FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE ACTIVITY OF THE UNION OF ATHEISTSIN THE SOVIET BELARUS (1924—1934)

Abstract

The article observes the situation with the Union of atheists financing. The “Society of friends of the ‘Bezbozhnik’ (atheist)
newspaper” created in Moscow at the initiative of atheistic adjusted citizens was supposed to become the all-Union organization. The volunteer society carrying out an important ideological function needed financial support. The government and party bodies undertook measures for formation of financing system of antireligious work and this society as the central link of agitation and propaganda system. The institutional capacity and prospects of antireligious structure development in the conditions of forming a new model of the state and church relations are analyzed in this article. The main sources of funds receipt are defined.

It is established that the society of atheists couldn't provide sufficient financing for the organization itself. The latent forms of
the state subsidizing of antireligious work and mechanisms of receiving means from public organizations and economic entities are considered. The reasons which led to almost complete termination of receipt of the funds from own authorized activity are considered. Insufficient financing of the society of atheists led to destruction of its managerial structure and almost complete stopping of antireligious
propaganda.

Ref.: 16 titles.