How did the USSR government promote atheism during Stalins rule ?
Although the various Soviet constitutions guaranteed the right to “religious and anti-religious propaganda”, atheism was the formal creed of the Communist movement. There was little reason for the Communists to support religion, especially since the Orthodox Church had been an integral part of the Tsarist system, and had supported the Whites throughout the Civil War. Not only was there a Society of the Godless, which all members of the youth movement Konsomol were obliged to join, but all religious organisations had to be licensed by the State. Those which were not prepared to pay at least lip-service to the Communist creed were persecuted, and many believers, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist served time in the Gulag. Religious groups were not recognised as collective entities in law which meant they could not own property. It was made illegal to teach religion to children. Entry to Higher Education depended on recommendation through the Communist Party and the Konsomol league, t
