Religion and Revolution

Kotkin writes:

While it was true that almost all the leading lights of Georgia ‘ s Social Democrats emerged from the Tiflis Seminary – like the many radical members of the Jewish Labour Federation (Bund) produced at the famed Rabbinical School and Teachers’ Seminary in Wilno – that was partly because such places provided an education and strong dose of self – discipline.

Here Kotkin is allowing his belief in the all – conquering power of hard work and education to steer him away from a more profound analysis. The Russian revolution and the system that it ended up creating was based on a deeply religious model. Stalin recreated the Holy Trinity, the prayer corner, the adoration of the Holy remains,  etc in the supposedly atheist country he led.

The revolutionaries of the Russian Empire rejected the religions of their ancestors because they found a more convincing religion.