Осколки советского прошлого: эволюция участия в общественных практиках современных российских пятидесятников

Abstract

Soviet and modern Pentecostal practices of participation/non-participation in public life have been analyzed in this article. The author has formulated a question of research: does the Soviet experience influence the formation of norms and practices among conservative Pentecostals? In this article the author used field materials collected in urban and rural communities of the European Russia, the Urals, Siberia and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the 2010s. The main method of data collection is the Biographical Narrative Interview Method. These narratives were supplemented and verified by documents of government authorities from central and regional archives and ego-documents of believers (testimonies, memoirs, and letters). Soviet Pentecostals created their own internal space with specific ways of communication, regulation of community life. Soviet Pentecostals in the Evangelical community were distinguished by specific religious practices. They were characterized by social isolationism. They created their own meaning of participation/non-participation in the everyday life of secular society and Soviet practices. Pentecostals developed a strategy of passive participation in military service, had their own ideas about the possibility of obtaining higher education. They had their own view of Soviet social and cultural life. Pentecostals were subjected to social exclusion due to ideological reasons, but they were able to integrate into Soviet everyday life. In the post-Soviet period, most restrictions ceased to exist and believers were able to adapt to the current situation. At the same time, they retained restrictions based on theological and doctrinal principles. Until now, Pentecostal churches still maintain rules of conduct in everyday life, including those based on the Soviet experience.