Соціальне служіння послідовників ISKCON під час війни в контексті культурної ідентичності

Abstract

The article aims to demonstrate the direct connection between social service within Ukrainian ISKCON and religious identity, since for ISKCON adherents, service outside the temple is in most cases not just charity, but also fulfills a religious purpose. This means that the deprivation of charitable activities of religious attributes may indicate a gradual loss of religious identity and its replacement with ideological identification in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. In this regard, the authors analyzed the charitable activities of ISKCON in Ukraine and in the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia. It was concluded that the representatives of Ukrainian ISKCON have not lost their religious identity, while the Society in the occupied territories might experience a crisis of religious identity.

To understand the nature of the religious identity of Ukrainian Vaishnavas in its correlation with the national identity, a new concept was introduced – the “vector of cultural consciousness”. In both national and so-called “universalist” identities, two vectors of cultural consciousness can be distinguished: introverted and extroverted. In the first case, the introverted vector can help mobilize society in the face of an external threat, or it can lead to cultural isolation, which inevitably leads to its impoverishment and loss of attractiveness even for its speakers. The extroverted vector of national identity promotes intercultural communication. In a “universalist” identity, i.e., one that is primarily focused on universal rather than national culture, the introverted vector of cultural consciousness will mean the absolutization of the culture that is considered universal, which leads to the devaluation of national cultures and the denial of the value of cultural diversity, as well as to religious escapism – the escape from the world into one’s own inner religious life. Meanwhile, the extroverted vector implies the ability to see the value of other cultures and cultural diversity from the perspective of a particular cultural tradition, in this case, from the perspective of Vaishnava (Vedic) culture. Ukrainian Vaishnavas, who have a rather “universalist” identity, are characterized by an extroverted vector of cultural consciousness – they perceive Vaishnava culture in a universalist sense, that is, as one that is important for the world as a whole, not just for India. Accordingly, Ukrainian culture is not devoid of value for them either; it is only inferior in its importance to the universal Vaishnava culture.

The activity of the “Food for Life” charitable mission demonstrates a very powerful trend in line with the extroverted vector of universalist cultural consciousness. Despite the fact that in most cases the mission does not set missionary tasks and does not preach religion openly during the mission, ISKCON followers perceive their participation in its activities as both a religious and civic duty, while maintaining all the signs of their own religious identity. However, the Society does not yet have clear answers to what extent its charitable activities should spread and whether they should cover the military struggle against external aggression. One can observe a general trend of gradual increase in the use of the Ukrainian language and attention to Ukrainian culture, support for the Ukrainian military and participation in the defense of their country against Russian aggression.