Than the essence of the principle of freedom of conscience. The principle of freedom of conscience and its implementation in various spheres of society. What is the definition of knowledge given by I. Kant

A special place in religious studies is occupied by theoretical understanding problems of freedom of conscience and the practical realization of this right. One of the most controversial issues in this regard remains the question of defining the concept of freedom of conscience, its specificity and relationship with a wide range of social relations. This is due to the fact that the problems of religion are closely intertwined with worldview and ideological, legal and moral, epistemological and axiological aspects. Therefore, there was no consensus on how to define the concept of freedom of conscience. Insufficiently substantiated methodological approaches to the analysis of the concept of freedom of conscience often lead to a narrowing of the scope of the concept, to its vague definitions. At the same time, underestimation of the role and significance of the human factor, the ideological foundations of the concept is often observed, the role and significance of its legal aspect are made absolute.

The need for a theoretical analysis of the problems of freedom of conscience is also explained by the fact that in the Russian religious and legal literature of the past decades, the main attention was paid to political, legal and ideological problems of freedom of conscience, and worldview, moral problems did not receive proper coverage due to the lack of an appropriate social order. As a result of excessive politicization and ideologization of the problems of freedom of conscience, some uncertainty has developed in the interpretation of the concept, its ideological foundations, specificity and essence. Philosophical understanding of the concept of freedom of conscience was replaced by a declarative slogan, quote or article of the current constitution. Today in the public consciousness there is a process of rejection of false stereotypes and ideas, the public need for historical truth and objective information is growing.

Processes related to religion as in modern world, and in modern post-Soviet Russia, are very complex, dynamic and contradictory. The attitude of an individual to religion is largely determined by the level of social and cultural development of society. First of all, a measure of the establishment of freedom of conscience in society. Freedom of conscience and religion is one of the essential rights citizens of our state. The historical analysis of the formation and development of ideas about freedom of conscience indicates that this concept is based on the choice of a person's attitude to religion and atheism, taking into account the relationship of democratic rights and freedoms that function in a given society, and the real right of the individual to determine his own attitude to religion. ...

The concept of freedom of conscience, which concentrated the ideas of humanism, tolerance, requirements of ideological choice, has a long history of formation and development, is characterized by specific historical certainty. At present, freedom of conscience is understood as the freedom of citizens to profess one religion or another, to defend and promote religious views or not profess any religion, as well as be an atheist and defend their beliefs 1. One of the elements of freedom of conscience is the freedom to choose and practice any religion, which includes the free establishment of religious associations by believers, the enjoyment of all political and other rights and the performance of civic duties without any privileges and restrictions. Freedom of conscience is broader and fuller than freedom of religion, consistently upholds the principle “religion is a private affair of every citizen” and equally protects the rights of both believers and non-believers.

In the modern world, the process of secularization (a change in the relationship between society and religion) and modernization (a change in religion itself) continues. The concepts of a secular state, secular education, etc. reflect the fact that relations between people in society cease to be religiously conditioned. Religion and church have lost their former place and meaning; the language of religion, its concepts are increasingly moving away from real life... For a long time, secularization was understood as the transition from the religious sphere to everyday life, later - the transfer of some functions from the jurisdiction of the church authorities to the secular authorities. Now, secularization means liberation from the influence of religion and the church in all spheres of society. The secular principle, secularity, freedom of conscience, according to V.I. Garaja, are embodied in the world outlook of a person, in his self-consciousness as a free autonomous subject: he is not obliged to accept anything simply on faith, blindly obeying the power of tradition, he critically perceives and evaluates them; the world in which he lives is accessible to his understanding, he arranges this world in accordance with his goals and possibilities, he is not obliged to any “other”, no force standing over a person. Everything that he possesses is obtained by him, and not given from above. In the public consciousness, ideas dominate, determining mainly the "this-sided", worldly orientation 2.

As noted above, one of the elements of freedom of conscience is the freedom to choose and practice any religion. Freedom of religion is a poly-structural socio-psychological phenomenon that includes such structural components as: the right to profess any religion, or not to profess any religion; the right to worship. This also includes the right to change religious views and beliefs; the right to be an atheist and conduct active propaganda; and also the equality of all people before the law, regardless of their attitude to religion.

In sociological terms, freedom of conscience is a spiritual value, an important social good created by society as a result of historical development... In this case, it is considered as a social institution or actual condition, a kind of human behavior in the field of worldview and religious relations. In political science, the exercise of freedom of conscience is one of the aspects of democracy. Its socio-political content is determined by the nature of the social system, the nature state power, the political regime, the level of development of science and culture, the role of religion in the political and spiritual life of society, the historical traditions existing in a given country, and other factors. In a philosophical sense, freedom of conscience was viewed as a philosophical and ethical category, as an opportunity for each person to act in accordance with their ideas about just and unjust, about good and evil, as the right of people to think about the world as they want, including from a religious standpoint, and also to act in accordance with their ideas about the world.

When characterizing a person's attitude to religion in Art. 28 of the Constitution Russian Federation in addition to the concept of "freedom of conscience", the term "freedom of religion" is used, and in the norms international law, in particular, in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Art. 9 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and other acts - "freedom of religion". Freedom of religion is tantamount to freedom of religion, religious freedom, that is, these terms are identical. Freedom of religion (religion) presupposes not only the free activity of religious associations of various confessions acting in accordance with the law, but also the individual right of everyone to freely choose any religion, belong to any confession, choose, have, change, disseminate and express any religious views, participate in religious services and rituals, as well as not profess any religion. As MV Baglai and V. A Tumanov justly point out: “In the subjective sense, that is, as a human right, the concepts of freedom of religion and freedom of religion are equivalent, but the latter also means the right to exist for all religions and the possibility of each of them freely preach your creed. However, very often all these terms (including “freedom of conscience” - AP) are used as identical ”6.

INthe formation of civil society, therefore, the problem of interaction, dialogue between representatives of various religious confessions is extremely urgent (interfaith dialogue)with each other and states.

Legal basis resolution of all emerging contradictions and problems can be compliance the principle of freedom of conscience.You know that conscience is the most important ethical category, reflecting the ability of a person to exercise moral self-control, formulate and present moral requirements to his behavior, and achieve their fulfillment. In our time, freedom of conscience is understood as the right of a person to independently form his own worldview and openly express it in social interactions, without harming the freedom of other people and society as a whole. In fact, freedom of conscience is now understood as the human right to the autonomy of spiritual Life. But this principle was not always interpreted so broadly - in societies with a predominant religious worldview, freedom of conscience could be expressed only in freedom of religion, the struggle for which had been going on for many centuries.

The legislation of the Russian Federation in accordance with international legal acts guarantees the implementation of the principle of freedom of conscience. Let's consider some of its aspects.

The principle of separation of religious organizations from the stateprovides, on the one hand, the non-interference of the state in the person of its bodies and individual officials


Individuals in the internal life of religious organizations, lack of state funding and propaganda of individual organizations, on the other hand, non-interference of religious organizations in matters of state administration.

All religions on the territory of the country are equal, there is no state, official religion - the state neutral in matters of her religious ry.

The secular nature of public educationassumes, firstly, equal access of representatives of all religious denominations and atheists to receive a state-guaranteed education, and secondly, the prohibition of any form of religious or atheistic propaganda in educational institutions, especially in the lessons that must be attended, thirdly, education of the younger generation in the spirit of tolerance to manifestations of dissent.

The state also guarantees all believers the ability to freely send your cult(in the event that the activity of a religious organization is not recognized by the court as socially dangerous and is not prohibited), and believers liable for military service in the event that military service contradicts their religious convictions, an opportunity is provided to undergo alternative civilian service.

Si! Basic concepts:religion, religious consciousness, world religions, the principle of freedom of conscience.

ill Terms:religious cult, religious organizations, interfaith dialogue.

Check yourself

1) What is religion? 2) What elements of religion do scientists distinguish? 3) What are the characteristics of religious consciousness? 4) What is the significance of religion in the life of society? 5) What are the main ideas of each of the world's religions? 6) What is the essence of the principle of freedom of conscience? How is it implemented in the legislation of the Russian Federation?

Think, discuss, do

1. The famous sociologist P. A. Sorokin based on the analysis of hundreds of thousands of paintings and sculptures created from the beginning of the Middle Ages to the 30s. XX century and exhibited in museums Western Europe, concluded that there has been a steady, significant reduction in the number of works based on the religious perception of the world. Based on your knowledge of the humanities, explain the reasons for this phenomenon. Support the sociologist's conclusion with specific examples.


2.Since ancient times, scientists have traced this direction
the development of social protest as the fight against God. Express
several assumptions about the causes of similar
foot movement.

3. Collect information about the activities of religious organizations
organizations in your area.

Work with the source

Read an excerpt from an article by the 20th century American sociologist. Robert Bell's Sociology of Religion.

So we inevitably come to the conclusion that religion is not just a means of coping with longing and despair. Rather, it is a symbolic model that forms human experience - both cognitive and emotional. Religion knows how not only to moderate melancholy and despair, but also to cause them.

Man is a problem-solving animal. What to do and what to think when other ways of solving problems fail is the sphere of religion. Religion deals not so much with specific problems as with the general problems of human nature, but among specific problems - those that are most directly related to this general problem, such as the riddle of death. Religion deals not so much with the experience of specific limits as with the limit in general ... But even for the most primitive savage, the field of religion is something different, albeit very close, something that can be heard, but cannot be seen, but if it can be seen , then briefly. Religious symbols transmitted, in addition, give us meaning when we are not asking, help to hear when we are not listening, help to see when we are not looking. It is this ability of religious symbols to form meaning and feeling at a relatively high level of generalization that goes beyond the specific contexts of experience that gives them such power in human lifeboth personal and public.

Bell R.American Sociology. Perspectives. Problems. Methods. -

M .. 1972. - S. 266 - 278.

IW Questions and tasks to the source. 1) What, according to the author, are the possible origins of religious faith? 2) In what words does the author characterize religion? 3) Give some examples to illustrate the symbolic nature of religion. 4) Using a fragment of R. Bell's article, your knowledge and life experience, give some explanations of the power of religion in human life.


Section 34. The place of art in spiritual culture

Remember:

what is culture? What are the ways of its development? What are the causes, directions and consequences of the dialogue of cultures?

Despite the fact that art has existed for many millennia and is actively studied by researchers - philosophers, culturologists, art historians, art historians, even the question of its origin is not clear. So, a number of scientists deduce art, firstly, from the need of all living beings with the help of any adornments to attract the attention of the opposite sex in order to procreate, and secondly, from the need to use the energy of subconscious drives for other purposes. It is believed that the origins of art lie in the presence of a person's energy not wasted in labor activity, as well as the need for some "training" for assimilating standard social roles. Art is also sometimes associated with different kinds magic woven into the daily activities of primitive man. In addition, a number of scientists regard it as a “child of labor” - practically useful qualities of objects become the object of artistic display and aesthetic pleasure. Many modern researchers associate art with the mythological assimilation of reality, which contains cognitive, magical, playful, subject-activity aspects.

INcurrently, a civil society is being formed in Russia, therefore, the problem of interaction, dialogue between representatives of various religious confessions is extremely urgent (interfaith dialogue)with each other and states.

The legal basis for resolving all emerging contradictions and problems can be compliance the principle of freedom of conscience.You know that conscience is the most important ethical category, reflecting the ability of a person to exercise moral self-control, formulate and present moral requirements to his behavior, and achieve their fulfillment. In our time, freedom of conscience is understood as the right of a person to independently form his own worldview and openly express it in social interactions, without harming the freedom of other people and society as a whole. In fact, freedom of conscience is now understood as the human right to the autonomy of spiritual Life. But this principle was not always interpreted so broadly - in societies with a predominant religious worldview, freedom of conscience could be expressed only in freedom of religion, the struggle for which had been going on for many centuries.

The legislation of the Russian Federation in accordance with international legal acts guarantees the implementation of the principle of freedom of conscience. Let's consider some of its aspects.

The principle of separation of religious organizations from the stateprovides, on the one hand, the non-interference of the state in the person of its bodies and individual officials


Individuals in the internal life of religious organizations, lack of state funding and propaganda of individual organizations, on the other hand, non-interference of religious organizations in matters of state administration.

All religions on the territory of the country are equal, there is no state, official religion - the state neutral in matters of her religious ry.

The secular nature of public educationimplies, firstly, equal access for representatives of all religious denominations and atheists to receive a state-guaranteed education, secondly, the prohibition of any form of religious or atheistic propaganda in educational institutions, especially in compulsory lessons, and thirdly, the upbringing of the younger generation in a spirit of tolerance for manifestations of dissent.

The state also guarantees all believers the ability to freely send your cult(in the event that the activities of a religious organization are not recognized by the court as socially dangerous and not prohibited), and believers liable for military service, if military service contradicts their religious beliefs, are given the opportunity to undergo alternative civilian service.

Si! Basic concepts:religion, religious consciousness, world religions, the principle of freedom of conscience.

ill Terms:religious cult, religious organizations, interfaith dialogue.

Check yourself

1) What is religion? 2) What elements of religion do scientists distinguish? 3) What are the characteristics of religious consciousness? 4) What is the significance of religion in the life of society? 5) What are the main ideas of each of the world's religions? 6) What is the essence of the principle of freedom of conscience? How is it implemented in the legislation of the Russian Federation?

Think, discuss, do

1. The famous sociologist P. A. Sorokin based on the analysis of hundreds of thousands of paintings and sculptures created from the beginning of the Middle Ages to the 30s. XX century and exhibited in museums in Western Europe, concluded that there has been a steady, significant reduction in the number of works based on religious perception of the world. Based on your knowledge of the humanities, explain the reasons for this phenomenon. Support the sociologist's conclusion with specific examples.


2.Since ancient times, scientists have traced this direction
the development of social protest as the fight against God. Express
several assumptions about the causes of similar
foot movement.

3. Collect information about the activities of religious organizations
organizations in your area.

Work with the source

Read an excerpt from an article by the 20th century American sociologist. Robert Bell's Sociology of Religion.

So we inevitably come to the conclusion that religion is not just a means of coping with longing and despair. Rather, it is a symbolic model that shapes human experience, both cognitive and emotional. Religion knows how not only to moderate melancholy and despair, but also to cause them.

Man is a problem-solving animal. What to do and what to think when other ways of solving problems fail is the sphere of religion. Religion deals not so much with specific problems as with the general problems of human nature, but among specific problems - those that are most directly related to this general problem, such as the riddle of death. Religion deals not so much with the experience of specific limits as with the limit in general ... But even for the most primitive savage, the field of religion is something different, albeit very close, something that can be heard, but cannot be seen, but if it can be seen , then briefly. Religious symbols transmitted, in addition, give us meaning when we are not asking, help to hear when we are not listening, help to see when we are not looking. It is this ability of religious symbols to shape meaning and feeling at a relatively high level of generalization that goes beyond the specific contexts of experience that gives them such power in human life, both personal and public.

Bell R.American Sociology. Perspectives. Problems. Methods. -

M .. 1972. - S. 266 - 278.

IW Questions and tasks to the source. 1) What, according to the author, are the possible origins of religious faith? 2) In what words does the author characterize religion? 3) Give some examples to illustrate the symbolic nature of religion. 4) Using a fragment of R. Bell's article, your knowledge and life experience, give some explanations of the power of religion in human life.


Section 34. The place of art in spiritual culture

Remember:

what is culture? What are the ways of its development? What are the causes, directions and consequences of the dialogue of cultures?

Despite the fact that art has existed for many millennia and is actively studied by researchers - philosophers, culturologists, art historians, art historians, even the question of its origin is not clear. So, a number of scientists deduce art, firstly, from the need of all living beings with the help of any adornments to attract the attention of the opposite sex in order to procreate, and secondly, from the need to use the energy of subconscious drives for other purposes. It is believed that the origins of art lie in the presence of a person's energy not wasted in labor activity, as well as the need for some "training" for assimilating standard social roles. Art is also sometimes associated with different types of magic, woven into the daily activities of primitive man. In addition, a number of scientists regard it as a “child of labor” - practically useful qualities of objects become the object of artistic display and aesthetic pleasure. Many modern researchers associate art with the mythological assimilation of reality, which contains cognitive, magical, playful, subject-activity aspects.