The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1955-01-22
Religious Trend Seen
Continued from Back Page)

This policy has succeeded many years in sharply
reducing the attendance of young people at religious
services.
But the church be winning back at least
some of the lost ground
At Moscow's Yelkovsky Cathedral this Easter,
thousands of Russians gathered to celebrate with
Aexei Patriarch of Moscow The congregation consisted
mostly of old persons, but there many children and
what seemed significant, considerable group of
Foreign residents, watching the colorful nghtong
ritual agreed there youngsters than before.
The Journal of the Moscow Patrarchiae of the Rus
Orthodox Church has reported the reopening
eral churches closed for many years.
AT the Moscow Central Synagogue, fair sprinkling
of children attended the crowded Passover services.
The influence of the church be gagged from the
frequency of attacks religion which have appeared
in the Soviet press recently.
LAID TO MALENkOV APPROACH
The fact that Young Communist and the other
have felt it necessary devote considerable space
to religion may be regarded indication that the
teachings of the gospel attract somewhat younger audi
than previously.
Observers of the Soviet scene believe that it would
be futile to read much into this development that the
average Soviet young person, by virtue his Communist
upbringing, is hostile to religion and is totally oblivous
to the church.
If the church slight gains in recent months
probable this be due to the widespread be-
lief here that the Malenkov somewhat
tolerant in its approach.
There number of signs that the Soviet people
expect earlier and freer existence under the new
regime.
The government however, remains basicaly opposed
to religion, and there every indication that
munst Party ready challenge any rise in popularity
of the church.
The Komsomol, an organization with nearly 10000.
600 members between the of Ia and 26 appears al
ready to have been given key role combating religion
which is described in the Communist press AZ weapon
of the class of the toilinR M
RELIGIOUS HOLD DECRIED
Young Communist said that the struggle towards
overcoming religions survvals" lone the most i'm
portant tasks of the Communist upbrngng of the Masses
The magazine complained that religious festivals
such the celebration of Easter still hod rather con-
siderable number of people under their influence"
1t declared: I'm our society, a few
such people who call themselves atheists and who at the
time adopt compromising attitude toward religious
rites and holidays Sometimes across
such atheists who themselves participate in one or other
of the religious holidays"
According to Young Communist religion diverted the
tong from the struggle against the aggressors
and the Christian church capitalist countries preached
fairy tales of the suffering Christ in order to keep
the in submission and obedience. The church
dulged in Lying and hypocritieal propaganda"
In the Soviet Union, the magazine said there was not
need for religions fairy tales of paradise after DEATH
The Communist Party guided the people build better
life earth.
Therefore, ten. of millions of worker. in the
U.S.SR do believe either in God or religion. fairy
tales"
Despite this, religious preudices still persistent
y held in the consciousness and everyday life of certain
section of the population of country Not only among
the older generation but the youth can
people who attend church and observe re-
ligous rites, celebrate religious holidays"
Young Communist added: "Can one consider religious
rites and holidays harmless survvas Of the past Can
one have Indifferent attitude towards them? On no
account
Religious rites and holidays, as well as all other
religious survva fill the consciousness Of believers with
antiscenthc conceptions.
"A struggle against religious rites and holidays must
be carried on by all cultural forces by all
lists and agtsor Ii is necessary explain to the masse,
uncessingly the harm Of religious holidays and rtes
"A particular role in this belongs to the Kom-
somo which has to render assistance our party in IN.
Communist upbringing Of the young generation
THE komsomol organization has everyshins with
which to youth from the reaetionsry inuene.
of religion"
MISREPRESENTATION. JAN. a. 1883