Origins of revolutionary fanaticism. Faith issue of Feliks Dzerszhinsky

Abstract

This paper explores the case of origins Felix Dzerzhinsky’s ideological fanaticism: Polish national insurgent tradition and Christianity as the factors which had the most important influence on his personality. Revolutionary activity, martyrdom, radicalism and even writing the diary are the symptoms of Polish romantic influences that were implemented by his upbringing and education. Also, some elements of his mentality, like faith in the personal and worldwide mission, the strong maximalist belief in his ideas rectitude and fast social or state abolishment are connected to Russian radical intelligentsia. Dzerzhinsky has the vision of himself as the only practical continuator of Jesus Christ revolutionary teaching. In his interpretation, he was a real Apostol of new Christian faith — socialism. Redirection of religious energy from the higher goals to material reality led to the vision of common happiness build in the way of destruction. Because he sacrificed his entire life and conscience for old world burning, Dzerzhinsky started to consider himself as “Christ of the Revolution”. This symbol was needed to establish an organization of Bolsheviks who were able to the same immolation in the time of the Red Terror. Those contrary influences of Polish and Russian culture are the reason of Felix Dzerzhinsky’s personality disintegration that he tried to cure by subordination to the party, heroic devotion to work and fanaticism.

Keywords:

Russian Revolution, Felix Dzerzhinsky, fanaticism, Bolshevism, Polish romanticism, socialism