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THE ROLE OF THEOLOGICAL EXPERTISE IN PROBLEM SOLVING OF STATE-CONFESSIONAL RELATIONS IN RUSSIA

Abstract

In modern Russia the actuality of constant observation, evaluation and forecasting of interethnic and inter-confessional interaction is conditioned by modernization processes dynamism also including the spheres of ethnical and religious relations, despite of their existing inertial traditions potential. Ethno-confessional relations act as important constituents of the national security, as an ethnical so national factor often produce conflict and extremist moods. Not numerous theological community could play its positive role in conflict decreasing and conflicts precaution in the sphere of state-confessional relations, if state and religious organizations could see experts in theologians, whose conclusions are accepted in the quality of qualified recommendations, according to these or that social questions.
Two normative documents activated theologians-experts function: Federal law of RF from 27 of July 2002 No 114-FL “About extremist activity opposition” and Order of Justice Department of RF from 18 of February 2009 № 53 “About state theological expertise”.  The first according to religious organizations activity approved participation necessity of theologian specialist in materials expertise with extremism features, the second one – defined indispensable participation of scientists- theologians in activity of expert councils according to state religious  expertise conducting under Justice Department of RF and its departments in the subjects of RF. 
The participation of theologians in forensic examinations appeared to be a momentous event for theological society. Firstly, religious organizations representatives showed interest to this society. It was expressed in that religious organizations attorneys, the literature of whom was admitted to be extremist, became looking for such experts among theologians, who could ably perform on the defense side. Thirdly, religious expertise educed collisions in religious materials estimation, connected with difference of religious discourse material and secular discourse of society law-enforcement system. Such-like collisions led to the law-enforcement practice advance. 
However preliminary examination from the religious community side is appeared to be more rational, than advance of normative acts in relation to religious unities activity in the wake of collisions appearing in law-enforcement practice. 
Theological expertise of legal norms, related to the religious unities activity, – is not the only sphere of state-confessional relations, where presence of theologians professional experience would be useful. Offers of physical and juridical persons act as religious expertise objects, besides the projects of regulatory act according to the questions of inter-confessional relations, containing in their appeals to the regulatory bodies, and also data of opinion polls and other monitoring events, mass media materials gathering according to the same questions. The role of religious expertise of such-like materials consists in clearing of their significance, and in a row of cases in  – competence establishment from positions of religious discourse specificity, polyconfessional situation in secular (or post-secular) society.

About the Author

S. Astapov
Southern federal university; National research nuclear university “MIFI”
Russian Federation


References

1. Astapov S.N. Contexts of theological research of the materials in relation to extremism characteristics // Religion and right. 2014. No 1 (68).

2. Matetskaya A.V. Insult of religious feelings of the believers: Russian context // The Humanities and social sciences. 2015. No 6.

3. Order of Justice Department of RF from 18 of February 2009 No 53 “About state theological expertise” [Electronic resource] URL: http://base.garant.ru/195078

4. Federal law from 23 of November 2015 No 314 FL “About alteration introduction into Federal law “About extremist activity opposition”” [Electronic resource] URL: http://rg.ru/2015/11/25txt-dok.html

5. Federal law from 29 of June 2013 No 136-FL “About alteration introduction into the article 148 of Russian Federation criminal code and separate legislative acts of Russian Federation in order to insult opposition of citizens religious commitment and feelings” [Electronic resource] URL: http://base.garant.ru/70403758

6. Federal law from 25 of July 2002 No 114-FL “About extremist activity opposition” [Electronic resource] URL: http://base.garant.ru/12127578

7. Federal list of extremist materials of RF Justice Department [Electronic resource] URL: http://minjust.ru/extremist-materials

8. Elbakyan E. Theological expertise in the sphere of general scientific principles [Electronic resource] URL: http://www.sova-center.ru/religion/publications/2015/d33340


Review

For citations:


Astapov S. THE ROLE OF THEOLOGICAL EXPERTISE IN PROBLEM SOLVING OF STATE-CONFESSIONAL RELATIONS IN RUSSIA. Science Almanac of Black Sea Region Countries. 2016;(3):12-16.

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ISSN 2414-1143 (Online)
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