Last week, President Putin approved a new list of members of the Public Chamber -it will now include representatives of all traditional religions.
"People are drawn to traditional values, people are drawn to their roots, which are within Orthodoxy, within Islam, within Judaism and Buddhism, and registered in the basic laws of these four religions that were historically present in the territory of the Russian Federation. Today, a large number of people come back to their traditions after 70 years of Soviet rule. Examination of religions and religious leaders, as well as of the social processes and the legislative initiatives that are taking place, is very important, "- the President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia Alexander Boroda commented regarding the changes in the House.
"When official religious leaders both on the site of the Interreligious Council of Russia, and on various other sites, like the State Duma, the Federation Council, the Public Chamber discuss together the pressing problems and bring solutions to the end, believing people notice it. If this did not happen, then marginals and various kinds of groups could very easily use this theme and contrast different layers of different religious beliefs. We understand our identity, first of all, all of us are citizens of the Russian Federation, a multinational state, a multi-religion state, "- said the mufti of Moscow, Central Russia and Chuvashia Albir Krganov.
The chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for Church and Society Interaction Vsevolod Chaplin said: "There are forces that would like to embroil us all, the forces that would like to turn Russia into a bloody mess, similar to what has happened in several countries over the last few years. There are forces that would like to arrange managed or unmanaged chaos in this part of Europe and the world. When we say that we have a large margin of safety associated with the centuries-old experience of living together of people of different nationalities and religions, that is no reason for anytriumphalism, or for complacency.A few years ago, Syrian peoples were also peaceful towards each other. When we came to Kyiv or Lviv, and especially to such places as Kharkiv, Poltava, Crimea, Odessa, many of us would never have imagined that there would be quite fierce confrontation for many days and dozens of humans would get killed. Nobody believed it or could imagine it, but we see that it is possible today. The factor of ethnic or religious identity combined with enmity and hatred is highly explosive."
Therefore, according to Mr Chaplin, it is important, "first of all, eliminate the public spread of extremist religious and social ideas, which in practice, inevitably lead to violence. Secondly, it is important to keep in touch with representatives of different religious communities. We do have such constant contact. If there is any risk of conflict on religious and ethnic grounds, we can always talk to each other and together cal the society to avoid hostility and the mentioned dangers. And thirdly, of course, along with the state, together with all well-intentioned social forces, we should care about the future of Russia and the world, and in this respect the state and religious communities should always be partners, otherwise Russia may face very serious threats."
