==Semantics: Irreligious vs. Secular== 

 "Two-thirds of the Soviet population, however, were irreligious." The word "irreligious" may connote hostility as well as indifference. As I suspect its usage here was not meant to convey that some part of the Soviet population may have acted with hostility towards religion, I believe that the word "secular" may be more appropriate. However, if it is true that some part of the Soviet population demonstrated or at least avowed hostility towards religion or the religious, I would concede that the use of "irreligious" may be justified with the condition that a citation is added. Indeed the first two paragraphs need sources, in general.