Представления православных верующих о границах и отношениях магии и религии

Вестник Санкт-Петербургского университета. Серия 12: Социология. 2025. Т. 18. № 2. С. 229–241.

Bochkor A.

The present study aims to explore the complex relationship between magic and religion in contemporary Russian society. Sociological studies acknowledge the challenge in differentiat-ing between the two spheres and uses a variety of approaches to define the boundary between magic and religion. However, the Russian Orthodox Church views magic as a distinct practice from religion and openly condemns it. Despite this some believers engage in magical practic-es. The purpose of the study was to identify the perception of the relationship and boundaries between magic and religion by Orthodox believers. The empirical basis of the study consisted of 17 semi-structured in-depth interviews with Orthodox believers. The analysis revealed the distinctions of magic and religion used by Orthodox believers, which construct the bounda-ries of phenomena. But the “classical” lines of comparison proposed by sociologists turned out to be quite contradictory for Orthodox believers, which emphasizes the diffuse boundaries of magic and religion. The relationships between magic and religion are interpreted within three main narratives: conflict, independence, and synthesis. In the latter two narratives, Or-thodox believers may actively participate in both magical and religious practices simultane-ously, without facing a significant issue of religious choice. Orthodox believers employ various methods to legitimize magical practices and integrate them into the Orthodox worldview: from perceiving magic as a science to using magical practices as psychotherapeutic tools. The identified narratives highlight the eclectic worldview of modern Russians, who construct in-dividual religions within the framework of “personal spiritual quests”

Keywords: религия, магия, sacred, сакральное, religion, magic, orthodox believers, православные верующие