Posted on 01/15/2010 8:11:50 AM PST by marshmallow
Is Russian leadership more Christian than the United States? Is the Russian Government more Christian than George Bush ever hoped the United States to be? The answer is yes, and not only is it true, but thanks to born again Christians, Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin, Christian influence in matters of State is rapidly on the rise. Let's look at the facts.
A couple of weeks ago Barack Obama skipped Church on Christmas Day while the President of Russia, Dimitry Medvedev, on January 6, 2010, attended mid-night mass services celebrating the Russian Orthodox Christmas in grand splendor in the traditional Vigil liturgy in Saint Christ the Saviour Cathedral in the presence of 4,000 people, including Patriarch Kirill. The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas following the old Julian calendar, which is 13 days "behind" the Gregorian calendar.
While Russian leaders were attending Church services, half way around the world in America, Chicago Tribune, writing about Obama's troubles finding a Church for his family, said "But as his (Obama) fellow Christians around the world attended Christmas services on Wednesday and Thursday, the president-elect and his family remained sequestered at their vacation compound on the windward coast of Oahu. His lack of attendance at formal religious services showcased a dilemma faced by Obama, who is between churches and often expresses concern about bringing the disruption of his security detail into the lives of others." According to the same report President Barack Obama has not attended a public church service since before being elected.
So what you say? Well, today Russia is investing $100 million to rebuild Christian churches throughout the country. Money to rebuild theses churches is coming from Russian tax payers. This would be impossible in the US of course. Imagine the US Media's reaction if President Obama decided to invest $100 million dollars of US tax payer dollars to rebuild Catholic Churches. In the US there would be outrage yet Russia citizens are supportive of the investment.
Russia's turn to Christianity is a virtually unknown phenomenon in the United States. Most Christian leaders are oblivious to what is happening in Russia. Pastor Robertson or Pastor Hagee still believe Russia is an atheist and communist country and these prominent End-Times Christian pastors are raising money and rattling their sabers to go to war against the Godless state.
But the reality is Russia is indeed rebuilding Churches with tax payer funds. MinistryValues.com, in another piece, wrote "In addition to the formal exchange of wishes and thanks with the Patriarchate of Moscow, the Russian government gave the Christian Church a dramatic Christmas gift. Meeting with the patriarch at the Danilov Monastery, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced that the government would provide almost $100 million US dollars (RUB 2 billion) to restore holy sites, monasteries and churches destroyed during last century's atheist drive by the Soviet Union against religion. He also said that the Novodevichy Convent, one of most beautiful and important in the country, would be given back to the Patriarchate.
Putin Emphasizes "Love for Spiritual Values" Kisses religious Icons, Keeps Miracle Cross with him
Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedeve go to Church frequently, kiss precious icons of the Virgin Mary and seek political and moral counsel from the Russian Orthodox Clergy. Furthermore, to the surprise of many Americans, particularly Evangelical Christians, Vladimir Putin wears a Christian cross with him at all times.
From a Larry King Live interview Putin told Larry King: "I was surprised completely when one of the workers, just muddling through those ashes of the remnants, found that cross intact. And the house fell, that was a surprise, a revelation, and therefore I always now keep it with me. "
Vladimir Putin has frequently praised the Christian Russian Orthodox Church for "educating citizens in a spirit of patriotism and love of country, passing on love for spiritual values and history." For his part, Kirill said that he hoped that the Lord would help Putin "in performing the high task God gave him." The patriarch also praised the prime minister for the way he managed the economic crisis, which has had a greater impact in Russia than elsewhere in the world.
Christian influence penetrates the Russian Military
Interfax of Moscow reported Patriarch Kirill head of Moscow and All Russia Orthodox Church in a speech to Strategic Missile Forces Academy in Moscow said "that in last ten years many garrison churches and Sunday schools have opened in secret military towns of Russia"
Patriarch Kirill Patriarch at a special ceremony awarded the Special Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) a pennant with the image of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara, the heavenly protector of the branch. The Patriarch conveyed the award to Lieutenant General Andrey Shvaichenko, RVSN Commander, at the Peter the Great Strategic Missile Forces Academy in Moscow on Tuesday when opening the conference dedicated the Academy’s jubilee.
Infax reported also that the Patriarch, speaking of Russia's nuclear arsenal "is convinced “such dangerous weapon can be given only to clean hands –hands of people with clear mind, ardent love to Motherland, responsibility for their work before God and people.”
He believes it is not by chance that systematic cooperation of the Russian Church with the Russian Armed Forces started with the Strategic Missile Forces in early 1990s.
Not a big tent in Russia - Restrictions on Evangelical Christians
Funding to restore Christian sites and the return of properties seized from the Church in Soviet times are but the latest gift of the Kremlin to the Patriarchate. This year, the Russia Justice Ministry will present plans to amend the laws on "Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations", which, if approved, would severely restrict the activities of certain religious communities, like Evangelical Christians. In addition, the authorities plan to add religious education in public schools as well as chaplains paid by the state to the armed forces. It also appears possible that the Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow will be granted the right to vet parliamentary bills before they go to the Duma.
Is the Russian Government building a more Christian society? Perhaps. But try telling that to your buddies at Church this Sunday.
Even Joe Stalin was smart enough to reopen the churches when the Nazis were breathing down their necks.
“One of the great strengths of the United States,” the President said, “is ... we have a very large Christian population — we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.”
“One of the great strengths of the United States,” the President said, “is ... we have a very large Christian population — we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.” - B. Hussein Obama
I’ve been there four times.
I have close ties with the Slavic Baptist community here in the states.
Russia is definitely more Christian than the U.S.
Consider.
The Communists made abortion freely available, funded by the State. But when I asked an orphanage worker where all the babies came from, he told me that many of them come from prostitution. I asked why the prostitutes didn’t take advantage of the state-funded abortions.
He bristled at me and answered gruffly, “There are some things even a WHORE would not do.”
At that point I was able to deduce that the average American politician has a lower moral standard than the average Russian street whore.
I shared this story with a “liberal” co-worker some years ago. He has not spoken to me since.
The Russians realize that their Christian religion is still the basis of their culture. Destroy a country’s culture and you have destroyed the country. If they can stop the decline of their culture, they will gone a long way to stopping the decline of their country.
sadly well said!
Even Joe Stalin was smart enough to reopen the churches when the Nazis were breathing down their necks.
That was much akin to my reaction. Putin is smart enough to remember the histrionic movies made by Stalin during WWII that depicted Russian knights and Orthodox Church priests beating back invaders from the West.
I have seen many on here in the past make less than nice remarks about Vladimir Putin, but I do know he did have a traditional wooden Russian Orthodox chapel built on the property at his country home.
Zero won’t go to church much less have a freestanding chapel built on his own property.
He bristled at me and answered gruffly, “There are some things even a WHORE would not do.”
The idea that Russian prostitutes are more moral than prostitutes in other countries is touching, but laughable. What do the prostitutes live on during the months they're "hors de combat"? Hmm?
Definition of "Hors de combat": Hors de Combat, literally meaning "outside the fight," is a French term used in diplomacy and international law to refer to soldiers who are incapable of performing their military function. i.e. out of action.
> What a crock! Someone was receiving the abortions!
I’m just repeating what was told to me. And the orphanages, of which there are many (there are at least 6 in St. Petersburg alone), ARE full. I was there and saw it myself.
Among the reasons for the decline in Russia’s population are the following.
. The famine of 1921-22, whereby 5 million Russians died. The famine was caused mostly by the Bolshevik disruption of agriculture.
. WWII, which reduced the Russian population by at least 10 million. Almost 3 million died as a result of the siege of Leningrad (St Petersburg). At least another million Russians died in the battle for Stalingrad (Volgograd).
. Stalin’s purges during the 30s and 40s, whereby over 20 million Russians were murdered en masse.
. Emigration: millions of Jews and millions more of persecuted Christians over the last 50 years.
. Birth Control
. Abortion
I don’t know where abortion ranks as a reducer of Russia’s population, but given the other statistics, I don’t think it’s a first order, or even a second order, cause.
> The idea that Russian prostitutes are more moral than
> prostitutes in other countries is touching, but
> laughable.
I was not comparing the morality of Russian prostitutes to prostitues in other countries. I was comparing the morality of Russian prostitutes to that of American politicians.
The ethnic Russians aren't declining because of the Battle of Stalingrad, or Stalin's purges, or because of Communism, which has been gone almost 20 years now. They're dying off because - by the Russian government's own figures - in the time it takes three Russians to be born, four die. That's happening right now, not back in the early-middle 20th Century.
Medvedev and Putin wish to pretend that Russia is still a great power while Russia dies. Whatever they build short term will be swept away by the self-extinction of their own people, and they're doing nothing to stop that.
I take no joy in the Russian people's destruction, because I don't hate them, unlike some people on Free Republic. If it were in my power to stop it I certainly would, but I won't deny the facts.
> They’re dying off because - by the Russian government’s own
> figures - in the time it takes three Russians to be born,
> four die
Is this a function of birth control among the general population, or is it due to abortion among the prostitutes?
While abortion plays a part in reducing new live births, I submit that it has, at best, a second order effect.
The Russians I’ve met, there and here, secular as well as religious, have a strong aversion to abortion.
The Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the Apostolic Lutheran and Slavic Baptists all vigorously oppose abortion.
The Apostolic Lutherans oppose birth control of any kind and have very large families.
Problem for Russia is that millions of them have emigrated to the U.S, Canada, Australia, Finland, etc.
> I don’t see that it matters. Whatever the cause it points
> towards demographic doom.
Indeed.
If it weren’t for our “immigration”, our population would be declining, too.
Europe, and even Russia, will be dominated by the hateful barbaric death cult of the pirate polygamist pedophile Mohammed before the end of this century.
Russia’s Mohammedan population has doubled in the last 20 years.
You are both right.
Russia is trying to rebuild its Christian culture. But it might be to late.
I'll have to try that! ;-)
Actually, Russia is experiencing population growth for the first time since 1995!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091230/wl_afp/russiapoliticspopulationputin
Putin is doing good work in Russia, economically, demographically, and culturally speaking.
And yes, Russia is more Christian than the United States today, I have been saying that for years now. It saddens me to see so many people still trapped in the cold war mindset, unable to see the thruth.
How Christian of the Russians to severely restrict the activities of Christians.
>. The famine of 1921-22, whereby 5 million Russians died. The famine was caused mostly by the Bolshevik disruption of agriculture.<
Famine of 1921-1922 was caused mostly by total destruction of economy in Russia due to Civil War and occupation and robbing by Western countries.
>. WWII, which reduced the Russian population by at least 10 million. Almost 3 million died as a result of the siege of Leningrad (St Petersburg). At least another million Russians died in the battle for Stalingrad (Volgograd).<
Military losses of USSR in WWII were 8,5 millions, 20 millions civilians were killed under German occupation.
>. Stalin’s purges during the 30s and 40s, whereby over 20 million Russians were murdered en masse.<
This theory is not supported by reliable sources. Population would not support so bloody regime in WWII. Before WWI population in Russia was about 150 millions, in 1940 it was 180 millions. USSR’s population in 1987 was 270 millions. AFAIK, population’s dynamic in Russia/USSR in XX century is quite comparable to that in European countries
>. Emigration: millions of Jews and millions more of persecuted Christians over the last 50 years.<
Jews emigrated mostly for economic reasons, for life in Russia was not all sugar and honey, while Jews enjoyed opportunity of emigration to USA. Persecution of Christians would be too strong expression, for many Communists were believers. Persecution of Orthodox Church and priests - yes, it has place during 2 decades after Bolshevik’s revolution, for they considered them as ideological rivals. Orthodox Church was destroyed by revolutionary Bolsheviks-internationalists, who were immigrants and not Russians by ethnicity. They were purged in 1930th by Stalin as trotskistes and agents of foreign conspiracy. During WWII attitude of Soviet government to Russian Orthodox Church became sufficiently more positive. Stalin in 1942 helped to organize gathering of Church hierarchs for election of patriarch. He considered Bolshevik’s atheistic books as trash. My grandma and her sister believed in God, my parents were baptized, sough Soviet people in general were not believers. Many of those who are atheists in Russia have dislike to sexual perverts so much revered in Western countries, and consider most commandments of Christ as best suited for people.
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