Social and environmental problems of religious deviation: from critical methodology to practice

Abstract

The question of the relationship between religion and power in the post-secular era, as well as the problem of social inequality of new religious movements with traditional religions, is a real challenge, and not only to social sciences. The relevance of the topic reveals the inevitability of analyzing the phenomenon of the revival of religiosity, in which complex processes of lack of trust, the interconnection of systemic development and religious security take place. The search for solutions to the problem requires an understanding of historical experience, including an appeal to socio-philosophical analysis. The article presents a reflection on the principles in solving problems related to the prevention of the influence of destructive religious groups. The proposed example of a socio-philosophical analysis of the problem under study, as one of several interrelationships between religion, power, education and humanism, is carried out through the concepts of “spiritual security”, “religious security”, “education”, “critical thinking” and “confessional stability”. In conclusion, a thesis is proposed that allows a multi-level and deeper discussion of the problem with the ability to formulate real solutions and their conditions.

Legal regulation of confessional relations in Kazakhstan

“…Scientific studies devoted to the formation of confessional relations in Kazakhstan were investigated in the framework of this article: monographs and articles (Adam-Troian et al, 2021;Finlay & Hopkins, 2020;Rosenfeld & Zekrist, 2021;Yang & Kozhirova, 2021;Shyngysbayev, 2020;Alimova, 2015;Shamshudinova et al, 2019;Constitution of the Republic…, 1995;Stephens et al, 2021;Çakir, 2020;Svante, 2021;Mahmut, 2019).…”

“…Aimaganbetova et al (2023). Rosenfeld and Zekrist (2021) investigated the legal provision of freedom of religion in the Republic of Kazakhstan and analysed the state-religious policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan as a director of national security, while the authors did not delve into international normative acts that set standards for state-confessional relations. A review article on the main changes in the relationship between the state and religious associations that have occurred since the independence of Kazakhstan was prepared by Yang and Kozhirova (2021).…”