ABSTRACT
The central element in the current phase of the war on religion, then involves the use of limited means to erode the strength of the enemy. Outright terror has been essentially discarded as an instrument of policy, and atheist propaganda has come to play the dominant role in the struggle against religion. Political satire has had a long and fascinating history, and it would seem today to provide a splendid opportunity for lampooning religion. During the period 1970-1975, Krokodil printed 38 cartoons that were critical of religion, or that used religious symbols to criticize other shortcomings in Soviet society. The contrast between his "protection of the historical monument" and the transformation of the church into an overflowing storage center underscores the fact that Soviet antireligiozniki have been guilty of excesses and impropieties. The Soviet leaders, that is, have always viewed secularization as basic to their political program.
