Religious education becomes compulsory in Russia

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has made a decision to introduce “basics of world religious cultures” and “basics of secular ethics” to Russian schools. Religious classes were held experimentally in 20 Russian regions and around 300,000 students attended them. Religious education becomes compulsory in Russia Parents will choose one of six models of the class and teachers will attend courses and trainings until the end of August. Four models are religious – basics of Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism or Buddhism and the remaining two are basics world religions and secular ethics. Religious communities will choose teachers for the first four models. According to Russian Education Ministry’s data, majority of students are interested in ethics, 42 percent. 30 percent of the students want to attend basics of the Orthodox Christian culture, basics of the world religions 18 percent, basics of Islam nine percent and basics of Buddhism one percent. Vladimir Putin (Beta) Religious leaders back Putin Putin has received the backing of Russia's powerful Orthodox Church, its chief rabbi and top Islamic leader as he seeks a return to the presidency next month The prime minister spoke to the three religious leaders ahead of presidential elections which will be held on March 4, AFP has reported. “I wish to thank you. You said once that you were working like a slave on a galley. But the only difference is that a slave does not have the level of commitment to his work as you do,” Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill said at the meeting. “Thanks to the Almighty, the country has been saved from ruin," added Russia's Chief Mufti Talgat Tadzhuddin. "And one must add - with your direct involvement!" Chief Rabbi Berl Lazar for his part thanked Putin "for everything you have done for Jews." Putin is seen as the overwhelming frontrunner in the election despite a recent admission that he may lack the 50-percent backing needed to win in the first round. Beta Tanjug

Religious education becomes compulsory in Russia

Parents will choose one of six models of the class and teachers will attend courses and trainings until the end of August.

Four models are religious – basics of Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism or Buddhism and the remaining two are basics world religions and secular ethics.

Religious communities will choose teachers for the first four models.

According to Russian Education Ministry’s data, majority of students are interested in ethics, 42 percent. 30 percent of the students want to attend basics of the Orthodox Christian culture, basics of the world religions 18 percent, basics of Islam nine percent and basics of Buddhism one percent.

Religious leaders back Putin

Putin has received the backing of Russia's powerful Orthodox Church, its chief rabbi and top Islamic leader as he seeks a return to the presidency next month

The prime minister spoke to the three religious leaders ahead of presidential elections which will be held on March 4, AFP has reported.

“I wish to thank you. You said once that you were working like a slave on a galley. But the only difference is that a slave does not have the level of commitment to his work as you do,” Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill said at the meeting.

“Thanks to the Almighty, the country has been saved from ruin," added Russia's Chief Mufti Talgat Tadzhuddin. "And one must add - with your direct involvement!"

Chief Rabbi Berl Lazar for his part thanked Putin "for everything you have done for Jews."

Putin is seen as the overwhelming frontrunner in the election despite a recent admission that he may lack the 50-percent backing needed to win in the first round.