Labyrinths of state-confessional relations on the border of secularism and post-secularism

Abstract

The article examines the specifics of existing and developing state-confessional relations in modern Russian society. The relevance of the research lies in the need to form clear ideas about the negative political consequences that may arise as a result of the state-confessional relations’ construction by the Russian state on the basis of various political and legal discourses that have significant contradictions among themselves. The object of the research is state-confessional relations as an element of the political process. The subject of the research is trends and consequences of the state-confessional relations’ development in modern Russia. The purpose of the article is to identify possible political consequences of the state-confessional relations’ current model in modern Russia. The objectives of the research are to determine the main characteristics of state-confessional relations in modern Russia. The problems of the research are the following: – identification of contradictions arising in them and adverse consequences for the political system; – justification of such forms of state activity that contribute to the removal of contradictions in state-confessional relations. Research methodology and methods. The work was carried out on the basis of general scientific principles of objectivity, historicism, using methods of analysis, synthesis, and modeling. Formal and logical procedures, methods of system and comparative legal analysis are also used. The degree of scientific development of the research topic. Research on the state-confessional relations in Russia is carried out in various fields of humanitarian and social knowledge: sociology, political science, law, history, and religious studies. The authors of the article focus on the trends and political consequences of the Russian state’s activities in the religious sphere. An ill-conceived policy that is carried out without taking into account global development trends leads to undesirable domestic political effects, which in the future can become a factor of destabilization of public order. It is shaped by such processes as the reconfiguration of social relations, marginalization of many religions, and promotion of fundamentalist aspirations. The state’s anti-extremist activities also need to be adjusted. The solution is seen not only in reviewing the current practice of implementing state-confessional relations, but also in creating conditions for a broad inter-religious dialogue, in which state structures can act as moderators