Philosopher Baumeister warns of risks posed by Ukraine's UOC ban law

Andriy Baumeister. Photo: a YouTube video screenshot

Doctor of Philosophy, Professor of the Department of Theoretical and Practical Philosophy at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (until 2023), Andriy Baumeister, recorded a video titled "The City of God and the City of Man. 'Spiritual Independence' and the Church Question in Ukraine". The Ukrainian philosopher discussed what actually happened with the adoption of the law on the so-called ban on the UOC.

"On 20 August 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed the law 'On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Religious Organizations' by a majority vote. The adoption of this law (later signed by the President of Ukraine) caused unprecedented euphoria in our patriotic circles. There was a lot of talk about gaining ‘spiritual independence’, about liberation from the power of the ‘Russian world’, about the beginning of some kind of golden age or spiritual revival. The jubilation knew no bounds. This celebration unfolded against the backdrop of caricatures reminiscent of the Bolshevik 'Bezbozhnik' from the 1920s or the Soviet magazine 'Krokodil'," reads the video's description.

Andriy Baumeister explains that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was accused of ties with the KGB, the FSB, imperial and "pro-Russian" narratives. The UOC was charged with "aiding", "collaboration" and other serious crimes against its people.

In his commentary, the philosopher shares his own view of this situation, explaining what actually happened, why this euphoria is dangerous, and why it is destructive for a modern democratic state.

As the UOJ previously reported, Ukrainian philosopher Andriy Baumeister had earlier criticized the ban on the UOC.

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