REGIMUL COMUNIST DIN ROMÂNIA ȘI EDUCAȚIA RELIGIOASĂ

Abstract

Communist regime from Romania and religious education.
During the communist period, the conflict between Marxist-Leninist ideology and the Christian thought, gave rise to many controversies, especially in the educational arena. Thus, the youth of the socialist Romania were expected to be educated in the spirit of atheism and evolutionism, without God and without any kind of Christian orientation and Christian values. The transformation of Romania into a totalitarian state, made any kind of Christian education in general, and especially the education of the young generation, almost impossible. Not only was any kind of religious education removed from schools, but there was an intense governmental effort to snuff out any religious education for children and young people, even in the churches, despite professed religious freedom. There was strict control over what was taught in churches, in all denominations. Any attempt to organize children or youth for Bible studies was swiftly repressed, sometimes brutally. Thus, the religious education became mainly the responsibility of the parents. Also, the repression of the clergy and/or any leader who had an influence on the religious masses, attempting any kind of education, led to the clandestine conduct of religious education activities. Thus the laity attributed to the clergy a lack of interest or willingness to support religious education. This eroded the trust of the laity in the clergy and the leadership of the churches. This mistrust between laity and clergy/leadership became deep and longlasting. All these circumstances resulted in a whole generation, who would have loved to have any kind of religious education, to live the rest of their lives with the unfulfilled dream of getting a thorough religious education and experience. At the same time, there were quite a few believers for whom the church was a spiritual refuge and a way to fight against atheism. Still, despite all the oppression and the difficulties encountered, religious values were kept alive and transmitted to the next generation. The religious repression, and all other kind of repression, during the communist period are a demonstration of the nefarious and deep lasting effects it has, the monstruosity of restricting freedom of thought and expression of religious beliefs and, the vital importance of respecting fundamental rights and freedoms.