AboutNatasha Kozyreva Expertise You can ask me questions on the Russian language, literature and culture. As a resident of Saint-Petersburg, I'd be glad to answer questions about it as well.
Many thanks for sorting out “blini” and “blintz” so definitively!
Today I was wanting to ask about RI, the word used for religion when taught in school in the UK. RI is an acronym for “Religious Instruction”.
Is the equivalent taught in Russian state schools or only in religious-orientated private schools? Exactly what Russian name is used for it, please?
Best wishes,
Simon
Answer Dear Simon,
You're most welcome.
The situation with religious education in Russian schools isn't settled yet. RI (Закон Божий) used to be taught in schools before the revolution. Nowadays a subject like will be problematic in a secular state. Therefore proponents of religious instruction (compulsory or optional) face strong opposition from society, scientists, politicians and other public figures voicing their disapproval of the project. The debate has been going on for more than a decade.
As a result religious education has become part of the curriculum in 15 regions of the Russian Federation in the recent years. The subject is called "Основы православной культуры" and is optional in all but 5 according to the information on the Internet. For instance, schoolchildren do not receive religious instruction in St. Petersburg, except for certain private schools. It is not supposed to encourage religious belief in children as far as I know.
Religious Studies at universities is called РелигиовЕдение.
To round-up I'd like to say that Основы православной культуры is a highly controversial subject and hence it might be abolished, made optional all over the country or transformed into a course in world religions as a result of public pressure.
