An international conference “Religious Pluralism as a Political Factor in Ukraine” was launched October 3 at the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU). More than 20 scholars from Ukraine, Germany and the United States will discuss interfaith relations in Ukraine through the prism of time, the political situation, and challenges facing Ukraine in this regard.
In his opening remarks, Rector of UCU Fr. Dr. Bohdan Prakh noted that such events make it possible not only to discuss the current state of affairs, but, using the experience of other countries, to find possible ways out of crisis situations. In addition, it is a good prospect for establishing interfaith dialogue.
According to Vice Rector for Research at UCU Oleh Turiy, the religious situation in Ukraine is unique to the world. Unlike neighboring countries, in Ukraine there is total domination of one of the denominations, and in our territory it is impossible to apply the principle of “cuius regio, eius religio” (“Whose realm his religion), because religions and faiths have coexisted here throughout history. This situation is quite promising for research. And the interest in this subject in Germany is a logical continuation of cooperation between UCU and the Institute for East and Southeast Europe Studies (IOS) in Regensburg, Germany, to study interfaith relationships in Ukraine. It also enables German scholars to form a position on the situation.
Addressing the potential for religious conflicts in modern Ukraine, Oleh Turiy told about the history of the formation and restoration of churches and religious organizations during 1991-2013: “Religious conflicts as such were not. Rather, there were conflicts within the same denominations. Their source is the unresolved problem of identity of religious communities,” said the historian. Religious freedom, which appeared after Ukraine gained independence, in his opinion, only made these problems apparent.
Reporting on religious communities and public institutions in Ukraine in religious affairs, Catherine Beck (Munich/Regensburg) reported that churches and religious organizations influence the formation of values in Ukraine, and accordingly, the activity of the state. Therefore, historians who are researching this issue should also study the history, culture, and politics of the church. Indeed, despite the large number of denominations in Ukraine, they continue to have a significant impact on the political situation in the country.
Catherine Beck also expressed the opinion that the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, which was established in December 1996 to initiate a dialogue between the churches and religious organizations, is now an active advisory body that combines the efforts of churches and religious organizations in the cooperation with the state.
Each report was accompanied by questions and discussions with scholars and experts.
At the three-day conference, experts plan to review the interaction of the church with the state and society, the impact of the religious dimension on the historical memory, the existence of churches in totalitarian regimes, and the religious minorities and their cultures in Ukraine, the press service of the Ukrainian Catholic University reports.