The article covers the so called Thesis of Frances Yates, concerning the «hermetical key» to understanding of the Scientific Revolution. The author shows historians’ attitude to Yates’s Thesis and assumes, that in general it depends on what exactly these historians study — the history of science or the history of culture. Also the article shows the role of metahistorical orientation of historians in their attitude to Yates’ Thesis.

This article is devoted to the methodology of research in the field of religiosity in the USSR. The author outlines the weaknesses of current scholarship: the lack of knowledge of others’ works, inability to widen the scope of used sources for a more multidimentional analysis, etc. He specifically refers to a problem of a researcher’s being concentrated exclusively on the documents from one particular “favourite” archival fund — usually “the fund of the commissioner for religious affairs” — which turns the research into an uncritical retelling of the documents found there. 

This article argues that scholars interested in studying religious practice in the Soviet Union should focus on “lived religion” as a valid form of religiosity. This concept allows for the consideration of the improvised nature of religious practices that were often conducted outside of churches and involved appeals to spirits in addition to an anthropomorphic God.

The paper explores the history of the invention and introduction of rituals during the so called Khrushchev Thaw period, when the authorities were concerned with the creation and introduction of new socialist rituals and holidays, consonant with Soviet secularized sensibilities of the postwar period. The idea goes back to the 1920s but the systematic policy started in the Khrushchev period when many new rites were created such as wedding ceremonies or registration of the newborn, as well as “popular” and professional holidays.