Whether or not you believe in a higher and more powerful being is your choice.

It is also your choice to be involved in the religion with which your beliefs are parallel.

But a new Russian law has made the Russian Orthodox church the country’s leading faith.

President Boris Yeltsin signed the bill last Friday. Now, faiths other than Orthodox fear repression from the government.

In addition to making the Orthodox church government-endorsed, the law says Buddhism, Judaism, Islam and other branches of Christianity are respected, but can be restricted if they haven’t been based in the country for at least 15 years.

Considering that the hard-nosed Soviet Union collapsed only six years ago, isn’t the law simply saying that these “other” religions will be discriminated against? What sort of respect is that?

Yeltsin’s signature on the bill prompted many around the world, including the Vatican, Vice President Al Gore, Congress and human rights groups, to denounce the law. And the law may specifically hurt American-based churches in Russia.

Although many of the freedoms we take for granted are simply woven into our Western-world philosophy, there are some rights which are natural and should not be denied.

It is human nature to enjoy the company of like-minded individuals.

Each of us has our own interests. Maybe you like to play the violin; thus, you join an orchestra.

Maybe you believe in rights for workers; thus, you join a labor union. Maybe you like Porsche’s; thus, you join a car club.

Maybe you are an international student; thus, you join a campus group of students from your country.

Maybe you believe in a higher being; thus, you join a religious faith.

We all need to feel as if we belong to something. We need to know we are not alone in the world — that there is someone out there who holds some of the same beliefs we do.

And for many people, a religion is a force that does this — whether you live in the United States, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay or Russia.

This is particularly true in tough times.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, many Russians suffer from more economic and social strife.

Often, this suffering is worse than that of living under a communist regime. Socialism in the Soviet Union meant that people had a job. Now, that isn’t so.

Although people around the world heralded the demise of a much-hated government, the people of the former communist state aren’t necessarily better off. Some people would even like to return to the policies of the USSR.

Russia is now also suffering from increased violent crime. Mob-like groups threaten the public. Many people don’t feel safe. Sex has become big business, making AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases high on the list of killers in Russia. Drug use is also on the rise.

With all of the troubles in Russia, people need something to clutch onto, something that makes them feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel.

And for many people, this clutch is religion.

Although the Orthodox Church is predominate in Russia, with half of the 150 million people as followers, the new law signals something beyond declaring a state church which represents the majority.

As other faiths were, the Orthodox Church was repressed during the communist era.

This repression has made it hard for the church to fill the gaps people are looking for in post-communist spiritual renewal.

The new law received support when the Orthodox Church convinced the Russian parliament the country needs protection from foreign cults — specifically, the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches.

Basically, the church needs a savior. But in this sense, it’s a political savior that punishes other faiths. And it’s wrong.

Restricting religious belief is one step back from Russia’s hope of prosperity. One would think with the troubles the country is having adapting to a new political system, they would encourage the people to have faith and be strong, in whichever faith they so wished.

Maybe the Russian government thinks making the Orthodox Church official will create unity in a country which has little. Shaking the foundation of people’s beliefs is not a way to create unity.

Maybe the law was a way for a rejuvenated Yeltsin to show he is back —ÿthat no physical or political illness ails him. After all, Yeltsin just named himself as “Boris the First.”

It’s been said his renewal of power is similar to that of a traditional Russian czar.

It shouldn’t make a difference whether unity is needed, whether Yeltsin needs to look as if he is actively involved in the government or anything else.

No matter if you are in the East or in the West, the innate sense to join with people of similar beliefs, particularly religious beliefs, shouldn’t be disrupted.

You are an atheist for a reason. You are a Jew for a reason. You are a follower of the Buddhist faith for a reason. The same goes for Islamics, Catholics and Protestants.

You believe because it is your nature to believe. You shouldn’t be forced into believing something else by a government or anybody else, no matter what the underlying causes or effects are.

Believe.

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Erin Payne is a senior in journalism and mass communication and political science from Rock Rapids.