“The Russian graves”: I.A. Sikoskij and V.V. Rosanov on psychology of “sectarianism”

• Published in: Vestnik Pravoslavnogo Svi͡a︡to-Tikhonovskogo gumanitarnogo universiteta. I, Bogoslovie, filosofii͡a Vol. 72; no. 72; pp. 103 - 125
• Main Author: Antonov, Konstantin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: St. Tikhon's Orthodox University 01.12.2017
• Subjects: заражение; маргинальная религиозность; психиатрия; психологическая эпидемия; психология религии; Розанов; сектантство; Сикорский; христианство
• ISSN: 1991-640X; 1991-640X; 2409-4692
• DOI: 10.15382/sturI201772.103-125

The article contains a comparative analysis of approaches to the study of “sects” developed at the end of 19th the beginning of 20th century within the frame of Russian psychiatry on the one hand and within Russian religious thought on the other. The psychiatrist line is represented by I.A. Sikoskij 1842 1919, one of the main actors of Russian psychology and psychiatry of that time, meanwhile religious philosophical line — by famous journalist and thinker V.V. Rosanov 1856 1919. In the first part of the article Sikorsrij’s studies of marginal religiosity: cases of movement of so called “malevantsi” and mass selfburies near Tiraspol — are under discussion. The author analyses presuppositions and results of those studies, general approach of Sikorsij, the role of such metaphors as “suggestion”, “infection”, “psychological epidemic” in his explanation model, his hidden references to ideas of Tard and Lebon, his criteria of distinction of normal and marginal religiosity, role of his ideas in development of psychiatrist approach as a whole. Discussions around Sikorsij’s publications are considered. In the second part Rosanov’s texts devoted to the same theme become the subject of analyses. Basic principles of Rosanov’s approaches to the analyses of religious problematic in general and marginal religiosity in particular are explicated. The author points out an influence of context of polemics on concrete evaluations and assertions of Rosanov. Text “Russian graves” Rosanov’s replica on Sikorskij’s essay devoted to Tirapol’s tragedy is in focus. The subjects of analyses are: special features of form and stylistics of Rosanov’s text, application of general methodological principles described above, the usage of the case in antichristian polemics of the writer. The approach demonstrated by Rosanov and his criticism of “psychiatry” are putting into the context of development of humanities in the 19 century. Some proposals connected to the place of approaches described in the development of Russian psychology of religion are suggested in conclusion.