L. N. Gumilev’s concept of “anti-systems” in the context of the controversy between apologists of orthodox Сhristianity and Russian Neo-Paganism

The article is devoted to the concept of anti-systems, an integral part of the passionary theory of ethnogenesis by Lev Nikolaevich Gumilev. The place of L.N. Gumilyov in historiography and public life is briefly described. The similarity between the concept of anti-systems and the studies of “political gnosticism” that emerged in Western humanities is shown. The following briefly outlines the essence of Gumilev’s concept, which has revealed the internal contradictions of his own worldview. Although L.N. Gumilyov considered himself an Orthodox Christian, much of his views coincided with the teachings of the heretic Marcion. He also included Gnosticism among anti-systems, but not Christianity, although they arose in the same ethnocultural context, which, if desired, could be described as a “chimera” in his terminology. Further, the use of the concept of anti-systems is traced in the polemics between Russian neo-pagans represented by A.M. Ivanov and N.N. Speransky and Orthodox Christians represented by V.L. Makhnach and M.N. Kuznetsov. Taking advantage of the gaps in Gumilev’s concept, neo-pagans declared Christianity itself to be an anti-system, focusing on some of its aspects, such as the lack of connection to a specific ethnic group or monastic world-denial. There have also been attempts on the part of Christians to both repel such arguments and to make a similar accusation against neo-paganism, which distorts the history of Russia and denies the Orthodox component of Russian culture. In all these cases, the concept was vulgarized and acquired the character of an ordinary pejorative. Despite this, the concept still has a certain scientific potential, but it can only be realized outside such a polemical context.