登陆注册
5382300000110

第110章 CHAPTER XVII(1)

AMONG THE HERETICS

The Molokanye--My Method of Investigation--Alexandrof-Hai--An Unexpected Theological Discussion--Doctrines and Ecclesiastical Organisation of the Molokanye--Moral Supervision and Mutual Assistance--History of the Sect--A False Prophet--Utilitarian Christianity--Classification of the Fantastic Sects--The "Khlysti"--

Policy of the Government towards Sectarianism--Two Kinds of Heresy--Probable Future of the Heretical Sects--Political Disaffection.

Whilst travelling on the Steppe I heard a great deal about a peculiar religious sect called the Molokanye, and I felt interested in them because their religious belief, whatever it was, seemed to have a beneficial influence on their material welfare. Of the same race and placed in the same conditions as the Orthodox peasantry around them, they were undoubtedly better housed, better clad, more punctual in the payment of their taxes, and, in a word, more prosperous. All my informants agreed in describing them as quiet, decent, sober people; but regarding their religious doctrines the evidence was vague and contradictory. Some described them as Protestants or Lutherans, whilst others believed them to be the last remnants of a curious heretical sect which existed in the early Christian Church.

Desirous of obtaining clear notions on the subject, I determined to investigate the matter for myself. At first I found this to be no easy task. In the villages through which I passed I found numerous members of the sect, but they all showed a decided repugnance to speak about their religious beliefs. Long accustomed to extortion and persecution at the hands of the Administration, and suspecting me to be a secret agent of the Government, they carefully avoided speaking on any subject beyond the state of the weather and the prospects of the harvest, and replied to my questions on other topics as if they had been standing before a Grand Inquisitor.

A few unsuccessful attempts convinced me that it would be impossible to extract from them their religious beliefs by direct questioning. I adopted, therefore, a different system of tactics.

From meagre replies already received I had discovered that their doctrine had at least a superficial resemblance to Presbyterianism, and from former experience I was aware that the curiosity of intelligent Russian peasants is easily excited by descriptions of foreign countries. On these two facts I based my plan of campaign.

When I found a Molokan, or some one whom I suspected to be such, I

talked for some time about the weather and the crops, as if I had no ulterior object in view. Having fully discussed this matter, I

led the conversation gradually from the weather and crops in Russia to the weather and crops in Scotland, and then passed slowly from Scotch agriculture to the Scotch Presbyterian Church. On nearly every occasion this policy succeeded. When the peasant heard that there was a country where the people interpreted the Scriptures for themselves, had no bishops, and considered the veneration of Icons as idolatry, he invariably listened with profound attention; and when he learned further that in that wonderful country the parishes annually sent deputies to an assembly in which all matters pertaining to the Church were freely and publicly discussed, he almost always gave free expression to his astonishment, and I had to answer a whole volley of questions. "Where is that country?"

"Is it to the east, or the west?" "Is it very far away?" "If our Presbyter could only hear all that!"

This last expression was precisely what I wanted, because it gave me an opportunity of making the acquaintance of the Presbyter, or pastor, without seeming to desire it; and I knew that a conversation with that personage, who is always an uneducated peasant like the others, but is generally more intelligent and better acquainted with religious doctrine, would certainly be of use to me. On more than one occasion I spent a great part of the night with a Presbyter, and thereby learned much concerning the religious beliefs and practices of the sect. After these interviews I was sure to be treated with confidence and respect by all the Molokanye in the village, and recommended to the brethren of the faith in the neighbouring villages through which I intended to pass. Several of the more intelligent peasants with whom I

spoke advised me strongly to visit Alexandrof-Hai, a village situated on the borders of the Kirghiz Steppe. "We are dark [i.e., ignorant] people here," they were wont to say, "and do not know anything, but in Alexandrof-Hai you will find those who know the faith, and they will discuss with you." This prediction was fulfilled in a somewhat unexpected way.

同类推荐
  • 玉机微义

    玉机微义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 出劫纪略

    出劫纪略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 毗尼日用录

    毗尼日用录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Of the Conduct of the Understanding

    Of the Conduct of the Understanding

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金刚錍

    金刚錍

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 伦敦连环勒杀案

    伦敦连环勒杀案

    我和歇洛克·福尔摩斯承诺不把此案曝光,除非在我们过辈之后,于是乎我把此稿写好,留给后人选择适当的时候发表,最好是百年之后,否则我们有牢狱之灾。案子发生在1888年的晚秋,用福尔摩斯的话来说,这是一个犯罪多发季节,因为天气凉爽,黑夜在拉长,正是穿披风的时节,便于蒙住头,但又不像冬天那么寒冷。福尔摩斯斜躺在扶椅里,双脚搁在壁炉架上,充分享受壁炉里飘出的热气。他发挥一贯的懒散风格,躺着收听我朗诵《泰晤士报》的新闻。
  • 恶霸皇后

    恶霸皇后

    床上翻云覆雨,皇后从床底爬了出来,细细品味了现场直播数秒,爆出一句惊人之话:“你们这动作,真它奶奶的小儿科!”话落,看了看自己的身体,顿时如晴天霹雳——shit!喝着酒也能穿越?!傲月国皇后香离笑,身体虚弱,大婚之日被贬冷宫。遭受后宫上下百般欺凌,被人害死丢在皇上和宠妃欢爱的床榻下。再次醒来,迎来的却是一位来自现代的黑道女恶霸,重情重义,豪迈大气。制服后妃,撂倒皇上,单挑太后,顺便抓抓奸,恶整小人。从此,皇宫之中,此女风彩飞扬,无人不惧。某日,皇帝被绑架,太后遭勒索。一桩自导自演的绑架勒索案,此女带着金银珠宝和手下,大摇大摆出宫,一去不回。从此,江湖上多了逍遥楼,震撼四国,成为天下第一帮。片段一:四国相聚,夜宴相斗。以某女为伍,带领着众宫女,身穿露大腿的旗袍,为众人表演一曲。“IwantnobodynobodybutYou!”一个媚眼,一个手势,这可是风靡一时的现代流行舞曲…岂料,众人震惊!片段二:一抹霸气十足的小身板,双手环抱在胸前,看着上首的男子,邪气道:“外面都是本少爷的人,乖乖的放了我娘,本少爷方可放你一条生路。”“这可是朕的地盘。”声音浑厚,霸气十足。小男孩脸色一沉,沉声道::“狗皇帝,再不放了我娘,本少爷炸掉你的老窝!”此男孩,就是某恶女的天才儿子,小恶霸!本文一对一,从皇帝和妃子欢爱的床下爬出来的恶霸皇后即将发生的一系列幽默,感人,与众不同,奇特的爱情故事。谁说女儿不敌男,女主同样可以重情重义,豪迈大气,男主先保密,绝对劲爆!结局待定!喜欢的亲记得收藏噢!****推荐朵的皇后系列文一:【纨绔皇后】强烈推荐:《女人不狠,地位不稳》十八年青梅竹马,三年婚姻,原来,只是一场戏,一个谎言。这是一部弃妇的成长和奋斗史,高干文,豪门恩怨情仇,涉及商战和职场,励志。
  • 烟云劫

    烟云劫

    顾烟云是二十一世纪一个非常普通的女大学生,专业是汉语言文字专业。她长的很有古典美人的气质,不能算是很漂亮。她很得教授的欢心,教授有一天把一个调查任务拿给她(查阅一门语言文字的发展史),让她务必快一点完成这个任务,因为这个任务非常的重要。顾烟云很认真的在图书馆查阅资料,在有一次查找资料的过程中,她发现了一种从未看过的文字,与别的拓本对照的时候发现这是一个历史没有记载的时代。她非常的奇怪,当晚她留在图书馆熬夜查找,找着找着就觉得很困,就在不知不觉中睡着了。【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 逆天绝世狂妃

    逆天绝世狂妃

    【原书名《逆天腹黑狂女:绝世狂妃》】身为一个叱咤风云的绝色杀手,一朝穿越,她成为宰相府的嫡出大小姐。任人欺凌?白痴草包?翩然醒转,当她变成她!绝色容颜,笑靥如花,她比谁都狠毒无情。倾城流世,云淡风轻,她只护她所在乎的。强者为尊,她誓与天齐,搅乱一池风云。生杀予夺,翻云覆雨,且看她手段如何。他,绝世强者,邪魅狂肆,腹黑一枚,却独独对她爱护有加,疼宠入骨。风云涌动,且看两人如何联手,倾覆天下,逆转乾坤!
  • 霸情首席的小娇妻

    霸情首席的小娇妻

    “依依,你愿意再嫁我一次么?”“我的脾气很坏,如果我赌气不想理你……”“那我就哄到你想理为止!”“我很倔强……”“那就永远不要对我说对不起,因为这三个字我会先说!”“我有时会很小心眼。”“你比我小那那那么多,我总得让让你。”“我怕我不能当一个好老婆……”“没关系,我可以做一个好老公!”
  • 快穿:反派他意气风发

    快穿:反派他意气风发

    #本来准备跑路,想想又算了,不定时更新,大家慎点#【妙龄少女为何深夜猝死,过往路人为何无故晕倒?天空为何突下酸雨?】这一切的背后,究竟是人性的扭曲,还是道德的沦丧。是何人如此狠心?是金钱?还是仇恨?接下来让我们走进又名《女主的不归路》一探究竟。
  • 四海八荒之生生世世桃花结

    四海八荒之生生世世桃花结

    一花一世界,一叶一菩提。如果说...........................................................................................................................
  • 宫女复仇记:御前尚义掌凤印

    宫女复仇记:御前尚义掌凤印

    【本文情节纯属虚构,请忽模仿】她是现代品学兼优初中生,受虐至死,穿越却成罪臣之女,全家满门抄斩之迹,只有她一人幸免!背负满身仇恨,她入宫为婢。他是高高在上的皇子,也是她仇人之子。他爱她,她却已心有所属;她爱他,她全家却因他而死。在爱恨交织的感情里,小小一名宫女,如何平步青云,成为他御前最高女官——御前尚义。御前从三品女官,如何掌持着后宫凤印……
  • 跨界来娶你

    跨界来娶你

    女主:“我是匪,你是兵,兵匪不同途,”某人不说话,却紧紧地拉着女主的手。“咱们俩还很陌生,不许拉我的手!”某人就单手放在女主的肩膀上,带着墨镜在后面跟着走。“喂,你这样会被人误解的…,”某人便扯上女主的后衣衫。“……,这样很幼稚咩,像是幼儿园小朋友过马路。”某人终于松开了,将女主圈在怀里。“…..。”某人道:“你想让我抱你就直说,绕这么多弯子干嘛?”
  • 出洋相

    出洋相

    尹守国,2006年开始小说创作,发表中短篇小说70多万字,作品多次被《新华文摘》、《小说选刊》、《北京文学中篇小说月报》等选载,中国作家协会会员,辽宁省作协签约作家。