Why do I know about Doukhobors? Because I have an interest in Canadian history and politics, and the intersection with religion. Consequently, I have more than one book on my shelf.
Doukhobor history is interesting and telling. They seemed to me to be the most "Christian" of all the recent faith systems claiming to be so. By that, I mean they seemed to be the one who took the (reported) teachings of Jesus seriously, and tried to live by them: complete pacifism, the rejection of icons and church hierarchy, the renouncing of all possessions, caring for all living things to the point of self sacrifice...
Of course, like all religions, schisms, power politics, external and internal forces broke it up, with the splinter group who most self-identified as "fundamental" ended up being the one straying farthest from the core, resulting in the inevitable charismatic leadership and violence.
-- P@J.
Credit: theartofastralprojection.blogspot.com
