Preserving Spiritual Integrity

In the context of the discussed text, the worldview is regarded as a complex internal perception of the world, where the attitude toward atheism holds significant importance. Atheism in the text is not merely defined as a lack of belief, but rather as a renunciation of a deep understanding of human existence—a rejection of faith in the mysterious center of personality and in something greater that gives life its meaning. For example, one excerpt states:

"For religion is simultaneously the recognition of the Divinity of God and the Divinity of man himself. ... Atheism is the denial of the mysterious center of personality and, by extension, the denial of the mysterious center of the universe. ... Atheism is the most banal view of the world, a perception of talentlessness" (source: link txt).

This perspective emphasizes that rejecting faith in something higher results in a life devoid of depth and inner support, where the "self" is reduced merely to bodily desires and fleeting passions. Within such a worldview, choosing to live outside Russia is seen not so much as an escape but as a forced or conscious decision to maintain one’s spiritual integrity in conditions where state and ideological norms may undermine true human value.

As evident from Prot. S. Bulgakov’s letter to N.A. Berdyaev, emigration is viewed not only as a spatial relocation but also as a continuation of an ideology in which Russia exists not only as a territory but as an idea that must be preserved and developed under new conditions:

"Of course, principled emigration is completely alien to me, and I have always regarded even the thought of it as sinful, but since for millions expulsion from Russia becomes inevitable, it must mean that Russia exists not only there, but here, and that what is happening to the Russian soul abroad is happening—pro rata—to Russia as well. And in this temporary division of the centers of Russian consciousness lies the dual and positive meaning, the achievement of our era that takes the future into account. For us, Russia is not merely a territory, but an idea that must be preserved and developed in these new conditions." (source: link txt)

Thus, the choice to live outside the Russian Federation can be interpreted as an effort to preserve certain spiritual and cultural ideals that oppose ideological dictates, including atheistic ones characterized by superficiality and a loss of inner meaning. This decision is not merely about geographic relocation, but about seeking a space where one can live according to principles that affirm the value of faith in man as the bearer of something divine and eternal. In this way, the worldview that rejects atheism is closely intertwined with the notion of "internal" or external emigration—a choice symbolizing the need to safeguard spirituality and preserve personal honor, even if it means physically distancing oneself from one’s homeland.

Preserving Spiritual Integrity

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