Ideologie rodnověří v názorech a praxi jeho čelních představitelů (se zaměřením na genezi a proměny obřadu)

Mgr. Jiří Mačuda, Ph.D.

Doctoral thesis

Ideology of Rodnovery in attitudes and practices of its leaders (with a focus on the genesis and transformation of the ceremony)

Abstract:

Disertační práce Ideologie rodnověří v názorech a praxi jeho čelních představitelů (se zaměřením na genezi a proměny obřadu) je zaměřena na hlubší poznání jazyčského hnutí, které později vešlo ve známost také jako rodnověří – tedy rodná víra Slovanů. Tento fenomén bývá současnými vědními disciplínami obvykle přiřazován k novým náboženským hnutím. Přestože jde v jádru o jeden z proudů tzv. novopohanství, rodnověří se od svých protějšků ze západní části Evropy částečně odlišuje, za což zřejmě vděčí historickým a společenským okolnostem. Smyslem této práce je vytyčit hranice pro pojem rodnověří a poukázat na jeho skutečný smysl vedoucí v mnoha případech také k poznání tradiční kultury. Rozlehlé a geograficky nesourodé území Ruska dalo společně s poměrně dlouhodobým zdejším vývojem zkoumaného jevu vzniknout rozdílným občinám a organizacím. Tím se ruské prostředí stalo nejvhodnějším příkladem, jenž nám posloužil jako metodologický předobraz geneze a ideologické roviny rodnověrského hnutí v celoslovanském kontextu. Pomocí rozsáhlého studia bylo navíc možno zachytit tento nový fenomén v jeho komplexnosti. Během několikaletého výzkumu se autor práce zaměřil zejména na obřad a jeho rekonstrukci v podání ideologů současného rodnověrského hnutí. Nejenže se podařilo odkrýt samotné kořeny rodící se obřadnosti, došlo zároveň k odhalení tvůrců její struktury i samotné geneze počínající ještě na přelomu osmdesátých a devadesátých let minulého století. Na základě výsledků můžeme rovněž říci, že rodná víra není pouhým novým náboženským hnutím, ani subkulturou, ale jde o osobitý jev propojující v sobě vlastenecké, religiózní a v nemalé míře folkloristické tendence, jejichž hnacím motorem se stala právě lidová kultura a dávná náboženská tradice, v nichž dnešní rodnověrec hledá zidealizovaný a ztracený „Zlatý věk“, jehož by si přál alespoň ve svém nitru opět dosáhnout.

Abstract:

The doctoral thesis Ideology of Rodnovery in attitudes and practices of its leaders (with a focus on the genesis and transformation of the ceremony) deals with Russian neopaganism, mostly called Rodnovery in the Slavic languages; a compound word meaning „native belief“. The Russian area was chosen due to relatively many neopagan groups that have existed there for quite a long time. This fact enables to define evolution and variedness of these groups as well as to set up a new methodological conception applicable in other Slavic-speaking countries including the Czech Republic. The theses of this work were developed on the basis of the pilot research and study of historical sources and literature. The neopagan groups and individuals were studied as bearers of the new-borning tradition, not only as a kind of subculture within modern Russian society. First of all, the author stressed the social context that gave rise to neopaganism in Russia and tried to describe the evolution and historical circumstances that enabled this phenomenon to take root in Russian society. Primary aim of this research was to record the new-born annual customs and rites that were predominantly influenced by Russian folklore and some traditions borrowed from the other Slavic nations; then historical sources and literature as well as Book of Veles. Slavic neopaganism was studied systematically and in its complexity; religion was understood as a phenomenon of cultural heritage whose fundamental role lies in spreading and elevation of values of humanism. Main achievement of this work lies in recording of new-born annual customs in the process of their evolution. These customs and rites have been reconstructed, completed and in some ways also redefinied; contemporary neopagan mythology carries a new system of values and functions coresponding to the new social backgrounds in which it was revived. Slavic neopaganism could be described as a patriotic and revivalistic movement whose ideology is based on national and ethnic values. At the same time it is a new social and religious movement. Russian neopaganism is a very diverse phenomenon that manifests itself as a social, cultural, religious and political movement. It is a dynamic and fast developing phenomenon as well and that is why it has to be studied using knowledge of several scientific disciplines at once. First chapter pays attention to the genesis of the neopaganism in the area of the former Soviet Union. Second chapter tries to explain ideological conceptions and reasons that led to the formation of the neopagan movement. The following part of this work describes different forms of organizations typical for the Russian neopaganism and tries to point out the criticism of Rodnovery by the majority population. The overview of representative neopagan groups and federations in fourth chapter emphasizes the diversity inside of this movement. In fifth chapter neopagans are portrayed as individual bearers of the new-born tradition. Short biographical profiles of the most famous personalities within the Russian neopagan movement are provided. The next chapter deals with the main part of the whole work – annual customs and festivities of the neopagan groups in their different variants. This research of the new-born rites clearly shows the close connection between contemporary choreography and Russian folklore recorded by the ethnographers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This fact underlines one of the thesis of the whole work: that the Russian neopaganism should be seen as a contemporary stream of the folklore and revival movement. At the very end of this work, vivid descriptions of the background of the latest happenings inside of Rodnovery are provided. It seems that the main influence on forming of most of Rodnovery ideological systems had the Book of Veles, at least at the beginning. Some of the neopagan groups adopted its teachings uncritically, the majority of the movement, however, only found t

Abstract:

he inspiration in this text and built up their ideology on the historical and ethnographical sources. Among them, there are the works of B. A. Rybakov and V. V. Ivanov with V. N. Toporov, then the ethnographical records of Russian folklore from the 19th century, for example the fundamental works of A. N. Afanasyev. A lot of neopagans are also interested in ecological and cultural-historical activities and they cooperate with the Russian youth as well. For example, young people get acquainted the neopagan ideology in sports clubs, where they learn Slavic martial arts reconstructed by A. K. Belov, one of the most influential leaders of the neopagan movement in Russia. People connected with the neopaganism are also interested in methods of natural healing and the knowledge of herb doctors. The Rodnovery movement seems to be a form of postmodernism and postindustrialism in contemporary Russia. At the same time it is a kind of philosophical ideology trying to consolidate Russian society and transform it into a strong and economically developed country working on the basis of new values. If we study the main stream of the Russian neopagan movement, we can make only one conclusion: the key ideological impulse lies in ethnic values represented by Russian (Slavic) folklore whose roots are supposed to trace back into the far pre-Christian past. Present day Pan-Slavism together with various forms of patriotism and national revival appear to be another driving force of Slavic neopaganism. Many neopagans consider the rebirth of the Slavic mythology and religion as the basic ideological impulse that could lead to the final unification of all Slavs around the world. Recently, neopaganism has become a growing trend all around the world, and in the form of Rodnovery it deeply rooted among the Slavs, including the Russians. It is difficult to assess whether this new movemt will have growing tendencies in the following years, however, it is certain that this phenomenon cannot be marginalized. This monographic work attempts to contribute to the understanding of neopaganism in Russian, or rather in East Slavic area, where the movement grew stronger in a relatively short time and subsequently developed into a varied and unique stream that more or less influences the whole Russian and Slavic society of these days.

Keywords

rodnověří, jazyčství, novopohanství, slovanská mytologie, Ruská federace, nová náboženská hnutí, kalendářní obyčeje, ruská lidová kultura, Velesova kniha, čelní představitelé rodnověrského hnutí, native belief, neopaganism, Slavic mythology, Russian Federation, new religious movements, calendar customs, Russian folklore, Book of Veles, leaders of Rodnovery movement

Language used: Czech

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 14. 11. 2012

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 12. 12. 2013
• Supervisor: doc. PhDr. Martina Pavlicová, CSc.
• Reader: doc. PhDr. Miroslav Válka, Ph.D., Dott. Giuseppe Maiello, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Doctoral programme / field:
Historical Sciences (4-years) / Ethnology