Nor has glasnost eradicated antiSemitism and political persecution of Jews in the Soviet Union. In fact. it has opened the door for traditional Soviet antiSemitism to burst forth in such antiSemitic organizations as Pamyat. AntiSemitism is flourishing under glasnost. and the need of Soviet Jews refugees to emigrate has become even more pronounced. The suggestion that glasnost has brought fundamental improvements to the situation of Pentecostals and other Christian minorities in the Soviet Union is also erroneous. Pentecostals and other Evangelical Christians like Baptists have faced harsh persecution in the Soviet Union for generations because of their religious beliefs. and that persecution continues today. Pentecostals. part of the conservative evangelical wing of Protestantism. have sought to emigrate since 1963 because of unrelenting persecution and discrimination by Soviet authorities and a strong desire to live their lives in obedience to Biblical principles. Pentecostals refuse to register their congregations with the state because they believe the conditions for registration directly contradict the Bible and their religious beliefs. To accept legal status through registration with the Soviet Union. they must accept a ban on the religious education and participation in church life of children and youth. and on evangelism. two key tenets of Pentecostal doctrine.
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