p An essential feature of the scientiflc outlook is its atheism. The formation of the scientific, communist outlook is. therefore directly linked up with atheistic education.

p The Soviet Union is the first country in the world where atheism has been accepted by the bulk of the population. Most of the people have released themselves from the fetters of religion. But in Soviet society religion still lives in the minds of a section of the people.

p Belief in God, in an after-life, distracts religious people from vital terrestrial problems and prevents them from actively participating in the life of society. Some religious rites are harmful to health. Religious morality with its doctrine of non-resistance blunts the class feeling of religious people.

p With regard to the attitude to religion the Constitution of the U.S.S.R. guarantees freedom of conscience.

p Soviet society’s natural advance towards communism serves as the objective foundation for surmounting religious views. Life itself, the practice of active construction, the colossal changes, the breath-taking plans, the fructifying spirit of creative work and the successes of science, technology and culture force many believers to modify their views.

The content and purpose of atheistic education is to disseminate scientific, materialist knowledge and free believers from the influence of religion, of all superstitions and prejudices. The main feature of scientific atheistic propaganda is that it presents well-argued facts in a manner that can be understood by all people.