Alexy II: Teaching military-industrial complex will not violate the principle of separation of church and state

On January 29, 2007, opening the XV Christmas Educational Readings in Moscow, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus' declared that the teaching of "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" in Russian schools would not violate the principle of separation of church and state.

Alexy II also called for the recognition of destructive calls to make religion a completely private matter and push it into the realm of private life.

The patriarch called for children baptized in Orthodoxy to study the basics of their religion in schools, and to be taught by church teachers. According to him, the introduction of the Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture cannot be a violation of the principle of secularism. Moreover, it is "the most effective means" against "blinding the mind" nationalist, extremist tendencies.

If a student knows about the biblical theory of the origin of the world, he will not be harmed by this, Patriarch Alexy is convinced. "Whoever wants to believe that he descended from a monkey, let him think so, but do not impose these views on others," the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church emphasized.

Sources

• Alexy II speaks out for the introduction of the "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" in Russian schools // Interfax-Religion. 2007. January 29.
• Patriarch Alexy called for the introduction of the post of commissioner for children's rights, praised the film "The Island" and urged not to make religion a private matter for every person // Credo.Ru. 2007. January 29.