Albania, From Dictatorship to Religious Freedom

Albania has a long history of being oppressed, but this video concerns the past century. During World War 2, the fascist Italians and Nazis occupied Albania, but afterwards the entire Balkans fell under the control of Communism. No Communist leader was more repressive that Albania's leader Enver Hoxha. This video is about his domineering rule and how he forced his subjects to abandon any and all religion, destroyed churches, and sent clergy to prisons. With the fall of Communism in 1991, a new resurgence of religious freedom has emerged, but scars of the past still remain.

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(In addition to original footage, this video utilizes clips from a variety of sources including Storyblocks, Shutterstock, Creative Commons, News and documentary footage and "Fair Use" clips. Also, music from Fresh Music, and the Youtube Audio Library. Please note the credited sources below:)

[kennethyee]

I feel that Mark Yerkes has worked hard on the flow and the script. This is very informative, without being pedantic or boring. A wide compilation of material, put together effectively.

[TimothyCarmain]

Dogma can have religious or secular purposes; the presence of dogma and supporting doctrine defining matters of authority and morality does not in and of itself establish a belief system as a religion, though more often than not it replaces an institutional religion shorn of its supernatural/superstitional aspects. Atheism mean a philosophy without gods and as such can be a substitution for theism, ie religion, but not a religion supplanting another religion.

[michaelhaywood]

Are Albanian Christians mainly Catholic or Greek Orthodox?

[lidellsimpson]

I should add for a little perspective, In Albania 58.69% are Muslims, 10.02% are Roman Catholics and 6.75% are Eastern Orthodox. The narrator completely ignored the large Muslim population this misleading you to think Albania is a predominately Christian country. Today Albania is a testament of Religious tolerance and coexistence. So Mr. Yerkes just could not even bring himself to say that Albania is mainly Muslim.

[wabakoen]

Democracy will return to Albania, Hoxha will be revered as the people still revere him