The article studies teleology, which can be found in the phenomenon of religious escapism. In religious escapism, dissatisfaction with the modern world manifests itself, which is compensated through an appeal to spiritual culture. The New Age movement offers a substitute for traditional religiosity and scientific rationality, and constructs a new anthropological model to replace the one that took shape in the modern era and was destroyed by it. This model is based on a fragmented identity that is relational and eclectic and exists within a culture of locality. As an example of theses, activities of a religious community in Plotbishche village, Muromcevo district, Omsk region related to the new age movement are described for the first time in scientific literature. It was founded by former city entrepreneurs who became farmers. They moved to the Muromcevo district, attracted by the fame of the religious phenomenon of the village of Okunevo, and settled in the neighborhood. The leaders of the community gathered like-minded people around them, united by dissatisfaction with modernity, esoteric inclinations, and the desire to purify the soul and achieve bodily health. They represent a small community that looks like a farm to the outside world. On social media, they look like a group practicing dry fasting, preaching vegetarianism and raw food. At the same time, the community has a number of characteristics that give it the right to identify it as a religious community. Spiritualism, theosophy and tolerance towards drug culture are clearly manifested in the worldview of its leaders and active members. Religious beliefs in metempsychosis, religious syncretism, and eclecticism are reinforced by dietary discipline and ecumenical ritual practices. In their worldview, sacred teleology is clearly visible. It focuses on the transcendent and allows escapism as a model for a person's attitude towards a world that does not meet their expectations.
Key words: escapism, New Age, Okunevo, Plotbishche, teleology, anthropology
DOI: 10.22250/2072-8662-2026-1-77-85
About the author
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Alexander V. Petrov – PhD (Philosophy), Associate Professor, Assistant Professor at the Department of Philosophy and Political Science, Omsk Academy of the Ministry of the Interior of the Russian Federation; 7 Komarova Ave., Omsk, 644092, Russia; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |