A SOCIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL MORAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOLOKANS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v7.i9s.2026.8009Keywords:
Molokans, Spiritual Christianity, Sociology Of Religion, Morality, Pacifism, Social SolidarityAbstract [English]
This study aims to examine the fundamental characteristics of the Molokans as a religious group and how these characteristics are reflected in their social moral understanding from a sociological perspective. Emerging in 18th-century Russia, the Molokans stand out as one of the Spiritual Christian movements that developed in opposition to the institutional structure of Orthodox Christianity. The study addresses the Molokans’ critical approach to institutional religion, their understanding of individual faith, their simple forms of worship, and their sectarian diversity. In addition, the place of fundamental moral principles such as pacifism, equality, honesty, frugality, and social solidarity within Molokan society is analyzed. A qualitative method has been adopted in the study, and historical and sociological literature as well as field studies on the Molokans have been utilized. The findings indicate that the Molokans possess a holistic worldview in which religion and morality are not seen as separate. As a result, the Molokans present an alternative ethical and social model against the alienation and value crises observed in modern societies.
References
Akçayöz, V. (2015). Annem Sara ve Malakanlar (My Mother Sara and the Molokans). Kars Kültür ve Sanat Derneği.
Berger, P. L. (1967). The sacred canopy. Anchor Books.
Billington, J. H. (1970). The icon and the axe. Vintage.
Conovaloff, A. (2010). Spiritual Christians and Molokans.
Durkheim, É. (2005). The elementary forms of religious life (1912). Free Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474469654-016
Koozma, J. (2002). Doukhobor history and culture.
Marx, K. (1867). Capital.
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/358916.361990
Riasanovsky, N. V. (2005). Russian identities. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195156508.001.0001
Weber, M. (1905). The Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism.
Weber, M. (1978). Economy and society.
Woodcock, G. (1993). Tolstoy.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Niyazi Akyüz, Dr. Emine Öztürk, Dr. Salih Aydemİr
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
With the licence CC-BY, authors retain the copyright, allowing anyone to download, reuse, re-print, modify, distribute, and/or copy their contribution. The work must be properly attributed to its author.
It is not necessary to ask for further permission from the author or journal board.
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
