THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF POLITICIZATION OF RELIGION AS AN INSTRUMENT OF INFLUENCE ON THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF SOCIETY
The article discusses the existing scientific approaches to the study of the phenomenon of "politicization of religion", its essence and purpose. The study of this phenomenon based at identifying the relationship of politics and religion. Political science focuses on the theories which were developed in the XX century by S. Huntington and other scientists whom have made a significant contribution to the development of the theory of secularization. However, the practical approach to the problem revealed the great potential of religion as a means of coming to power of the elite. Today, religion is used to achieve specific political goals and objectives, changing its place and role in society. Veiled under good intentions, religion turns into a powerful propaganda apparatus, not always used for its intended purpose.