What is truth? Voices from the Russian prison

Abstract

The essay tells the story about the performing of Bulgakov’s ‘Pilate’ in Prison no. 2 in Ekaterinburg, Russia, and explores the influence of philosophical content of the play upon personal destinies of those involved in it. The essay reflects upon the peculiarities of the perception of scriptural, philosophical, and literary concepts of truth and justice in the prison setting, and demonstrates how personal interpretation of justice may change depending on the current situation and self-interest. In the broader context, the comprehension of justice in contemporary Russia in light of the interweaving of prison subculture into socialcultural fabric of Russian society is explored.

Keywords:

• theater in prison
• criminal psychology
• truth and justice
• ‘cultural fundamentalism’
• declarative and operational values
• Russian spirituality

Notes

1. Quotations are from Bulgakov (1967).

2. United Methodist ministry started in Russia in 1990, and the very first congregation was founded in Ekaterinburg. I served as a UMC pastor from 1994 on and at the same time kept my position as principal researcher of the Institute of Philosophy and Law, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The UMC community in Prison no. 2 included from 15 to 50 prisoners, and existed from 1992 until 2006 when it was banned under the pretext that prisoners do not need any church other than the Russian Orthodox. However, in 1999 this disappointing ending was still far away.