Skoptsy book review, pt. 3

[Jesus]

Engelstein writes that one reason for the relative success of the Skoptsy in the face of the savage repression of the Russian state was their reputation for sobriety, hard work and economic success, both in agriculture and trade. While they were rural in origin, many Skoptsy did very well in trade and industry in both Russia and Romania (where the faith spread). At one point they dominated taxi service in several cities, as they were able to accumulate the capital necessary to enter the business. <p>Less attention is paid to theology, though it is noted that the Skoptsy believed that at the Resurrection, all would be castrated. They believed that castration returned men to their state before the Fall. (Another source has indicated that the Skoptsy believed that Adam and Eve were created without sex and that breasts and male genitals are pieces of the forbidden fruit grafted on as punishment. Cutting them off returns humans to their original form. The Skoptsy also believed that God was without sexuality. Why would He need it, and what would He use it for?) <p>Several photographs of Skoptsy are included: formal studio portraits commissioned by the wealthy, Skoptsy at work, forensic photos of the results of the surgery used in court proceedings against them. Engelstein also reproduces some of the medical drawings of E.V. Pelikan showing the surgical instruments and the results of castration and breast removal. <p>While an outstanding work on its intended subject, the political and religious repression of the Skoptsy and their reaction to that oppression, significant work is still to be done on their faith. Several rumors and legends about them were neither mentioned nor addressed. Do small numbers of Skoptsy still exist in Russia or the Ukraine? Is there a small group still practicing the faith in Turkey? Was Georgi Malenkov (Stalin's successor as Premier of the USSR) a Skoptsy who had been castrated as a small boy and later converted to the true faith of Communism? These legends, and more, are scattered in the literature and are deserving of scholarly study. Someone needs to take Engelstein as the base for further research and writing. <p>[-Jesus Azevado]

[Jesus]

Engelstein writes that one reason for the relative success of the Skoptsy in the face of the savage repression of the Russian state was their reputation for sobriety, hard work and economic success, both in agriculture and trade. While they were rural in origin, many Skoptsy did very well in trade and industry in both Russia and Romania (where the faith spread). At one point they dominated taxi service in several cities, as they were able to accumulate the capital necessary to enter the business. <p>Less attention is paid to theology, though it is noted that the Skoptsy believed that at the Resurrection, all would be castrated. They believed that castration returned men to their state before the Fall. (Another source has indicated that the Skoptsy believed that Adam and Eve were created without sex and that breasts and male genitals are pieces of the forbidden fruit grafted on as punishment. Cutting them off returns humans to their original form. The Skoptsy also believed that God was without sexuality. Why would He need it, and what would He use it for?) <p>Several photographs of Skoptsy are included: formal studio portraits commissioned by the wealthy, Skoptsy at work, forensic photos of the results of the surgery used in court proceedings against them. Engelstein also reproduces some of the medical drawings of E.V. Pelikan showing the surgical instruments and the results of castration and breast removal. <p>While an outstanding work on its intended subject, the political and religious repression of the Skoptsy and their reaction to that oppression, significant work is still to be done on their faith. Several rumors and legends about them were neither mentioned nor addressed. Do small numbers of Skoptsy still exist in Russia or the Ukraine? Is there a small group still practicing the faith in Turkey? Was Georgi Malenkov (Stalin's successor as Premier of the USSR) a Skoptsy who had been castrated as a small boy and later converted to the true faith of Communism? These legends, and more, are scattered in the literature and are deserving of scholarly study. Someone needs to take Engelstein as the base for further research and writing. <p>[-Jesus Azevado]

Engelstein writes that one reason for the relative success of the Skoptsy in the face of the savage repression of the Russian state was their reputation for sobriety, hard work and economic success, both in agriculture and trade. While they were rural in origin, many Skoptsy did very well in trade and industry in both Russia and Romania (where the faith spread). At one point they dominated taxi service in several cities, as they were able to accumulate the capital necessary to enter the business. <p>Less attention is paid to theology, though it is noted that the Skoptsy believed that at the Resurrection, all would be castrated. They believed that castration returned men to their state before the Fall. (Another source has indicated that the Skoptsy believed that Adam and Eve were created without sex and that breasts and male genitals are pieces of the forbidden fruit grafted on as punishment. Cutting them off returns humans to their original form. The Skoptsy also believed that God was without sexuality. Why would He need it, and what would He use it for?) <p>Several photographs of Skoptsy are included: formal studio portraits commissioned by the wealthy, Skoptsy at work, forensic photos of the results of the surgery used in court proceedings against them. Engelstein also reproduces some of the medical drawings of E.V. Pelikan showing the surgical instruments and the results of castration and breast removal. <p>While an outstanding work on its intended subject, the political and religious repression of the Skoptsy and their reaction to that oppression, significant work is still to be done on their faith. Several rumors and legends about them were neither mentioned nor addressed. Do small numbers of Skoptsy still exist in Russia or the Ukraine? Is there a small group still practicing the faith in Turkey? Was Georgi Malenkov (Stalin's successor as Premier of the USSR) a Skoptsy who had been castrated as a small boy and later converted to the true faith of Communism? These legends, and more, are scattered in the literature and are deserving of scholarly study. Someone needs to take Engelstein as the base for further research and writing. <p>[-Jesus Azevado]

Engelstein writes that one reason for the relative success of the Skoptsy in the face of the savage repression of the Russian state was their reputation for sobriety, hard work and economic success, both in agriculture and trade. While they were rural in origin, many Skoptsy did very well in trade and industry in both Russia and Romania (where the faith spread). At one point they dominated taxi service in several cities, as they were able to accumulate the capital necessary to enter the business. <p>Less attention is paid to theology, though it is noted that the Skoptsy believed that at the Resurrection, all would be castrated. They believed that castration returned men to their state before the Fall. (Another source has indicated that the Skoptsy believed that Adam and Eve were created without sex and that breasts and male genitals are pieces of the forbidden fruit grafted on as punishment. Cutting them off returns humans to their original form. The Skoptsy also believed that God was without sexuality. Why would He need it, and what would He use it for?) <p>Several photographs of Skoptsy are included: formal studio portraits commissioned by the wealthy, Skoptsy at work, forensic photos of the results of the surgery used in court proceedings against them. Engelstein also reproduces some of the medical drawings of E.V. Pelikan showing the surgical instruments and the results of castration and breast removal. <p>While an outstanding work on its intended subject, the political and religious repression of the Skoptsy and their reaction to that oppression, significant work is still to be done on their faith. Several rumors and legends about them were neither mentioned nor addressed. Do small numbers of Skoptsy still exist in Russia or the Ukraine? Is there a small group still practicing the faith in Turkey? Was Georgi Malenkov (Stalin's successor as Premier of the USSR) a Skoptsy who had been castrated as a small boy and later converted to the true faith of Communism? These legends, and more, are scattered in the literature and are deserving of scholarly study. Someone needs to take Engelstein as the base for further research and writing. <p>[-Jesus Azevado]

Engelstein writes that one reason for the relative success of the Skoptsy in the face of the savage repression of the Russian state was their reputation for sobriety, hard work and economic success, both in agriculture and trade. While they were rural in origin, many Skoptsy did very well in trade and industry in both Russia and Romania (where the faith spread). At one point they dominated taxi service in several cities, as they were able to accumulate the capital necessary to enter the business. <p>Less attention is paid to theology, though it is noted that the Skoptsy believed that at the Resurrection, all would be castrated. They believed that castration returned men to their state before the Fall. (Another source has indicated that the Skoptsy believed that Adam and Eve were created without sex and that breasts and male genitals are pieces of the forbidden fruit grafted on as punishment. Cutting them off returns humans to their original form. The Skoptsy also believed that God was without sexuality. Why would He need it, and what would He use it for?) <p>Several photographs of Skoptsy are included: formal studio portraits commissioned by the wealthy, Skoptsy at work, forensic photos of the results of the surgery used in court proceedings against them. Engelstein also reproduces some of the medical drawings of E.V. Pelikan showing the surgical instruments and the results of castration and breast removal. <p>While an outstanding work on its intended subject, the political and religious repression of the Skoptsy and their reaction to that oppression, significant work is still to be done on their faith. Several rumors and legends about them were neither mentioned nor addressed. Do small numbers of Skoptsy still exist in Russia or the Ukraine? Is there a small group still practicing the faith in Turkey? Was Georgi Malenkov (Stalin's successor as Premier of the USSR) a Skoptsy who had been castrated as a small boy and later converted to the true faith of Communism? These legends, and more, are scattered in the literature and are deserving of scholarly study. Someone needs to take Engelstein as the base for further research and writing. <p>[-Jesus Azevado]