Religious Factor in the Republic of Moldova and European Values

Abstract

The article considers the influence of the religious factor on the socio-political life of the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter referred to as the RM) in the conditions of post-Soviet transit. With the acquisition of sovereignty in the Republic of Moldova, a democratic cooperative model of state-confessional relations corresponding to international and European standards is formed, which is reflected in the 1994 Constitution and the Law on Freedom of Conscience, Thought and Religion of 2007. European values are reflected in the principles of separation, non-interference, neutrality and tolerance towards religion from the side of legislation and public authorities. At the same time, official statistics and sociological monitoring of the religious situation in the Republic of Moldova show one of the highest levels of religiosity of its population in the dynamics of world indicators. 92% of the population consider themselves Orthodox, 13% are churched, showing a high index of trust in the Church and sharing religious values. Religious traditionalism is an indicator of the national-cultural identity of the population of the Republic of Moldova in conditions of political instability, a rapid change of political forces in the Parliament, and a value dichotomy between powerful poles of attraction: the Russian Federation and the European Union. The religious factor acts in Moldova as a stabilizer of the social and political life of the last three decades of independence.

Keywords

• identity
• orthodoxy
• religion
• republic of moldova
• secularization
• traditionalism