Neoprotestantism and Neopaganism as Forms of Opposition to the Orthodox Christianity in Russia
https://doi.org/10.53822/2712-9276-2022-3-81-102
Abstract
In medieval Russia and even later on, being Russian meant being an Orthodox Christian. And yet, neopaganism nowadays tries to promote the image of a truly Russian person as a non-Orthodox believer. It therefore seems interesting to compare the spiritual path of neoprotestants and neopagans, as equally seeking to remove believers from the Orthodox Church and off er alternative perspectives for their spiritual life. In both cases, the correlation between the need for the rejection of believers from the dominant Church and the cultivation of the sin of pride in them (the position of their personal preferences and the constant construction of a convincing picture of the world as the standard of correct faith) will serve as a working hypothesis of the study. In that case, neoprotestantism and neopaganism are both the forms of the overproud exaltation of the narrow human mind over the truth once given by God and kept by the Church. The fundamental position of personal preferences and the constant construction of a convincing picture of the world as the standard of correct faith is the practical realization of this idea. For neoprotestants, their personal freedom holds an absolute priority over the tradition. Therefore, belonging to a particular community takes as little importance for them as it does for neopagans. At the same time, neopaganism culturologically represents an example of the transition from modernity to postmodernity, being an example of placing faith in any concepts, even obviously artifi cial, eclectic or recently invented ones. Based on the evidence of St. John of the Ladder and St. Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky), it is shown in the article that being in heresy or unorthodoxy indicates the theological ignorance and the unstable position of its adherents. This, in turn, gives rise to lies and other passions, examples of which are listed in the article. Neoprotestants and neopagans can be also united in their fundamental anti-historicism and the humiliation of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, they are all forced to constantly supplement and construct their own faith, starting from some generally accepted principles. The current trends in the doctrines of neoprotestants and neopagans are therefore often based on the agreement with the “spirit of the times” and the authority of the public opinion.
About the Author
E. G. Veselov
Kostroma Theological Seminary
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
priest — Candidate of Theology, Candidate of Law, Lecturer
26/37 Simanovsky street, Kostroma, Russia, 156000
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Review
For citations:
Veselov E.G. Neoprotestantism and Neopaganism as Forms of Opposition to the Orthodox Christianity in Russia. Orthodoxia. 2022;(3):81-102. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.53822/2712-9276-2022-3-81-102
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