THE ECONOMIC ETHICS OF RUSSIAN-ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY: PART II - RUSSIAN OLD BELIEVERS AND SECTS

Abstract

In Part I, the patrimonial-bureaucratic Muscovite state and the aspects of Russian-Orthodox religion, which led to an attitude of world-indifference, were analysed. In this second part the economic ethics of the Russian Old Believers and of the major sects are analysed and it is shown that the development of congregational religion led to more self-responsibility and, particularly in the case of some sects, to more congregational discipline. Moreover, the Skoptsy and Molokans seem to have turned away from the mysticism of the Orthodox Church and from magical means of salvation. They developed an ascetic inner-worldly conduct of life and achieved, like many Old Believers, considerable economic success.