Proces ateizacji w obwodzie winnickim (1941-1964)

Abstract

The process of atheization started in Russia with the moment of taking over the power by the Communist Party (bolsheviks). As early as the proceedings of the 7th Assembly of the party, a principle was assumed that socialism could not be built among believers. Therefore various offices and institutions were established, using also the press, literature, and art. The centre anti-religious activity focused on schools, clubs, libraries, culture centre, and places of work. Atheization was systematic and well-planned. It began in 1925 after the Assembly of the Society of Atheists. The passed its programme on 27th-30th April 1926, at a party conference in Moscow. The war had not brought any changes in ideological work. They carried on their anti-religious policy. Even in 1944 the Central Committee of the Communist Party passed a resolution about The Organization of Scientific and Educational Propaganda, and starting from 1947 onward the Society for the Propagation of Secular Science and Culture “Znanije” was responsible for propagating atheistic ideology. The Society was established on the basis of the Society of Militant Atheists. The following institutions worked on behalf of propagating atheism in the territory of the Vinnica district: 1682 rural and kolkhoz clubs, 44 regional centres of culture and 1944 libraries. The “Znanije” Society administered in the district 12.000 instructors and consultants. Additionally, all universities in the Ukraine from 1957 onward were officially appointed by the state to propagate atheism. The youth from secondary schools had an obligatory course in atheism. Also the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR activated their members to work on behalf of atheism. They joined the ranks of the Society for the Propagation of Secular Science and Culture “Znanije” in order to work out methods and ways by which to fight religion among the society. People engaged in culture were also employed in atheistic propaganda. Their works were used as “tools of scientific and atheistic propaganda in clubs, buildings, and parks of culture, cinemas-theatres, libraries, and social institutions.” One of the forms of atheistic influence on believers was social courts – gatherings at which their religious activity was socially evaluated. In order to reach with anti-religious actions to all inhabitants and institutions, in many towns the Day of Atheist was organized. Atheistic propaganda was particularly intensive where some churches were supposed to be closed. 67.000 atheists, instructors, and propagandists were engaged in a systematic anti-religious activity in the district. A systematic communist formation called “the ideal man of the future” was addressed to five million people, and atheism itself was professionally studied by 79.000 people. The Evening University of Marxism and Leninism in Vinnica “prepared hundreds of propagandists for the city, made their knowledge more profound and systematic.” In this city there was no enterprise in which one would not find any agitator of atheism. Atheization was always present in the district, of which ubiquitous anti-religious posters reminded. The activity of the Church, some ways how to fight with her, and the projects of a new plan to fight against religion were discussed on 25th-26th November 1963 in Moscow at the meeting of the Commission for Ideology at the Central Committee of the Communist Party. Scientific outlook and atheistic formation were insufficient argument in the fight against the Catholic Church, which from 1943 onward managed to adjust herself to the current socio-political situation.