Religious components of main risks for functioning and preservation of Ukrainian society

In: Ukrainian society, Band 74, Heft 3, S. 44-61

Abstract

The article dwells upon determination of the religious factor influence on the system of main risks which are threats to the functioning of Ukrainian society. Now the number and strength of risks for the normal functioning and existence of Ukrainian society have noticeably increased. As for some religious "revival", one of the possible dangers is the problems of interaction between various religious actors, and between religious actors and secular society. Accordingly, a need remains for monitoring such risks, assessing their significance for the social whole. It is justified that although religion in Ukraine, mainly through religious organizations, can influence the existence and realization of primary social risks, its activities do not create system risks. Religion is relatively more robust and directly added to socio-political risks, but there is no influence on risks in the economic and demographic areas. At the same time, the consequences of the interaction of religion with other sources of socio-political risks are quite limited. On the contrary, social and political risks stipulate more manifestation of religious risks. Among the various forms of potential religious influence on socio-political and humanitarian risks, the most noticeable is the influence of interactions between the largest Orthodox Churches (Orthodox Church of Ukraine and Ukrainian Orthodox Church). Such interaction has been characterized by hostility and open conflicts, and this situation most likely will continue in the future. At the same time, even open conflicts between these Churches are and will be local, short-term, and dependent on the political situation. In the longer term, the role of religion in the archaization of mass consciousness, its dehumanization, the loss of the ability to create a rational picture of the world, and in maintaining social and individual mental tension becomes a noticeable risk.