Russia vs Darwin

School education in Russia remains a key area for reform among the authorities and legislators, seeking to embed a deeper nationalistic and conservative identity among the next generation. Recent proposals include introducing“chastity” lessons and removing English language classes from the curriculum. Now the Russian authorities, encouraged by the Russian Orthodox Church, are proposing to remove the teaching of Darwin’s theory of evolution from schools, saying it runs counter to religious principles. 

• Muslim Khuchiev, an aide to Prime Minister Mikhail Mushustin and former prime minister of Chechnya, proposed cutting the study of Darwin’s theory of evolution from the curriculum. According to him, it is a flawed theory which represents the first step towards the “spiritual corruption of children.” The theory “is not true, it contradicts religious teaching, all religions recognize this. Who else needs to recognize this so that it can be removed from our textbooks and not imprinted on the minds of our children?”, he said. Khuchiev demanded a meeting of the All-Russia Parents Committee, a consultation group for the education ministry, discuss the matter. 
• The idea is actively supported by the Orthodox Church. Priest Fyodor Lukoyanov, a representative of the church’s commission on “family issues, the protection of motherhood and children”, said the theory of evolution “was actively implanted by Anglo-Saxon colonizers with a view to installing an inferiority complex in conquered peoples.” He asked: “Why should our domestic education system spread these ideologies, dreamed up by people who, until the middle of the 20th century, encouraged slavery and ‘human zoos’ in the ‘enlightened’ West?”
• About 30% of Russians support the removal of Darwin from the school curriculum, according to a recent survey by state sociological center VTsIOM — the highest reading in history. The groups most in favor were the over-45s (36-37%), rural residents (41%), those who follow Islam (44%) and creationists (47%).

Why the world should care

Removing the teaching of evolution from schools might sound absurd, but right now it’s impossible to say that it won’t be seriously considered. After all, it’s not that long since the education ministry, facing fierce criticism from Chechen activists, had to edit a history textbook to state that various ethnic minority groups were deported to the east “based on the facts of their collaboration with the occupiers.” In reality, the mass deportations were a tool of repression, with many claims of collaboration false. The Russian Orthodox Church also recently led a block on legislation that would have toughened punishments for domestic violence. In that instance, the same priest Fyodor Lukoyanov was one of the leading speakers against the proposed new laws. So there are plenty of precedents of religion wielding its influence on socio-political issues in Russia.