Orthodox Christianity and War: Religious Narratives of Violence, Memory, and (Self)Justification in Russia

Session Submission Type: Panel

Brief Description

This panel delves into the intersection of war, religion, and memory in Russian Orthodox thought, spanning from the 19th century to the present. One discussion examines Dostoevsky’s nuanced stance on war, particularly through his works like A Writer’s Diary and The Brothers Karamazov. In these works, Dostoevsky grapples with profound themes such as self-sacrifice, fratricide, and divine justice. Another discussion focuses on the emergence of militarist theology among Russian religious thinkers during World War I. This perspective frames war as a sacred duty, reflecting the prevailing sentiments of the time. A third presentation examines the sacralization of World War II in contemporary Russian politics. Victory in this conflict has been mythologized to justify ongoing modern conflicts. Finally, the panel explores how the Russian Orthodox Church has reinterpreted martyrdom. Instead of narratives of persecution, the Church now provides ideological support for state violence. These discussions collectively shed light on the evolving role of Orthodox Christianity in shaping war and national identity in Russia.

Sub Unit

• Religion, Philosophy

Chair

• Sergei Chapnin, Fordham U

Papers

• War of the Underground: Dostoevsky’s Paradoxical Approach to War and the Sin of Cain - Peter G Winsky, U of Southern California

• Militarist Discourses in Russian Religious Thinkers of the First World War Period - James Birk

• WWII, the Moscow Patriarchate and the Memory Politics in Russia - Andrey Kordochkin, Georg-August U Göttingen (Germany)

• Reinterpreting Martyrdom: The Russian Orthodox Church, Memory, and the Justification of Violence - Sergei Chapnin, Fordham U

Discussant

• Nicholas Denysenko, Valparaiso U