The Future of the Religious Movement "Ata Zholy" in Kazakhstan

Abstract

The article aims to define the religious profile of the organization "Ata Zholy." It is noted that there are diverse interpretations of the movement in current academic discourse. Some authors categorize it as a totalitarian/authoritarian sect, while others consider it a form of traditional healing practices and a revival of national values. "Ata Zholy" positions itself as a regional variant of Islam, transmitting Kazakh values. The article concludes that the organization's activities can be classified under the New Age movement. Accordingly, the narratives and concepts of its activities are defined. The most significant markers of the organization’s religious activity are conceptualized as syncretism of various religious teachings, including esoteric practices, superficial eclecticism, appeals to traditional Kazakh values (belief in ancestral spirits, ziyarah, fire purification, etc.), spiritualism, gender agency, and others. The organizational structure is examined. The main communicators of the organization's messages within society are mediums known as "akku" and "sunkars." The organization is led by a mythologized leader (founder Tarybayev), while the lower tier consists of a fluid and unstable group of adherents. The article concludes that the amorphous, ideologically pluralistic, and non-dogmatic nature of the organization, along with the absence of institutions such as spiritual leaders and prayer houses, allows it to find its niche in the spiritual life of the modern individual.