Skoptsy book review, pt. 2

[JesusA (imported)]

The Skoptsy drew much of their strength in the face of oppression by both the Orthodox Church and the Czarist (and later Communist) state from two powerful passages in the New Testament:<p>"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." [Matthew 25:32-34]<p>"And no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb." [Revelation 14:4-5]<p>The Skoptsy emphasized their position as lambs living among the goats (non-Skoptsy, fornicators who were not "true Christians") and the importance of ABSOLUTE chastity. Not all Skoptsy men were castrated, but castration was seen as a powerful way to ensure the chastity necessary to become a "lamb of God." It was seen as an act of love for a father to castrate his son to ensure his eternal salvation and place at the right hand of the Lord. <p>Latyshev wrote that just as a physician protects his patients against disease and death, so "a person who wants to save himself from eternal ruin, from the eternal hell of torments, from eternal death in return for original sin, [will] protect himself by castration from the all-destroying stupidity of sinning, from the eternal shame committed, as is well known, by the first people on earth.... The Skopets by his successful inoculation, his death to nature and life for the sake of his soul, is forever separated from the voluptuous sin of nature, has conquered in himself the animal instincts once and forever, has switched to serving God, sacrificing himself to God, the Holy, True God." Elsewhere he writes, "one must conquer nature...prevent the multiplication of the same irresolute sinners."

[JesusA (imported)]

The Skoptsy drew much of their strength in the face of oppression by both the Orthodox Church and the Czarist (and later Communist) state from two powerful passages in the New Testament:<p>"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." [Matthew 25:32-34]<p>"And no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb." [Revelation 14:4-5]<p>The Skoptsy emphasized their position as lambs living among the goats (non-Skoptsy, fornicators who were not "true Christians") and the importance of ABSOLUTE chastity. Not all Skoptsy men were castrated, but castration was seen as a powerful way to ensure the chastity necessary to become a "lamb of God." It was seen as an act of love for a father to castrate his son to ensure his eternal salvation and place at the right hand of the Lord. <p>Latyshev wrote that just as a physician protects his patients against disease and death, so "a person who wants to save himself from eternal ruin, from the eternal hell of torments, from eternal death in return for original sin, [will] protect himself by castration from the all-destroying stupidity of sinning, from the eternal shame committed, as is well known, by the first people on earth.... The Skopets by his successful inoculation, his death to nature and life for the sake of his soul, is forever separated from the voluptuous sin of nature, has conquered in himself the animal instincts once and forever, has switched to serving God, sacrificing himself to God, the Holy, True God." Elsewhere he writes, "one must conquer nature...prevent the multiplication of the same irresolute sinners."

[JesusA (imported)]

The Skoptsy drew much of their strength in the face of oppression by both the Orthodox Church and the Czarist (and later Communist) state from two powerful passages in the New Testament:<p>"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." [Matthew 25:32-34]<p>"And no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb." [Revelation 14:4-5]<p>The Skoptsy emphasized their position as lambs living among the goats (non-Skoptsy, fornicators who were not "true Christians") and the importance of ABSOLUTE chastity. Not all Skoptsy men were castrated, but castration was seen as a powerful way to ensure the chastity necessary to become a "lamb of God." It was seen as an act of love for a father to castrate his son to ensure his eternal salvation and place at the right hand of the Lord. <p>Latyshev wrote that just as a physician protects his patients against disease and death, so "a person who wants to save himself from eternal ruin, from the eternal hell of torments, from eternal death in return for original sin, [will] protect himself by castration from the all-destroying stupidity of sinning, from the eternal shame committed, as is well known, by the first people on earth.... The Skopets by his successful inoculation, his death to nature and life for the sake of his soul, is forever separated from the voluptuous sin of nature, has conquered in himself the animal instincts once and forever, has switched to serving God, sacrificing himself to God, the Holy, True God." Elsewhere he writes, "one must conquer nature...prevent the multiplication of the same irresolute sinners."

[JesusA (imported)]

The Skoptsy drew much of their strength in the face of oppression by both the Orthodox Church and the Czarist (and later Communist) state from two powerful passages in the New Testament:<p>"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." [Matthew 25:32-34]<p>"And no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb." [Revelation 14:4-5]<p>The Skoptsy emphasized their position as lambs living among the goats (non-Skoptsy, fornicators who were not "true Christians") and the importance of ABSOLUTE chastity. Not all Skoptsy men were castrated, but castration was seen as a powerful way to ensure the chastity necessary to become a "lamb of God." It was seen as an act of love for a father to castrate his son to ensure his eternal salvation and place at the right hand of the Lord. <p>Latyshev wrote that just as a physician protects his patients against disease and death, so "a person who wants to save himself from eternal ruin, from the eternal hell of torments, from eternal death in return for original sin, [will] protect himself by castration from the all-destroying stupidity of sinning, from the eternal shame committed, as is well known, by the first people on earth.... The Skopets by his successful inoculation, his death to nature and life for the sake of his soul, is forever separated from the voluptuous sin of nature, has conquered in himself the animal instincts once and forever, has switched to serving God, sacrificing himself to God, the Holy, True God." Elsewhere he writes, "one must conquer nature...prevent the multiplication of the same irresolute sinners."

[JesusA (imported)]

The Skoptsy drew much of their strength in the face of oppression by both the Orthodox Church and the Czarist (and later Communist) state from two powerful passages in the New Testament:<p>"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." [Matthew 25:32-34]<p>"And no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb." [Revelation 14:4-5]<p>The Skoptsy emphasized their position as lambs living among the goats (non-Skoptsy, fornicators who were not "true Christians") and the importance of ABSOLUTE chastity. Not all Skoptsy men were castrated, but castration was seen as a powerful way to ensure the chastity necessary to become a "lamb of God." It was seen as an act of love for a father to castrate his son to ensure his eternal salvation and place at the right hand of the Lord. <p>Latyshev wrote that just as a physician protects his patients against disease and death, so "a person who wants to save himself from eternal ruin, from the eternal hell of torments, from eternal death in return for original sin, [will] protect himself by castration from the all-destroying stupidity of sinning, from the eternal shame committed, as is well known, by the first people on earth.... The Skopets by his successful inoculation, his death to nature and life for the sake of his soul, is forever separated from the voluptuous sin of nature, has conquered in himself the animal instincts once and forever, has switched to serving God, sacrificing himself to God, the Holy, True God." Elsewhere he writes, "one must conquer nature...prevent the multiplication of the same irresolute sinners."