October 15 is an important date in the history of the research contest “Faith and religion in contemporary Russia”, which is officially the last day of applying the papers. «Half done», – sighed the organizers

Few papers continued to come to the contest after the deadline. « If I’m not too late … », – writes in her letter a participant who submitted her paper on October 21st.

There are 172 papers for the contest. All texts are interesting, although very different: about pagans and Orthodox, Vaishnavs and Muslims, Catholics and Jews. Entries are different, apparently, as their authors are: students, graduates, postgraduates, candidates and even a young participant with a PhD. To participate in the contest one need not be a researcher in religious studies. Contest turned out to be multidisciplinary, as it had been intended: not only religious scholars and theologians, but also political scientists, sociologists, historians, psychologists, lawyers, linguists, philosophers, and others took part in it. Now we can say with certainty that the competition is all-Russia. Our members represent such cities as Samara, Vladimir, Khabarovsk, Makhachkala, Blagoveshchensk, Tomsk, Penza, Chelyabinsk, Moscow and St. Petersburg. And even Munich!

Now, when the texts and their authors are waiting for the selection process, it’s time to remember how it all began. The first paper was received on June 9. It was sent by a 3rd year student of the Faculty of Public Administration of Moscow State University. Then in the summer there were almost no papers. September was also not very nice: only about twenty papers. Students made ​​us nervous, however, they did not disappoint: half of the applications came on the eve of the deadline and on the last day. That’s how it was:

October 15 is the last day of applying for the contest.

Now the most important and difficult stage of the contest begins, the selection of applications that meet the requirements specified in the Regulations. Thereafter, honorary members of the jury will begin to choose the best papers, they are already looking forward to work!

Prepared by Ksenia Medvedeva