Abstract:
Anti-religious propaganda in the former Soviet Union was efficient; with a majority of young people being nonbelievers. Atheism was easily accepted after 1917 because religiosity was not as deeply ingrained as is sometimes supposed. The hypothesis is proposed here that a majority of today’s churchgoers, priests and church officials in Russia are atheists or agnostics, habitually following prescribed ideologies. Selected psychological and healthcare-related aspects are discussed. The Ukraine war, having thwarted the internationally agreed status quo, has triggered conflicts in different parts of the world. An optimal solution would be a global leadership, centered in the most developed parts of the world, based on the principles of mercy and mutual help, aimed at preservation of life and health, and the humane attainment of a population size compatible with sustainable, healthy global ecosystems. Some predominantly Russian-speaking provinces of Ukraine may become parts of the Russian Federation if citizens really want it. New borders should be agreed by negotiations.