Posted on 01/22/2018 12:31:07 PM PST by GoldenState_Rose
There are many Lutheran missionaries in Russia. A few I support (or did till he passed away late last year of heart issues).
This law has not been talked about. Granted, they are in historically Lutheran areas, and in Siberia. And as an Orthodox once told me, they have a history with the Lutherans there that goes back to Catherine the Great.
China does the same thing with confusciousism - Communists learned late in the game state religions are a great way of controlling the masses. Which is why both China and now Russia have abandoned atheism and embraced religion - so long as it’s theres.
You see the same movements now in the Democrat party. God is who they say He (or she) is and you better toe the line or you’re not right with God.
“I’m Catholic and especially as an American, would never advocate the same to happen to an Orthodox priest.”
Russian Orthodox have a long history of reacting with hostility to missionaries of other denominations.
“There are many Lutheran missionaries in Russia.”
I still say that the Russian Orthodox Church would not react well if they started trying to make converts among the Orthodox.
“Granted, they are in historically Lutheran areas, and in Siberia.”
Well, there you go.
“And as an Orthodox once told me, they have a history with the Lutherans there that goes back to Catherine the Great.”
And that history is not all kissy-face and kittens.
Yes! This is very true, which is why the new law is so disheartening, because the past two decades has seen much reconciliation between Catholics, Lutherans, and Orthodox.
I was a regular at St. Catherine’s of Alexandria on Nevsky Prospect while living in Saint Petersburg. And nearby were the Swedish and German Lutheran Churches...The German church was turned into an indoor swimming pool by the Soviets.
The priests at St. Catherine’s were shot, killed, and the church was especially repressed during the Stalin era, eventually converting into a storage space for the “Museum of Atheism” (which is again St. Isaac’s Cathedral) before it was restored again.
see post 25.
“Catholic, Evangelical, AND Orthodox groups have helped”
None of which has anything to do with Russian Orthodox attitudes.
Communism is the opposite of Christianity. No surprise here.
“Certainly not ideal, but we don’t view any of them as enemies.”
We? You got a mouse in your pocket?
Well, none of the hostility compares to that which the Orthodox suffered under the Soviet State and the likes of the KGB. The most devout of believers, who would not play by the rules of Stalin and his successors’ games, were persecuted and murdered not by the thousands, but by the millions.
Sadly today, a lot of unrepentant ex-KGB merely changed their uniforms for Orthodox crosses and priestly robes. (Or business suits if they serve in the Kremlin.)
A lot of the devout Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox in America came or descended from Christians who came to seek refuge and safety.
“Well, none of the hostility compares to that which the Orthodox suffered under the Soviet State and the likes of the KGB.”
True, but not the same subject. The matter I raised was the propensity of the Russian Orthodox to protect their turf. I’ve never even heard that disputed.
After all, whom I to question God's will to use whatever agent he chooses to protect his church?
Looking through the Bible, we see many examples of such nonbelievers helping out with God's plan directly.
Ezra 1:1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
End of The Babylonian Captivity
1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,
2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:
All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. 3 Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. 4 And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.
You are right about the attitudes. Couple years ago Franklin Graham Stopped in Salem Oregon on his US tour to speak at a rally outside the capitol. After he left the Portland types called his speech hate speech.
Portland is the most atheist city in the US, survey a couple years back.
“Portland is the most atheist city in the US, survey a couple years back.”
So sad. It used to be such a nice place.
Pretty much my thoughts, too. Putin may be faking being a Christian, that’s not my call, though. What he does appear to be doing is helping the Russian Orthodox Church.
So if he’s faking being a Christian, at least he’s not doing it to cover up being a Muslim, like Obama.
I don’t particularly care if Putin’s Christianity is sincere. He loves and protects his country and is good for Russia. He is not our ally but he still loves America more than Schumer/Pelosi/Obama do. I’ll take him, warts and all.
Russian Orthodox have a long history of reacting with hostility to missionaries of other denominations.
>Alaska evangelical missionaries who have entered villages here that have an blue onion domed church (Russian Orthodox) presiding over the village, know a thing or two about the hostility of which you speak! The Russian Orthodox priest stirs up the village against you, stopping just short of killing you.
We here are thus not surprised at what Putin is doing. Russian Orthodoxy, similar to the RCC in the middle ages, is very tyrannical.
The honorable Cyrus, King of Persia, who helped protect the integrity of God's holy people and God's holy land of Israel. Let's see:
-Putin has allied Russia so closely with Iran, the formerly glorious Persian Empire, which has since been hijacked by Islam. By doing so, he has Russia ultimately working against the interests of Israel, and the Christians in Iran - desperate to be released from the grip of the mullahs and Ayatollah.
Why the Iran Protests have Russia on Edge
https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/why-the-iran-protests-have-russia-on-edge-op-ed-60116
-And despite having a cordial relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu (Israel is after all home to many Russian Jews including young Russians who were fed up with the deteriorating freedoms and quality of life in Putin's Russia.) ->Russia of course, did NOT vote to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Russia's Putin and Turkey's Erdogan agree on creation of a Palestinian state
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2017/12/22/putin-erdogan-agree-on-creation-of-palestinian-state
“Russia’s Putin and Turkey’s Erdogan agree on creation of a Palestinian state”
Not happy about that.
Same with a lot of TV preachers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.