Spiritual Christianity

Spiritual Christianity () is the group of belief systems held by so-called folk Protestants (), including non-Eastern Orthodox indigenous faith tribes and new religious movements that emerged in the Russian Empire. Their origins are varied: some come from Protestant movements imported from Europe to Russia by missionaries, travelers and workers; others from disgust at the behavior (absenteeism, alcoholism, profiteering) of Orthodox priests, still others from the Bezpopovtsy Raskolniks. Those influences, mixed with folk traditions, resulted in communities that are collectively called (sectarians). Such communities were typically documented by Russian Orthodox clergy with a label that described their heresy such as not fasting, meeting on Saturday (sabbatarians), rejecting the spirit (spirit wrestlers), body mutilation (castigators), self-flagellation, or suicide.

These heterodox (non- orthodox) groups "rejected ritual and outward observances and believe instead in the direct revelation of God to the inner man".Camfield (1990) p.694 fn.4 Adherents are called Spiritual Christians () or, less accurately,
malakan
' in the former Soviet Union, and "Molokans" in the United States, often confused with " Doukhobors" in Canada. '' Molokane'' proper constituted the largest and most organized of many Spiritual Christian groups in the Russian Empire.

Spiritual Christians have been compared to the European Radical Reformation. Extant Spiritual Christian sects include: Dukhobors, Molokans, New Israel, Sukhie Baptisty, Sons of Freedom and the Dukh-i-zhizniki.

History

The historian Pavel Milyukov traced the origins of Spiritual Christianity to the Doukhobors, who were first recorded in the 1800s but originated earlier. Milyukov believed the movement reflected developments among Russian peasants similar to those underlying the German Peasants' War in the German Reformation of the 1500s. Many Spiritual Christians embraced egalitarian and pacifist beliefs, which were considered politically radical views by the Russian government. It deported some groups to internal exile in Central Asia. About one percent escaped suppression by emigrating (1898–1930s) to North America forming a diaspora that divided into many sub-groups.

Sects

Among the many sectarians (''sektanty'' : сектанты) in Imperial Russia considered to practice Spiritual Christianity are the '' Dukhobortsy'', ''Maksimisty'', Molokans, '' Subbotniki'', ''Pryguny'' (Jumpers), Khlysts, Skoptsy, Ikonobortsy (Icon-fighters, " Iconoclasts") and ''Zhidovstvuyushchiye'' (Жидовствующие: Judaizers). These sects often have radically different notions of "spirituality" and practices. Their common denominator is that they sought God in "Spirit and Truth" (Gospel of John 4:24) rather than in the Orthodox Church or ancient rites of Popovtsy. Their saying was, "The church is not within logs, but within ribs". The movement was popular with intellectuals such as Tolstoy. Nikolai Leskov was also drawn to Spiritual Christianity after visiting Protestant Europe in 1875.

Separate from Spiritual Christianity were other strands of Russian ''sektanstvo'' ("sectarianism" in the sense "splitting into sects" rather than " sectarian bigotry") including the Popovtsy and "Evangelical Christianity".

Molokans

The '' Molokane'' are a sect that has been compared to the Radical Reformation, to the Quakers, and often confused with other Spiritual Christian faiths from Russia. They have a Protestant-like view of the authority of scripture, however interpreting the bible allegorically or "spiritually", they see the sacraments "spiritually", reject the use of icons, images of the cross and Church hierarchy along with venerating the saints. ''Molokane'' believe each has their own inner light, therefore do not need someone to "jump in the spirit" for them. In Russia, they advocated for pacifism, held home meetings, did not drink or smoke, opposed contraception and some modern technology. Many Molokans follow the Old Testament food laws, refusing to eat pork, shellfish or unclean foods. They were named for consuming dairy products (''moloko'': Russian for "milk") during most Orthodox fasting days. About 40,000 continue the faith in Russia, and one meeting hall continues to meet on Potrero Hill, San Francisco, since 1928.

Mokrye Molokane

Mokrye Molokane are a Molokan subsect that split off from the Molokans in the year 2000, that is nearly identical to the Molokans but practice water baptism.

Sukhie Baptisty

Sukhie Baptisty was a 19th-century Spiritual Christian movement, which was born from Molokans who merged with the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians. They were called "dry baptists", because they refused to baptize believers in physical water, but instead believing in a "baptism of the spirit", insisting that baptism was a purely spiritual experience instead of a physical one. Very few dry Baptists still exist in Georgia.

Molokan-Adventisty

Molokan-Adventisty are a hybrid sect of Molokans and Seventh Day Adventists, the sect was born because of German Adventist missionaries in the 20th century.

Pryguny

The Pryguny (translation: Jumpers) were formed from several heterodox (sectarian) movements in Central Russia and Taurida Governorate, most of whom were isolated in the newly acquired South Caucasus to not infect the Orthodox. Named for their ecstatic spiritual jumping dances, these new tribes variously embraced a few essential "Christ's holidays" from Orthodoxy, "God's holidays" from the Old Testament and Subbotniks, adding new prophecies and rituals similar to ''Khlysty''. They have some similarities to western Pentecostalism. One outspoken ''Prygun'' leader in Erivan Governorate, Maksim G. Rudomyotkin (1818-1877), formed his own ''Maksimist'' faith, which merged with the new ''Dukh-i-zhiznik'' movement formed in Los Angeles, California in the 1930s by adherents who migrated there from 1905 through 1912.

Doukhobors

'' Dukhobortsy'' were an 18th-century Spiritual Christian movement that evolved from '' ikonobortsy'', opposed all external authorities and the literal Bible, instead being in favour of direct individual revelation. They abolished priests and sacraments, were pacifists and opposed the authority of church and state. One-third mass migrated to Canada (1899-1938), and about 15-20k ''Dukhobortsy'' still exist in Russia.

Sons of Freedom

Doukhobors are not Sons of Freedom. Soon after immigration began to the Canadian prairies, in 1902 a zealous faction calling themselves ''svobodniki'' (free-sovereign people) separated from and attacked other Doukhobors and the Canadian government. The ''svobodniki'' began several protest marches (treks) to return to Russia. They harassed other Doukhobors for not joining their anarchistic movement. By the 1920s the they were called "Sons of Freedom" and "Freedomites", and were extensively confused with the Independent Doukhobors who registered their own land and attended public schools; and the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB: community Doukhobors) led by Peter V. Verigin. The Sons of Freedom conducted various protests (nude treks, arson, bombings, not owning land, etc.) into the 1980s.

Khlysts

The Khlysts (whips, flagellants) were a 17th-century sect that left the Russian Orthodox Church, they held extremely ascetic views, the Khlyst sect became extinct during the Soviet Union. The ''Khlysty'' imposed self denial and focused on the reception of the Holy Spirit through constant prayer, they were denounced as "Quaker heretics" and practices such as ecstatic forms of worship, rhythmic dancing, chants and celibacy resembled the practice of the Shakers. The Khlyst practices also resembled Pentecostal sects. C. L. Sulzberger, in 1977, claimed that Rasputin "adopted the philosophy (if not proven membership)" of the Khlysts.

Postniki

''Postniki'' were a sect that was born out of the Khlysts. They emphasized ascetism. They branched into Staroizrail and New Israel.

Skoptsy

'' Skoptsy'', now extinct, originally split off from the Khlysts and had a high following in the 19th century. The sect believed that forgiveness of sin came through self mutilation, like castration. They also believed that when enough people joined them, Jesus would return.' The sect was ultimately destroyed by Stalin. Some reported that the Skoptsy sect still exists in small numbers, but there is no serious proof. A few individuals still have similar beliefs in Russia.

New Israel

New Israel came to resemble Protestantism and the Dukhobors much more than Staroizrail, the New Israel movement rejects the Orthodox religious practices and aims to "worship God in spirit and truth". Because many adherents of the movement moved to Uruguay, the movement still exists in Uruguay.

Shalaputs

''Shalaputy'' were a radical reform movement in Imperial Russia during 1830-1890 AD. They demanded that sinful people should not be allowed to attend Church meetings ('' Novatianism''), and opposed the formalism of Orthodoxy. They also emphasized the Jewish roots of Christianity. The Shalaputs became an evangelical movement made up of peasants who wanted to create their own version of Christianity that opposed Russian Orthodoxy.

Dukh-i-zhizniki

''Dukh-i-zhizniki'' (Spirit and Lifers) are the newest Spiritual Christian movement born from a mixture of ecstatic Spiritual Christian faith tribes who migrated to the Boyle Heights district of Los Angeles from the South Caucasus from 1904 through 1912. Some may classify ''Dukh-i-zhizniki'' as a cult due to the prominence of one spiritual leader, Maksim G. Rudomyotkin (1818-1877). Along with partially related tribes in Arizona and Southern California, the organizers debated and negotiated from 1915 to 1928 to combine their spiritual writings and a compromised history into a contested book, which was fimally titled: ''Kniga solntse, dukh i zhizn'' (''Book of the Sun, Spirit and Life'', 1928). This book was placed on the altar tables of all member congregations as a third testament to their Russian Bibles, and defines their new family of faiths. In the 1930s the book was sent to ''Prygun'' and ''Maksimist'' congregations in Kars province, Turkey, and Soviet Armenia where it was accepted by many who interpreted it differently, divided and continue to divide.

Similar or related movement

* Biblists
* Eastern Protestant, encompasses a range of heterogeneous Protestant Christian denominations that developed outside of the Occident from the latter half of the 19th century and keeps some or most of all elements of Eastern Christianity
* Kartanoism
* Quakers, adopting a similar doctrine of divine revelation via inward light
* Radical Pietism
* Shtundists
* Tolstoyan movement

See also

* Folk religion

References

Sources

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External links

Doukhobor Genealogy Website

Taxonomy of three Spiritual Christian groups: ''Molokane'', ''Pryguny'' and ''Dukh-i-zhizniki'' — books, fellowship, holidays, prophets and songs
Molokane website

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Christian radicalism
Doukhobors