Bezbozhnik u Stanka -- index

Some anti-religious cartoons and articles in Bezbozhnik, 1924-1927

Added 20030422
Last minor change 20040824

Some notes about Bezbozhnik

was officially an organ of the Moscow Party Committee and the brainchild of Party activist Maria Mikhailovna Kostelovskaia.

began as a monthly periodical in 1923 and switched to a biweekly publication schedule in 1929. It eventually ceased to appear in 1931. Over the course of its existence, the print run of Bezbozhnik u stanka varied between 35,000 and 70,000 copies with a typical issue composed of 24 pages, 4-8 of which would contain color illustrations.

http://www.atheisms.info/atheisms/soviet.html

If that goes down, try a web search against "Bezbozhnik."

Soviet authorities quietly dropped militantly atheistic periodicals ca. 1940-41, allegedly due to a "paper shortage." The real reason was the prospect of war with Germany: if released from the GULag, "patriotic" clergy, especially in the Russian Orthodox church, could help rally resistance to invaders.

Ob"yasnenie latinskoj azbuki vospolzuemoj zdes'

Cena 40 kop. Price 40 kopeks
BEZBOZHNIK U STANKA, #1 (1924) THE ATHEIST AT THE WORKBENCH
ZHURNAL M.K.R.K.P.
(Bol'shevikov)
MKRKP -- mozhet byt' ŤMoskovskogo Komiteta Rossijskoj Kommunisticheskoj Partiiť JOURNAL of the M.K.R.K.P.
(Bolsheviks)
MKRKP -- perhaps "of the Moscow Committee of the Russian Communist Party"
Ris. D. Moor Cartoonist: D. Moor

Selected cartoons:

1924, #1, cover Anti-Judaism (the religion)
1924, #2, cover Anti-Buddhism
1924, #3, cover Anti-Christianity
1924, #5, cover Anti-Islam

Selected articles:

1927, #7, p. 12 Abortion Surprisingly, makes no reference to religious views on abortion. (Cartoon of midwife quack styled as iconic saint is random, unfocused jab at religion.) Article makes purely practical argument that abortions by untrained midwives are dangerous.
For now, available only in Russian
1927, #10, p. 4 The Apostolic Acts of Bishop Ingram A satirical summary of the world tour (1926-27) of A. F. Winnington-Ingram, evangelist, Anglican Bishop of London.
Article only in Russian for now, but explanation is in English

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Cena 40 kop.	Price 40 kopeks
BEZBOZHNIK U STANKA, #1 (1924)	THE ATHEIST AT THE WORKBENCH
ZHURNAL M.K.R.K.P. (Bol'shevikov) MKRKP -- mozhet byt' ŤMoskovskogo Komiteta Rossijskoj Kommunisticheskoj Partiiť	JOURNAL of the M.K.R.K.P. (Bolsheviks) MKRKP -- perhaps "of the Moscow Committee of the Russian Communist Party"
Ris. D. Moor	Cartoonist: D. Moor

1924, #1, cover	Anti-Judaism (the religion)
1924, #2, cover	Anti-Buddhism
1924, #3, cover	Anti-Christianity
1924, #5, cover	Anti-Islam

1927, #7, p. 12	Abortion	Surprisingly, makes no reference to religious views on abortion. (Cartoon of midwife quack styled as iconic saint is random, unfocused jab at religion.) Article makes purely practical argument that abortions by untrained midwives are dangerous. For now, available only in Russian
1927, #10, p. 4	The Apostolic Acts of Bishop Ingram	A satirical summary of the world tour (1926-27) of A. F. Winnington-Ingram, evangelist, Anglican Bishop of London. Article only in Russian for now, but explanation is in English