Understanding World Christianity: Russia

Understanding World Christianity: Russia is a broad examination of Christianity--especially Orthodox Christianity--in modern Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church is currently playing a very prominent role in Russian society and politics, and it is not possible to fully understand Russia today without it. The role of Russian Orthodoxy today is a dramatic reversal from the suppression it suffered for most of the 20th century under the Soviet regime. Based upon a wealth of recent research in multiple fields, this book examines the complexity of contemporary Russian Orthodoxy within a historical context. It first introduces the reader to what is distinctive about Orthodox Christianity in general and Russian Orthodoxy in particular, then provides an overview of the history of Christianity in Russia, its various regional expressions, the experience of representative individuals during the 20th century, an examination of modern Russian theology, and ends with an analysis of the post-Soviet relationship of religion, politics, and society. It is an ideal introduction for students and non-specialists interested in Global Christianity, Orthodox Christianity, Russian Studies, and any others who wish to know how Christianity influences, and is influenced by, the Russian context.

Scott Kenworthy is an associate professor in the Department of Comparative Religion at Miami University. He is the author of The Heart of Russia: Trinity-Sergius, Monasticism and Society after 1825 (2010), which won the 2010 Frank S. and Elizabeth D. Brewer Prize of the American Society of Church History.

Dyron B. Daughrity is professor of religion at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. He is author of To Whom Does Christianity Belong? and series editor for Understanding World Christianity, all from Fortress Press.