Загирова Эльвира Махачевна

The problem of religiosity, the severity of its types and cult behavior is one of the urgent against the backdrop of increasing the significance of the religious factor in modern Russian society. The article analyzes the types of religiosity, indicators of its measurement, the cult behavior of Mountain Jews, the correlation existing between the type of religiosity and religious behavior. The obtained empirical data are the basis for the conclusion that the Mountain Jews interviewed demonstrate cult behavior corresponding to each type of religiosity (a convinced believer, believer, hesitant, unbeliever, convinced unbeliever), although some inconsistency in their behavior can be noted: when, relating to the type of religiosity to a certain subgroup, the array of respondents in their cult behavior demonstrates uncharacteristic religious behavior. At the same time, one can state awareness in the mass consciousness of Mountain Jews in defining the essence of the concept of “a true believer” a person strictly and clearly following all, without exception, the canons of Judaism. According to the results of the study, the significance of the moral component in determining attitudes to faith was established, moreover, according to Mountain Jews, a person who demonstrates moral behavior regardless of his attitude to religion (believer / unbeliever) can be added to the cohort of true believers.

The article examines values and symbols, their importance in the reproduction of the ethnic identity of Mountain Jews, as well as the reflection of their expression on the state of their ethnic well-being. Empirical research has shown that the national (native) language, cultural and historical heritage, national traditions and customs, religion, historical monuments and national holidays are significant values of the ethnic identity of Mountain Jews. At the same time, their hierarchy is formed depending on both the position and significance of values in the mass consciousness of a particular ethnic community, and the attitude of surrounding ethnic groups.

The problem of intermarriage is actively discussed in the scientific community for different reasons. There are a variety of points of view for its consideration. One part of the researchers is inclined to think that interethnic marriage destroys ethnic community. The other researcher adheres to the position that a mixed marriage contributes familiarity with foreign culture and allows formulating the principles of tolerance in the mass consciousness and behavior of people. There is family and marriage behavior of the Mountain Jews in this article. We established that they are characterized by conservatism in this area by the results of an empirical study. The majority of the respondents emphasize the importance of the ethnicity of the future marriage partner. Women are more traditional in this question than men. However, there are the installations in the family and marriage sphere and they do not testify to the orientation of Mountain Jews to ethno-isolationism despite the intensification of assimilation processes.