Doukhobor Beliefs

The Doukhobors are a Christian sect that hold beliefs similar to the Quakers. While no short description can be a complete statement of any faith community’s beliefs, some of the central tenets of the Doukhobors are:

• Their religious philosophy is based on the two New Testament commandments articulated by Jesus: “Love God with all thy heart, mind and soul,” and “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”  They have many other maxims they adhere to; one of the most popular – coined by Peter Verigin – is “Toil and Peaceful Life.”

• The commandment “Thou Shalt Not Kill” is of fundamental significance and dictates a life practice of pacifism and a rejection of military service.

• Allegiance to God supercedes allegiance to state or country.

• They believe that people are capable of divine reason and do not need intermediaries, such as priests, religious ceremonies, liturgies, churches or icons in order to experience God.

• They reject the literal interpretations of the Trinity, Heaven and Hell, original sin and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• They believe that bread, salt and water are the basic elements needed to sustain life and therefore of great religious significance. All Doukhobor meetings and important events are held in the presence of bread, salt and water.

• They avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco and animal products for food and stray from involvement in partisan politics.

• Historically, the Doukhobors have at times practiced communal living.

• The Doukhobors do not depend on the Bible or a psalter, and sing their hymns (many composed from the 18th century to the present) a cappella.

• Their traditional psalms, hymns and spiritual songs are compiled in The Book of Life (Zhivotnaya Kniga).