R. Gainutdin: “Teaching only the subject “Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture” puts Muslims, Jews and Buddhists in the position of younger brothers”

The head of the Council of Muftis of Russia, Ravil Gainutdin, during a meeting of representatives of regional public organizations in Moscow, commented on the situation with the teaching of "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" in various regions of Russia. According to the mufti, the teaching of this subject violates the Constitution of the country. The assertion that every Russian should know the Orthodox culture and Orthodox history of Russia "is an imposition on the entire society of the ideas of the superiority of one culture and one people over the rest," the Mufti believes. According to him, "teaching only the subject "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" puts Muslims, Jews and Buddhists in the position of younger brothers."

Retelling his conversation with the Minister of Education and Science A. Fursenko, R. Gainutdin said: "If a one-sided decision is made, you will plant a bomb for decades to come, and a conflict is inevitable if the culture of one religion is taught today."

In March, at a meeting of representatives of the Muslim clergy with the head of the administration of the President of Kabardino-Balkaria, Albert Kazharov, R. Gainutdin spoke again on the same topic. In his opinion, "the introduction in 74 regions of the Russian Federation of the Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture as a compulsory school subject" infringes on the rights of certain groups of believers, so the basics of "traditional" religions, and not just Orthodoxy, should be taught in general education schools.

The same, according to the mufti, applies to the Russian army: "In it, both Orthodox and Muslim chaplains should act on equal terms, and the creation of so-called Muslim and Orthodox regiments is generally unacceptable."

Sources

• Ravil Gainutdin compares "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" with a time bomb and believes that this item violates the Constitution of the Russian Federation // Portal-Credo.ru. 2007. January 30.
• The head of the Council of Muftis of Russia stands for teaching in schools not the basics of Orthodoxy, but the basics of traditional religions // Interfax-religion. 2007. March 23.