The <i>Mystified Unknown</i>—Sacralizing Influence in Soviet Science, Religion, and Ideology
This article investigates a distinctive discursive space within Soviet society where scientific inquiry and mystical thought coexisted, despite the state’s official commitment to atheism. Referred to as the <i>mystified unknown</i>, this space provides a framework for understanding the p...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/637 |
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| author | Maria Roginska |
| author_facet | Maria Roginska |
| author_sort | Maria Roginska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article investigates a distinctive discursive space within Soviet society where scientific inquiry and mystical thought coexisted, despite the state’s official commitment to atheism. Referred to as the <i>mystified unknown</i>, this space provides a framework for understanding the persistence and intertwining of religious and mystical elements within Soviet scientific discourse. By focusing on the concept of “influence”, the study examines discussions in Soviet psychology to demonstrate how the regime’s political need to influence the masses, coupled with its suspicion of foreign ideas and a covert desire to wield influence, shaped the development of certain scientific disciplines, particularly the imaginaries they produced. This environment, characterized by doublethink and secrecy, nurtured the growth of scientific fantasies and mysterious imaginaries, allowing mystical concepts to endure under the veneer of science. Consequently, Soviet society became more inclined to re-enchant science rather than uphold it strictly as a symbol of secularism. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-62215815cd334dc59aecbbe5cb5f59a6 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj-art-62215815cd334dc59aecbbe5cb5f59a62025-08-20T02:33:55ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-05-0116563710.3390/rel16050637The <i>Mystified Unknown</i>—Sacralizing Influence in Soviet Science, Religion, and IdeologyMaria Roginska0Department of Sociology, University of the National Education Commission in Krakow, 30-084 Kraków, PolandThis article investigates a distinctive discursive space within Soviet society where scientific inquiry and mystical thought coexisted, despite the state’s official commitment to atheism. Referred to as the <i>mystified unknown</i>, this space provides a framework for understanding the persistence and intertwining of religious and mystical elements within Soviet scientific discourse. By focusing on the concept of “influence”, the study examines discussions in Soviet psychology to demonstrate how the regime’s political need to influence the masses, coupled with its suspicion of foreign ideas and a covert desire to wield influence, shaped the development of certain scientific disciplines, particularly the imaginaries they produced. This environment, characterized by doublethink and secrecy, nurtured the growth of scientific fantasies and mysterious imaginaries, allowing mystical concepts to endure under the veneer of science. Consequently, Soviet society became more inclined to re-enchant science rather than uphold it strictly as a symbol of secularism.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/637Soviet scientific mysticismesotericismimaginarySoviet psychologyinfluencetotalitarianism |
| spellingShingle | Maria Roginska The <i>Mystified Unknown</i>—Sacralizing Influence in Soviet Science, Religion, and Ideology Religions Soviet scientific mysticism esotericism imaginary Soviet psychology influence totalitarianism |
| title | The <i>Mystified Unknown</i>—Sacralizing Influence in Soviet Science, Religion, and Ideology |
| title_full | The <i>Mystified Unknown</i>—Sacralizing Influence in Soviet Science, Religion, and Ideology |
| title_fullStr | The <i>Mystified Unknown</i>—Sacralizing Influence in Soviet Science, Religion, and Ideology |
| title_full_unstemmed | The <i>Mystified Unknown</i>—Sacralizing Influence in Soviet Science, Religion, and Ideology |
| title_short | The <i>Mystified Unknown</i>—Sacralizing Influence in Soviet Science, Religion, and Ideology |
| title_sort | i mystified unknown i sacralizing influence in soviet science religion and ideology |
| topic | Soviet scientific mysticism esotericism imaginary Soviet psychology influence totalitarianism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/637 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariaroginska theimystifiedunknownisacralizinginfluenceinsovietsciencereligionandideology AT mariaroginska imystifiedunknownisacralizinginfluenceinsovietsciencereligionandideology |