Spiritual and axiological policy as a tool for harmonizing religious and secular elements in Russian society
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background.The relevance of the study is determined by the need to find effective mechanisms for harmonizing religious and secular elements in modern society, where traditional values face the challenges of secularization and globalization. In the contextof growing polarization of public sentiment, spiritual and axiological policy becomes particularly significant as a tool for forming a unified value space, contributing to social consolidation based on a balance of religious and secular values. The study of this issue allows developing theoretical foundations for creating an effective model of interaction between various мировоззренческих (worldview) установок (attitudes) in modern society. Purpose. To determine the role of spiritual and axiological policy in forming a holistic system of socio-cultural values in the interaction between religious and secular elements in modern society. Materials and methods. Theoretical analysis of philosophical, sociological, and political science literature helped reveal modern problems of interaction between religion and secular culture. A systematic approach was used to study the mechanisms of implementing spiritual and axiological policy, while the structural-functional approach was applied to analyze the institutions implementing this policy. Results. The study established that spiritual and axiological policy in modern post-secular society is transforming from a tool of passive state neutrality towards religion into an active mechanism of semantic mediation and harmonization. At the metaphysical level, the necessity of overcoming the paradigm of strict separation in favor of the concept of complementarity between religious and secular elements has been substantiated. It has been proven that abandoning the instrumentalization of religion leads to the formation of stable value sovereignty, where traditional confessions act not as opponents of civil society but as its moral foundation. The mechanism of “axiological translation” has been identified, through which complex theological concepts are de-exoticized and integrated into civic discourse via a system of ethical universals (value of life, solidarity, justice, etc.), without losing their ontological depth. This allows legitimizing legal norms through appeals to higher moral authority, reducing the level of legal nihilism. Systemic risks of hyper-harmonization have been identified: the threat of simulacrum faith from the bureaucratic apparatus and the risk of discriminating against мировоззренческихminorities. A “dynamic balance” model has been proposed, предполагающая (suggesting) the preservation of political sphere autonomy while simultaneously integrating spiritual content into strategic planning. It has been established that the effectiveness of such policy directly depends on the ability to maintain dialogue between institutions, avoiding both clericalization of governance and desacralization of public space. Russia’s Spiritual and axiological policy is positioned by the author as a necessary element for ensuring national security and social stability in conditions of civilizational diversity.
Author: Oksana S. Baturina
Institution: Russian Islamic University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $80
OpenAlex ID: W7225640754