The Bible In Belarus: Is It Allowed?

Belarus is a multi-faith state with no religious conflicts, where Christianity is the main religion, and Eastern Orthodoxy is the largest denomination. The country's legislation ensures and guarantees everyone's rights to freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, and equality, regardless of religious affiliation. However, the Belarusian government is considering tightening laws that affect religious believers by amending the law On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations. This has raised concerns among religious organizations, including the question of whether people will still be allowed to own religious literature such as the Holy Bible in their homes.

The legality of owning a Bible in Belarus

Religious Freedom in Belarus

Belarus has a long history of religious diversity, with Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and more recently, Protestantism, all playing significant roles in the country's religious landscape. The country's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right. According to the Ministry of the Interior's 2011 estimations, 73.3% of Belarusians are Orthodox Christians, 14.8% are irreligious, 9.7% are Catholic, and 3.5% follow other religions.

Recent Amendments to Religious Freedom Laws

However, recent amendments to the law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations" have raised concerns among religious groups. These amendments give more power to the Commissioner for Religious and Ethnic Affairs, forbidding political activities on religious property and granting the Commissioner the sole power to terminate religious events. They also make it more difficult for religious organisations to acquire mandatory registration, and prohibit religious activities outside of religious properties, including praying in public buildings or residential premises.

Concerns About Bible Ownership

The amendments regarding religious literature have caused particular concern among religious groups. The amendment states that religious literature should be limited to religious buildings, leading to questions about whether places like university libraries will still be allowed to keep Bibles and other sacred texts. There are fears that these measures could eventually lead to the seizure of Bibles and other religious literature, effectively making their ownership illegal.

While there is no current law explicitly prohibiting Bible ownership in Belarus, the recent amendments to religious freedom laws have caused uncertainty and concern among religious groups. The full implications of these amendments remain to be seen, and it is unclear if and how they will be enforced regarding Bible ownership.

The Belarusian government's stance on religious freedom

The Republic of Belarus is a multi-faith state with no religious conflicts. The country's legislation guarantees everyone's rights to freedom of conscience, religion, social justice, equality, and protection of rights and interests, regardless of religion and religious affiliation. The Belarusian government proceeds from the principle of legal egalitarianism of all religions, which is enshrined in the country's law.

The government supports initiatives of religious organizations to promote dialogue between religions based on respect for human rights and religious tolerance. It also works to prevent the activities of destructive religious organizations. Freedom of religion in Belarus is guaranteed by the Constitution, and the rights and freedoms of believers are enshrined in the law on freedom of conscience and religious organizations.

However, the Belarusian government is considering tightening laws that affect religious believers. The country is amending the law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations." These amendments could abolish freedom of conscience and give more power to the Commissioner for Religious and Ethnic Affairs, forbidding political activities on religious property and giving the Commissioner the sole power to terminate any religious events. The amendments also make it more difficult for religious organizations to acquire mandatory registration, and they specify that activities of unregistered religious organizations are prohibited.

The Belarusian religious landscape is dominated by the Belarusian Orthodox Church, with Eastern Orthodoxy being the largest denomination in the country. However, there are also many other religious denominations and movements represented in the country, including Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Paganism.

The role of religion in Belarusian society

Religion plays a significant role in Belarusian society, with a rich history of religious influences and practices. The country's religious landscape is diverse, and freedom of religion is officially guaranteed by the Constitution. However, in practice, the government has been known to restrict this freedom.

Religious Demographics in Belarus:

Belarus has a population of around 9.2 million people, and Christianity is the predominant religion, specifically Eastern Orthodoxy. According to estimates from the Ministry of Interior in 2011, 73.3% of Belarusians identify as Orthodox Christians, 14.8% are irreligious, 9.7% are Catholic, and 3.5% follow other religions, including Pentecostalism. These numbers have remained relatively consistent, with a 2015 Pew Research Center survey showing similar results.

The religious demographics vary across the country. Eastern Orthodoxy is prevalent throughout Belarus, while Catholicism has a strong presence in the western regions, particularly in the Grodno Region, where Catholics make up 32.3% of the population. Many Catholics in Belarus are part of minority ethnic groups, such as Poles, who comprise 3.1% of the total population.

Historical Context:

The religious history of Belarus is complex and has been influenced by both Orthodox and Catholic traditions. Before the 14th century, the Orthodox Church held dominance in the region. However, this changed with the Union of Krewo in 1385, which made Catholicism the religion of the ruling class in Lithuania, leading to a significant Catholic presence in the bordering north-western parts of modern-day Belarus.

The 16th century marked a period of religious upheaval, with the Protestant Reformation in Catholicism and a period of heresy in the Orthodox sphere. During this time, Protestant ideas began to spread in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the first Protestant Church in Belarus was established in Brest. However, Protestantism did not endure due to the Counter-Reformation in Poland.

Post-Soviet Religious Revival:

Following the end of the Soviet Union, Belarus witnessed a revival of religion, which also brought about a resurgence of the historical conflict between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. This complexity was furthered by the ties that these denominations had with institutions outside the republic. The Belarusian Orthodox Church was led by an ethnic Russian, while the Catholic archdiocese was headed by an ethnic Pole, Cardinal Kazimir Sviontak, who had spent time in Soviet camps and as a pastor in Pinsk.

Freedom of Religion:

The Constitution of Belarus provides for freedom of religion and conscience, and the government officially recognizes and supports this right. The country has a multi-faith society with no religious conflicts, and government bodies at all levels promote interfaith dialogue and tolerance. There were 3,592 registered religious institutions as of January 2024, representing 25 religious denominations and movements.

However, in practice, the government has imposed various restrictions on religious groups. These include compulsory state registration, censorship of literature, state surveillance, and refusal or cancellation of religious visas. There have also been reports of arrests of religious figures and suppression of certain religious literature. The government has justified these actions to protect against the influence of religious sects and maintain stability.

In conclusion, religion holds a significant place in Belarusian society, with a diverse range of religious beliefs and practices. While the country officially guarantees freedom of religion, there have been concerns about restrictions and government interference in religious affairs. The interplay between religion and the state continues to shape the religious landscape in Belarus.

The history of Christianity in Belarus

Christianity is the main religion in Belarus, with Eastern Orthodoxy being the largest denomination. The country's history with the religion dates back to the end of the first millennium when, in 988, the Grand Duke Vladimir had himself baptised according to the Byzantine rite and proclaimed Christianity to be the state religion. The following year, the diocese of Polotsk was founded, and Polotsk became the centre of Christianisation on Belarusian territory. Other principalities also converted to the Byzantine Orthodox Church.

By the end of the 12th century, Europe was divided into two large religious areas: Catholic-dominant Western Europe and Orthodox and Byzantine-influenced Eastern Europe. The Bug River roughly marked the border between them, placing modern-day Belarus in a unique position where these two influences mixed and interfered. Before the 14th century, the Orthodox church was dominant in Belarus. However, the Union of Krewo in 1385 made Catholicism the religion of the ruling class. Jogaila, then ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, ordered the whole population of Lithuania to convert to Catholicism. The Wilno episcopate was created 1.5 years later and received significant land from the Lithuanian dukes. By the mid-16th century, Catholicism had become strong in Lithuania and the bordering north-west parts of Belarus, but the Orthodox church was still dominant in Belarus.

In the 16th century, a crisis began in Christianity: the Protestant Reformation began in Catholicism, and a period of heresy started in an Orthodox area. From the mid-16th century, Protestant ideas began spreading in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The first Protestant Church in Belarus was created in Brest by Mikołaj "the Black" Radziwiłł. However, Protestantism did not survive due to the Counter-Reformation in Poland.

In the post-Soviet era, the revival of religion in Belarus brought about a revival of the historical conflict between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. This complexity was compounded by the two denominations' links to institutions outside the republic. The Belarusian Orthodox Church was headed by an ethnic Russian, while the Catholic archdiocese of Belarus was headed by an ethnic Pole.

In 2011, the Ministry of the Interior estimated that 73.3% of Belarusians were Orthodox Christians, 9.7% were Catholic Christians (either Latin Catholic or Belarusian Greek Catholic), and 3.5% were members of other religions (mostly Pentecostals).

The impact of Soviet-era atheism on modern-day Belarus

Belarus was a part of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1991, and during this time, the country experienced strong state atheism policies. The Soviet Union had a long history of state atheism, which involved destroying places of worship, executing religious leaders, and propagating anti-religious propaganda in schools and the media. The Soviet Union attempted to suppress public religious expression and promote atheism, and this had a significant impact on the religious landscape of Belarus.

During the Soviet era, those seeking social success generally had to profess atheism and stay away from places of worship. This trend became especially prominent during the Stalinist era, which lasted from 1929 to 1953. Organizations such as the League of Militant Atheists ridiculed all religions and harassed believers. The league sponsored lectures, organized demonstrations, and published anti-religious materials to promote atheism.

The Soviet-era atheism has also influenced the religious demographics of Belarus. In 2011, it was estimated that 73.3% of Belarusians were Orthodox Christians, 14.8% were irreligious (atheists or agnostics), 9.7% were Catholic Christians, and 3.5% were members of other religions. The revival of religion in post-Soviet Belarus has brought about a revival of the historical conflict between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, with the Belarusian Orthodox Church headed by a Russian and the Catholic archdiocese headed by a Pole.

In addition, the Soviet-era atheism has had an impact on the practice of religion in Belarus. Religious organizations now face tighter restrictions and increased government control. For example, the Belarusian government is considering amending the law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations," which could potentially abolish freedom of conscience. Acquiring mandatory registration for religious organizations has become more difficult, and religious activities are only allowed on religious properties, restricting prayer in public buildings or residential premises.

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