[grania]

The Russian Orthodox Church was surpressed by the Communist government, so practicing the faith became more of a commitment to a belief. Meanwhile, in Europe and the US the Church got "too easy". Even when I was in Catholic college in the '60s folowing the beliefs and values wasn't as important as being involved was.

I've always understood that my mother's generation, brought up Russian Orthodox, were more connected to the spiratual. Some of my cousins, in fact, returned to the Orthodox faith of their parents.

[Viennacon]

That seems to be a common theme, where the church is persecuted, it flourished and purifies itself.