MIRACLE, MYSTERY, AND AUTHORITY: Comments On The Russian Soul And Christianity 

Several years ago I was fortunate to read Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov before I took a tour to Russia. In reading Karamazov l learned of the three aspects of the Russian soul, miracle, mystery and authority. In the chapter titled The Grand Inquisitor, Ivan tells his brother, Alyosha, the Parable Of The Grand Inquisitor.

This story tells of the time that Jesus returned to earth and started healing people. The Grand Inquisitor seeing Him as threat throws Him in jail. The Grand Inquisitor then subjects Jesus to a lecture in which he complains about the three temptations of Jesus in the forty days pilgrimage in the wilderness. 

“He lectures the silent Jesus on the folly of freedom and of individual choice and says to him, ‘There are three forces, the only forces that are able to conquer and hold captive forever the conscience of these weak rebels (the people) for their own happiness—these forces are: miracle, mystery, and authority.’

“Dostoevsky … wrote into the mouth of the Grand Inquisitor that three things are generic to the traditional Russian character: the idea that good, if any, will come from some unexpected outside source (miracle); that man is not ordained to be responsible for his own welfare and progress (mystery); and that guidance and protection come only from constant dependence on and obedience to another (authority).” (Fred Anderson fAnderson.com)

In reading how the Christian Right is clamoring and praising Putin for his authoritarian invasion of Ukraine, I was reminded of the journey I took to Russia. Dostoevsky was right. The Russian soul is traditionally associated with miracle, mystery and authority. Fortunately, it seems that enough Russians are protesting this invasion that it makes me wonder if this old paradigm is changing. If so, it is a welcome change. 

Sadly, one cannot say the same about modern Christianity. If anything Christians seem, like Putin, to want to return to the old days of authoritarian rule. 

Christianity has always been obsessed with miracles. From the parting of the Red Sea waters to the miracles of Jesus, this obsession with miracles seems present today. Southern preachers submit their congregations to poisonous snakes. Rather than seek medical advice for an illness, they depend on faith healing. They ignore warnings about risks from Covid believing that Jesus will save them.

Nor has mystery been neglected by Christianity. From the soaring cathedrals of medieval Europe to modern hymns  of today. Consider the lyrics of one hymn, Crown Him With Many Crowns:

no angels in the sky
can fully bear that sight,
but downward bends their burning eye
at mysteries so bright.

Their dismissal of science, research, and data speaks volumes about the mysticism of the contemporary church.

Authority. YouTube is filled with videos of preachers claiming to speak for God and if anyone questions them they are doomed to hell. One famous preacher recently claimed that he had the names and addresses of six witches in his congregation. Many claim Trump to be the new Messiah. The clamor for a strong leader is not so far from the Russian soul as we would like to think. Is it true that to paraphrase Milton, new Christians are but old Russians writ large?

From their support of Putin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it seems there is no other explanation for their praise and support for Putin. Maybe it’s time to send atheist missionaries to Kansas.