOC is a requisite of moral education in modern Russia, and contributes to the national stability by means of the resurrection of Orthodoxy.