Storming the heavens
Book Description
This scholarly exploration examines one of history's most systematic campaigns against religious belief, offering profound insights into the collision between spiritual faith and ideological transformation. Daniel Peris draws upon previously inaccessible Soviet archives to illuminate the workings of the League of the Militant Godless, an organization established in 1925 to advance atheistic principles throughout the Soviet Union.
Through careful analysis of propaganda materials, organizational activities, and personnel records spanning from the Bolshevik Revolution through 1941, Peris reveals how a revolutionary government attempted to reshape the spiritual landscape of an entire society. The book traces these efforts from central planning offices to provincial communities, showing how abstract ideological goals translated into concrete actions affecting millions of believers.
For readers interested in understanding how spiritual traditions respond to systematic challenges, this work provides valuable perspective on the resilience and adaptation of religious communities under pressure. The study also offers broader insights into processes of secularization during periods of radical social change.
Rather than simply chronicling historical events, Peris creates a framework for comprehending how revolutionary movements approach questions of belief, meaning, and transcendence. This analysis contributes to ongoing scholarly discussions about the Bolshevik period while illuminating universal themes about the relationship between political power and spiritual expression.
The book serves as both historical documentation and thoughtful examination of humanity's enduring quest for meaning amid social upheaval.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
🕉️ Tradition: Comparative Religion
📄 Length: 237 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore timeless philosophical wisdom
- ✓ Explore Communist education
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Russkai͡a pravoslavnai͡a t͡serkovʹ
- ✓ Explore Soviet union, history
- ✓ Explore Russkai︠a︡ pravoslavnai︠a︡ t︠s︡erkovʹ
- ✓ Explore Atheism
- ✓ Explore Soi︠u︡z voinstvui︠u︡shchikh bezbozhnikov SSSR
