3. "LOVE IS THE FULFILLING
OF THE LAW"

(i)

RELIGION IN Russia in pro-revolutionary days had long
been regarded by liberal and progressive thinkers and
workers as a dangerous enemy. It is still seriously dis-
trusted, and, when; not openly and vigorously attacked, is
discouraged and handicapped. In the early days of the
Revolution many sulfercd maityidom for their faith, the
good with the bad.

For centuries the Orthodox Church had worked hand in
glove with the Tsarist regime. Institutional religion had
consistently sided with .superstition and reaction: it was
die confessed opponent of science and education. A boast
was made to inc. in pre-war days thai an entirely ignorant
man could become a bishop in Russia.

It was inevitable that nuu^y adherents of a religion openly
reactionary and confessedly unintellectual should oppose
the new revolution and side with the interventionist
nations whose armies encircled the young republic and
sought its destruction. In such circumstances the effort
to suppress the Church is no matter of surprise. Marx,
Lenin, and St:din were; anti-religious just because they
believed that religion had consistently aligned itself with
organized injustice. Outrages were committed on the
Church in proportion as the Church had become corrupt
and wealthy, neglectful uol only of social justice, liberty,
education of the masses, and social welfare in general, but
actively persecuting those who made these things their
concern. It is not natural for people to murder priests.

No great revolution, alas, was ever carried through with-
out bloodshed, violence, and brutality. The stugglcs for
liberty in England have their own tales to tell. Terrible
tbinj^s happened in Prance. Terrible things likewise
happened in Russia. They happened on both sides, though
the atrocity statistics concerning them have been, as most
responsible historians know today, grossly exaggerated.