Belief and the Landscape of Religion
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BELIEF AND THE LANDSCAPE OF RELIGION: THE CASE OF THE DOUKHOBORS Donald Thomas Gale B. A. (HONS), Simon Fraser University, 1 968 A THESIS SUBKITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in the Department 0 f Geography @ DONALD THOMAS GALE SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY December 1 973 - - All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. "i% Titlc of Thesis: Beli~fand the Landscape of Religion: The Case of the Doukhoboro Examining Cornmi ttee: Cklaimlan \ E.J. Hickin L.Wagner Senior Supervisor P.M. Koroscil Date Approved: fly /&u ict 9773 , (ii) ABSTRACT / Though published indications do exist that beliefs have an " 1 impact, on landsc&pi\ there is evidence to suggest {,hat the nature of .s--.-.-- ! /hi:; ralntionship is not simple and straightforward. While the prevailing I shard philosophical dogmas which provide a rationale fclr the existence 01' a relit~iousbelief system tend to endure and change only slowly, the ordrar of pcraonal beliefs, those relating to the implementation of dogma, may i'l uctuate and vary. he religious zect provides an environment in - which the impact of personsl beliefs can be identified and assessed The impact of Doukhobor religion and the role of personal be1 i cf n on the landscape are assessed from three standpoints: 'the detlcriptive, the comparative, and the historical. Through the examin- a tion 01' _ddocuments,-..- - field trips and published literature, the develop- men1 of Doukhobor landscapes has been traced from the sect's early years in Ruooi.a, and a number of events external to the sect but bearing on their be f iefs, creeds, and policies, have been investigated in order to idon t ify ."causal interdependence". Doukhobor landscapes are shown to display some elements of jcommonulity but at the same time there exists inordinate diversity. Much of' ttli:c diversity relates to differences in personal 'beliefs associated with the irnplemeritation of the more static core beliefs., ,I / The application of Ifguidance by the spirit within" creates both n commonality and diversity in Doukhobor landscapes. While the internalizn tion of(vorship leads to landscapes devoid of standard symhols Of Chri::tianity, thin negativism is carried over into everyday life (iii) CI~,,~J i11,: 1.0 t.t1(4tldo ~JLion amorigfl t :lorno extremist elements of peculiar t uor:~kli p [1J'R(' I. i ces. In daily life Lame choose to apply inner guidance individually while others associate it with leadership, resulting in schj 3x11:. and the splintering of the sect, 'A multiplicity of consciences lead tto variation in settlement patterns, hcause styles, economic practices, and methodc of subsistence. &elieving that salvation is achieved through the perfection of character i.he Doukhobors in varying degrees and various manners strive - @r perfection through the rejection of worldly influence, One way to 2% \ I perl'ccqlion is the adoption of a aiplple life, Simplicity can be achieved by rejcctinp progressive methods and materialism, or by the establishment of a utopia. The I'luctuikion in -the degree of compromise with the world is evi dcr~tin Doukhobor landscaped . , 3 ? : .--4~hcbelief in the'holincas_-- of life contributes to change a~d- _ . -- .- ~rianrcIn Doukhobor landscapes.; Some Doukhobors apply this theme to D-* ^ man al.onc>wlrile others extend it to include animal life and even to the Y inncc t world. The reault is a variety of landscapes, from an emphasis I C / - ---_ _------------- ---- _ on prr::tomlinm Lo 6emtarianism and eventually orchard cultivation, which - --I -- - _I_-.---- .- 4-------.-- :;tiow decline in some cases*I -_ .F. It is concluded that there is no single type of Doukhobor landncape, but - rather a complex of landscapes which reflect the (omplexity , L--.-.-.-- - / Pfpwrkhb-or personal beliefs associated with the basic principles of It can be said that the diversity and form of &&hobor_ _-.reli.gi-on.- - - - Doukhobor landscapes are better understood in the context of the group's Personal beliefs, relating tg its core beliefs, than in the context of its core beliefs alone. Finally, Doukhobor landscapes are often a result e. (iv> @ r~ r.omprorrr I ::c t)c->tweendoc trine, present conditions, and external 1 ,!::I! :i TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE I INTRODUCTION 1 Previous Studies ,i The Problem The Approach ai . Procedures For This Study , .Description Of The Population 11 DOUKHOBOR BACKGROUND Origins - Religious Comparisons I11 REVIhW OF THE LITERATURE The Study In Relation to a Geography of Religion Beliefs As A Variant In Behavior The Structure of Belief Purpose of The Study State~entof Working Hypothesis IV CONFLICT AND THE INSTITUTIONAL LANDSCAPE W~rshipand The Doukhobor Landscape Negativism As a Form of Godliness N~.dismand Arson J Spatial Political Organization and Doukhobor Leadership Variance and Change In Spatial Political Organization Expression of The Rejection of External Authority In Doukhobor Landscape (vi > J-~arlti Kt1 uc:u tion V THOU SHALT NOT KILL L Summary v I EARTHLY PASSAGE AND THE SEARCH FOR UTOPIA Promised Land Pilgrimages Site and Situation Pilgrimages Milky Waters Migration To A Canadian Utopia Banishments Proposed Pilgri mages Summary ,-- ' VII DOUKEOBOR SETTLEMENT PATTERNS, LAND TENURE AND ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS Fre-Community Settlements Mi lky Waters Caucasian Settlements J Pre-Verigin Settlements Settlement In-Canada Under Verigin I Settlement Under Verigin I1 Svobodniki Settlements I Doukhobor Community Homes In Canada LN' Settlement Orientation The Community of Anastasia Summary I VIII CONCLUSIONS (viii) LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE I Doukhobor Population By Province, 1891 -1 961 9 I1 Doukhobor Population Distribution in British Columbia, 1951 Estimate 111 Estimate of Population By Party - 1895 IV Doukhobor Migrations and Proposed Migrations V Systems of Property Holding Among the Assiniboia Villages in 1901 VI Statement re Doukhobor Homesteads VII Census of Doukhobors In British Columbia Up To October 22, 1912 VIII Dwellings Owned by C.C.U.B. as at January 1, 1931 LIST OF MAPS PAGE Doukhobor Settlement Areas In Russia ~oukhoborSettlements In Canada and Oregon ~oukhoborCommunal Settlements, Orthodox Community, in British Columbia ~oukhoborSettlements - The Northwest Territories Rosthern Colony As Of August 1, 1907 North Colony As Of August 1, 1907 South Colony As Of August 1 , 1 907 Devj 1 ' s Lake Annex As Of August 1 , 1 907 Doukhobor Distribution, Southeastern British Columbia, 1951 (~stimate) 'Promised Land' Pilgrimages 'Site and Situation' Pilgrimages Banishments Champion Creek Raspberry Brilliant Pass Creek Lordly Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE Leadership In Rus~ia 55 Leadership In Canada 55 Sketch of Doukhobor village in "Milky Waters" region, Russia, 1 01 7 157 The "Orphans Home" in the Village of Goreleo 160 The "Orphans Home" and "Besedka", the summer home of Loukeriya Kalmikoff 160 Doukhobor village in Russia 163 Village of Horelovka, Trans-Caucasia, Russia - 1925 163 Non-Doukhobor housing in Russia 164 Community Home of the Vifani" Evangelical Christian Community, Russia - Non-Doukhobor 164 Plan of Community-Doukhobor village in Saskatchewan 167 An early pioneer Doukhobor village on Canadian Prairies - 1900 167 Village of Vaskresennic, South of Kamsack 168 Early Doukhobor village in Saskatchewan 169 Early Doukhobor village near Kamsack, Saskatchewan 169 A Dug-Out type of Doukhobor Home in early 1900's 1 70 Temporary timber huts used by Doukhobors during settlement - 1899 170 Doukhobor village in Saskatchewan 171 Doukhobor Community - Verigin, Saskatchewan - 1908 175 Early Doukhobor Village in Saskatchewan - 1910 176 Early Pioneer Home near Verigin, Saskatchewan 176 Village of Hrestianovka, 1910 177% (xi> I'e t roi'kn Vi lla(:e, near Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan Ui ur:ram ol' a Typical Doukhobor Double House Village of Kamenaya, across from Brilliant, 1920 Double House in the area of Brilliant, B.C. - built around 1 91 0-1 91 4 Community Residence Home - Grand Forks, B. C. Doukhobor Commanity dwelling in Saskatchewan Verigin, Saskatchewan - 1929 Doukhobor Double House without outbuildings Doukhobor Community Houses near Brilliant, B. C. Brilliant, B. C. - Headquarters of C.C.U.B. Community Homes in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, constructed in early 1930's Trekkers leave Krestova, B.C. - 1962 Hilliers, B.C. settlement - 1948 Doukhobor Community Home, Verigin, Saskatchewan - 1918 Cornn~unity Home in village of Otradnoe, Saskatchewan Doukhobor Community Home, Grand Forks, B.C. - 1920 Doukhobor Community Home, Kamsack, Saskatchewan - 1955 Comnluni ty Home, Grand Forks, B. C. - 1 958 (xii) CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION chis study is an attempt to identify and assess the impact on the landscape of a religious sect, the Doukhobors. The Doukhobors have been defined as follows: 4' Doukhobor is not an empty word, nor a national word, nor a caste, nor a race, nor a political organization, but a worldwide spiritual movement concerning both the 1 poul of man and the spirit of God. I &"ever, on the basis of their clash wit h the existing social order and their attempt2- - b-mme--;ir? the direction of a predetermined goal, f' l----- --_ _ - 7------ 3 - L - they have ee-n-refe-c~edto as a tlsocial movement". An attempt will 7 + - r I- be made to investigate this religious movement in a holistic manner, not confining the study to one particular group or locaticn. 3 lchehistory of Doukhoborism has been one of conflict. This conflict has been both Gternal, ... primarily with the governments / involved, and internal. The Doukhobors have scarcely known a time - -- in which there has not been internal tensions and factional disputes. 4 Those sectarians who migrated to Canada seventy years ago were members of one of three groups which arose from a split during the late 1890's. While, as a whole, the Doukhobors in Canada have maintained a degree of solidarity based on a common doctrinal definition, the degree of I assimilation into Canadian society has varied.