Why Do Molokans Bow?

[seeking_truth_1 0]

Secret Khlysty cells existed throughout pre-revolutionary Russia (approx. 40,000 followers); they were most common in the factories of the Perm district. Each cell was normally led by a male and a female leader, who were called the "Christ" and the "Mother of God" respectively.

 

The idea there were multiple "christs" leading each of these cells now make some sense as to why mgr would continue to equate himself to Christ

 

Based upon mgr's Khlyst influences the reason everyone is bowing to each other is because there are "so many christs"

 

Do a search on the Cathars

Find that Catharism was against the Catholic Church just like molokanism and dukhoborism

 

From the book published by HARVARD THEOLOGICAL STUDIES

 

RUSSIAN DISSENTERS

FREDERICK C. CONYBEARE

HONORARY FELLOW

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, OXFORD

1921

 

 

I cite the following from page 275

 

the tenets of the Dukhobortsy is striking, and

cannot be accidental; especially if we take account of other

features which they shared with the Cathars, e.g., the honour

in which those are held who eschew matrimony; the rejection

of baptism and the eucharist, of the sign of the cross, of relics;

the conviction that the faithful are so many Christs or incarnations

of Christ, by reason of which they ceremonially bow one to

another when they meet to worship;

 

From page 294

 

A man's spirit, not his flesh and bones,

is the image and likeness of God. No doubt that is the reason

why the Molokanye in worship bow to those among themselves

who are filled with the Spirit and are literally Christs.

In doing so they again adhere to the custom of the Cathars.

[seeking_truth_1 0]

NAD...This is why molokans bow...

 

It's because of FALSE teaching and nothing more

[seeking_truth_1 0]

Did ANYONE do some searching about Cathars?

 

They sound like molokans

 

Special knowledge obtained from extensive "training"

 

The notion that all can make it to Heaven in their own way

 

From cathar.info

 

Cathars were Gnostics. Gnostics believed, and still believe, that divine knowledge is granted only to an inner elite, like the "esoteric" knowledge of the Pythagoreans. The inner elite undertook a long period of training before leading severely ascetic lives. These were the Elect, or as they are now popularly known Parfaits. Cathars were also universalists, which means that they believed in the ultimate salvation of all human beings.

[Guest Guestlady]

Wow, that's disturbing. I was always taught that Molokans bowed as a carry over of common Eastern formality, akin to a tip of the hat, as a show of appreciation to the congregation for their support in the supplicants' prayers. I've never seen this custom as something so sinister. While I agree that the teachings and doctrines of the Molokan church are certainly not Biblical, I'm not so sure that a custom such as bowing has its roots in mysticism or cult teaching.

[Guest guest]

I'm not so sure that a custom such as bowing has its roots in mysticism or cult teaching.

How is the Molokan bowing different than signing the cross? The Molokan teaching for bowing is, to bow forward, then to the left, then to the right, then to the rear but only after rotating thru the forward and left positions. This wierd rotation is an attempt to placate the Orthodox church.

 

[seeking_truth_1 0]

Perhaps you are unsure of the origins

 

However there are those from Harvard Theological who see to come to the same conclusions regarding the origins of the practice

 

Why would the bowing be so prevalent in molokanism?

 

If you were speaking about single Book Biblio-Centric Christianity I would be inclined to agree with you

 

You could simply relegate bowing as a form of mutual respect and/or greeting

 

However, that IS NOT the case with 2 book molokanism and it's roots in gnosticism

 

Do a web search for molokanye and see how many books and/or articles have been published regarding molokanism and its less than orthodox (Christian) beliefs

 

Wow, that's disturbing. I was always taught that Molokans bowed as a carry over of common Eastern formality, akin to a tip of the hat, as a show of appreciation to the congregation for their support in the supplicants' prayers. I've never seen this custom as something so sinister. While I agree that the teachings and doctrines of the Molokan church are certainly not Biblical, I'm not so sure that a custom such as bowing has its roots in mysticism or cult teaching.

[Guest Guest]

I'm not so sure that a custom such as bowing has its roots in mysticism or cult teaching.

How is the Molokan bowing different than signing the cross? The Molokan teaching for bowing is, to bow forward, then to the left, then to the right, then to the rear but only after rotating thru the forward and left positions. This wierd rotation is an attempt to placate the Orthodox church.

I was the best man (Drouzshouk) for several Molokan weddings, this same pattern of bowing was taught by two different Molokan ministers and may be found in Babashoff's Molokan Procedures book, what I think is curious is this; Before the Molokan bow to the people behind them they return to the front, the same is done with signing the cross the hand passes over the center position before signing the bottom of the cross.

 

My opinion yes. I've watched television movies of actors signing the cross, it's done quickly and does seem to vary.

 

Regarding rituals, what were the Apostles taught to do? Answer, No teaching of any such kind or remotely similar.

 

The same question can be asked about blessing with objects, another Orthodoxy ritual.

 

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Wow, that's disturbing. I was always taught that Molokans bowed as a carry over of common Eastern formality, akin to a tip of the hat, as a show of appreciation to the congregation for their support in the supplicants' prayers. I've never seen this custom as something so sinister. While I agree that the teachings and doctrines of the Molokan church are certainly not Biblical, I'm not so sure that a custom such as bowing has its roots in mysticism or cult teaching.

 

It could definitely called a stretch, as in rubber-band.

 

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[seeking_truth_1 0]

To the top... A bit more about the Cathars

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharism