Freedomites

Also see – Doukhobors

Freedomites or svobodniki also called the Sons of Freedom were an extreme splinter group from the Doukhobors Christian religious sect that immigrated to western Canada. The group practiced a simple minimalistic life that included social nudity, ascetic nudity and protest nudity. ¹ Sons of Freedom The Freedomites were a visible group in British Columbia Canada from the 1920s to the 1960s. The media coverage of the Sons of Freedom was often negative and played a part of the notoriety of the group. ² The Doukhobor Problem: Media Representations of Sons of Freedom Women, 1952–1960 Julie Rak, University of Alberta

Freedomites followed the teachings of Peter Verizon, who taught his followers to get comfortable with nakedness and to live a primitive like like their spiritual ancestors Adam and Eve.  For the Sons of Freedom nakedness and nudity was not erotic. Unclothed human skin was considered far more beautiful than clothing and  represented the perfection of  God versus the corruption the clothing made by imperfect human hands. They were notorious for their nude protests that were often expressed through violence.  ³ Bitter Winter – Russian Doukhobors in Canada. 2. The Sons of Freedom’s Protest and Violence

Nudity and arson were common in Freedomite communities as they sought to stand naked before God and maintain a distinct way of life apart from governmental intervention. Canadian law enforcement  considered the Freedomites nudists and criminal terrorists. ⁴ Crime Beat – Lost Childhood: Russian Doukhobors or Sons of Freedom

The Freedomites came in contact with Canadian police due to their regular nude protest parades and the targeting of homes, ferries and other public places and with arson and bombings. ⁵ Crime Waves and Savage Fads From History That Were Just Unnatural

Some believe that the Freedomites cause was justified and they received unfair treatment from the Canadian government. This includes the removal of children from their homes. ⁶ Crime Beat – Lost Childhood: Russian Doukhobors or Sons of Freedom Journalists like Simma Holt sensationalized the communal  practices of the Freedomites in books like Terror in the Name of God.ref] The Doukhobor Problem: Media Representations of Sons of Freedom Women, 1952–1960 Julie Rak, University of Alberta [/ref]

[wp_books_gallery author=”Simma Holt” search=”0″]

Okanagan Valley newspapers as recently as 2014 recount the stories of “terrorist acts but the Sons of Freedom throughout British Columbia. ⁷ Terrorist acts in the 1950s

Doukhobor Heritage 

The Shrine o Dreams – Doukhobors of B.C.

References

• 1
  Sons of Freedom
• 2
  The Doukhobor Problem: Media Representations of Sons of Freedom Women, 1952–1960 Julie Rak, University of Alberta
• 3
  Bitter Winter – Russian Doukhobors in Canada. 2. The Sons of Freedom’s Protest and Violence
• 4
  Crime Beat – Lost Childhood: Russian Doukhobors or Sons of Freedom
• 5
  Crime Waves and Savage Fads From History That Were Just Unnatural
• 6
  Crime Beat – Lost Childhood: Russian Doukhobors or Sons of Freedom
• 7
  Terrorist acts in the 1950s