The article is a preface to a previously unknown text by A.A. Vaneev (1922–1985), a disciple and follower of L.P. Karsavin (1882–1952), author of the book “Two Years in Abezi”, containing a philosophical portrait of the Russian religious philosopher. “Letters to the Teacher” became one of the first attempts of Vaneev to comprehend and present the ideas of Lev Karsavin, learned by the disciple as a result of long communication with his eminent interlocutor. Already that early text testifies to the philosophical sensitivity and gift of independent thought of Anatoly Vaneev, a recent convinced materialist, a pupil of the Soviet anti-religious education system.

The meeting with Karsavin and immersion in his works led Vaneev to his own topics – clarifying the positive meaning of atheism and identifying the features of a new religiosity that has latently absorbed modern atheism. The article briefly analyzes the meaning of the idea of the heuristic meaning of dogmatics, as something most essential for understanding the reflections of both thinkers.