A new type of religious leader in the neo-paganism on the example of Altay Jang Ak Jang in the Republic of Altai

Abstract

The article describes the types of modern religious leadership in relation to the beliefs of the Altai: shamanism (hereditary shamans), neoshamanism (trained shamans/Kama, who opened "the gift", combining various techniques), Ak Jang (arlije, "neméa Biler Kizhi"), charismatic leaders with a unique status (Akay kinetics with Alt. "White ruler" — S. K. Kynyev). On the basis of the analysis of religious cult internal literature: heavenly dictations (Sudur bichikter), articles, addresses, comments of followers the modern type of the neo-pagan leader Chekurashev is fixed. These characteristics reflect the ideas about the character, role, attitude to the followers and the significance of the religious spiritual leader in Altai. V. B. Chekurashev as a religious spiritual leader called the "teacher" "prophet-messenger of God on Earth", "Kulagin iscsi, reviving the Faith of their ancestors Ak Jang", "gifted by God", "neméa Biler Kizhi". In General, V. Chekurasheva can be called the leader of the modernizer, actively involved in the process of learning the basics of the Altai beliefs, but also the cult practice of healing and prophecy. Currently religious group Ak Jang, having twenty years of experience, continues to evolve, to reform itself and find new forms of religious activities and missionary work and this certainly has merit as the spiritual leader and his entourage.