Understanding World Christianity: Russia

In this talk, Professor Scott Kenworthy will discuss his new book (co-authored with Alexander Agadjanian), Understanding World Christianity: Russia (Fortress Press, 2021), with NYU Professor Yanni Kotsonis.  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 current role of Russian Orthodoxy 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, the 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 aimed for scholars and students in all fields of Russian studies (Anthropology, History, Literature, Political Science, etc.) and for anyone who wants understand better how Christianity influences, and is influenced by, the Russian context.