Intuition of Faith in the Religious and Anthropological Thought of Vladimir Bibikhin

Abstract

The article studies the main aspects of understanding the faith by Vladimir Bibikhin. The article's methodology is analysis-oriented: the intuition of the philosopher's faith is reconstructed from precise, self-significant definitions expressed in his numerous works. It is stated that the category of faith occupies a significant place among the themes and problems of the philosopher's work. Bibikhin declares faith as the “first thing”, which consciously or unconsciously determines the entire existence of a person. Along with philosophy and prayer, faith is declared an “ontology”, i.e. a truly authentic measure of existence. It contacts with the “heart of truth”, accepts supernatural dogmatic Mysteries, introduces a soteriological meaning, conceals a not always obvious, but unconditional law of human nature, which predetermines the quality and morality of all actions. It is significant that, despite the Christian religious commitment, in his works, Vladimir Bibikhin offers an apology for the anthropological universalism of faith, criticizes its only doctrinal interpretation, and explicates it in a conceptually philosophical manner. Faith is also revealed as a way of recognizing oneself and God in oneself (the doctrinal aspect), but it is precisely with it that the unconditional freedom of a person is associated. Cognitively, it coincides with the mind and is its highest potency. In this sense, according to Vladimir Bibikhin faith is a demand for both “catharsis”, “capture”, and “robbery of Being”, which is manifested in prayer and creativity. An important aspect of the intuition of faith by Vladimir Bibikhin is its personal dimension, having a specific Christian expression. In his works, one can find a whole range of characteristics of faith: sacrifice, fidelity, complete “blind” trust in God, unreasonableness, riskiness, and confidence, as well as the properties of knowledge, philosophy, and purity.