Bishop Feofan of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz: Tolerance should not turn into quasi-religion

On March 24, a public hearing took place at the Russian State Library on Opposition to Neo-Fascism and Extremism in Russian Society. It was organized by the Russian Federation Public Chamber. The participants discussed the growth of xenophobia and extremism in Russia and considered ways of ensuring interreligious peace and harmony in inter-ethnic and inter-confessional relations.

Among the participants in the hearing was Bishop Feofan of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz, member of the Public Chamber. ‘The need to oppose xenophobia, extremism and neo-fascism is evident and does not raise any doubts. It is also clear that the principles of tolerance should be strengthened, for it is a guarantee of the survival of society,’ His Grace Feofan said underlining that a great deal of factors should taken into account in realizing this good idea.

‘Most people, both believers and non-believers, do not want to abandon their ethnic-cultural and ideological, in particular religious, identity; they do not want to part with their convictions,’ he said, ‘Therefore, if we want to oppose extremism in society we should seek to expound the ideas of tolerance in a system of values intelligible and acceptable for people rather than to impose on them something completely alien and contrary to their convictions.’

The sources of extremism and chauvinism lie precisely in the fact that people are artificially deprived of a possibility for sharing the culture and traditional values which were cherished by their ancestors for centuries, the bishop said. The idea of tolerance, he added, should not be turned into some self-sufficient ideology or quasi-religion. It should not be imposed by force; it should not victimize values more significant for religious people. ‘We have no right to and should not seek to deprive people of their ethnic-cultural and religious identity for the sake of making them tolerant.’

In this connection, Bishop Feofan reminded the participants of the need to consider and appreciate the hierarchy of values held by society in developing a program of educating for tolerance. The importance of tolerance should be justified by more fundamental and profound ideas rooted in the traditional culture of the people, he believes.