THEOL 338 - Russia: Christ, Church, State

Credits: (3)
Vladimir Putin has said that Ukrainian Crimea is a “holy place” for Russians, and Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, declared that Russian soldiers who die in the invasion of Ukraine will go directly to heaven. Where do these ideas come from? And what about other Russian religious voices that instead emphasize human rights and democracy? This course examines the history of Russian religious thought, with a special focus on the relationship between Church and State-what is called “political theology”-in Russia. By understanding the history of Russian religious thought, you will learn how we got to where we are now, and what resources the Russian religious tradition has to offer that could steer Russia and the world in a more just direction.