Russia to offer religious courses in schools

MOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has given the green light to efforts by religious leaders to introduce religion to schools and to offer chaplains for the military.

“Their implementation will help strengthen the moral and spiritual foundations of our society, as well as strengthen the unity of our multiethnic and multireligious country,” he said at a July 21 meeting with religious leaders outside Moscow.

Medvedev was responding to an appeal by Russia’s Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Orthodox leaders, whose faiths are officially referred to as the country’s “traditional” religions. There have been debates for several years about teaching a course called “Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture” in schools.

Critics said it would impose Russian Orthodoxy on secular schoolchildren and that it is inappropriate for a country with several other religions. Medvedev said religion classes would be tested in 18 regions across Russia but stressed that they must take into account the country’s multireligious character.