...the "Christian Nation" of the United States, or "Godless" Russia?
I have engaged in many (many, many...too many) discussions with people who insist that the U.S. is a Christian nation.
Was our country, as some like to claim, "founded on Judeo-Christian principles"? Official documents seem to say otherwise.
It is not unpatriotic or anti-American to say that the U.S. is not a Christian nation...it's just being honest.
The following is part of an article from MinistryValues.com:
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 rasing [sic] money and rattling their sabers to go to war against the Godless state.
[...]
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.
[...]
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.
Read the rest here
10 comments:
http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16393&Itemid=72
The article above seems to say otherwise; or, at least that Russia is not as religious as may appear.
Thanks Drew. I remember reading this article when it came out and thinking what a mistake it was for Patriarch Kirill (or anyone) to confuse religious affiliation with ethnic heritage. Simply being born an ethnic Russian (or Greek or whatever) does not automatically make someone a Christian.
However, the point of the article I posted (though not my comments receding it) was to demonstrate the Christian committment of Russian leadership (or at least the President and PM) in contrast to the lack of Christian committment on the part of our own president.
p.s. That should read "preceding it," not "receding it."
Interesting article. I'm not sure what to think of it ... need to process.
I'm appreciate your writing skill.Please keep on working hard.^^
Thank you, 非凡. I appreciate the compliment!
I speak with a Christian in Ukraine who laments the fact that there are so few REAL Christians in his home and Russia. Corruption is widespread and there is no Christian behavior from the masses of people. I don't know how that reflects on Putin and Medve, but I rather doubt that a former KGB communist like Putin is Christian from anything other than opportunism.
It might be a good thing that Russia is investing so much in restoring church property since it destroyed so much during the Soviet era. Just the same every time you mix religion and state bad things happen. History testifies to that.
As to Obama being less Christian because he is in between churches, that is laughable. And how about this:
"Obama, who is between churches and often expresses concern about bringing the disruption of his security detail into the lives of others."
You seem to suggest that this Christian consideration for others reflects his lack of faith? In fact it reflects thoughtfulness in my mind. If it hasn't happened already, I hope he is invited to a church soon.
Btw, though I find a little fault with your article, it's very well written and shows considerable reflection on your part I think. I do appreciate that.
Thank you for your comments, Dr. However, I can't claim authorship of the article. The initial comments, yes, but not the article that follows.
Maybe you're correct in that Putin and Medvedev are both merely "Christian" for opportunism. But the genuineness, or otherwise, of their faith is not for us to determine. And, given the endless list of former scoundrels who became saints, isn't it possible that a former KGB member could do the same?
As for the shortage of "real Christians" or "Christian behavior from the masses of people" in Russia and Ukraine, the very same can be said for the U.S.
It's nice of President Obama not to wish to "disrupt" someone else's worship experience. But I'm afraid I don't see this as evidence of his committment to the Faith. What about his consideration for his daughters? If he were committed to the Faith, wouldn't he see to their spiritual upbringing? (maybe he is, I don't know) What about his followers who might be inspired to attend church if they saw their hero attending church once in a while?
Obama lives in Washington D.C. where people are accustomed to personal security details. Somehow people managed to tolerate his predecessor's "disruptions."
I'm not saying Obama is more or less Christian because he doesn't attend church. That's not for me to say. What I am saying is I see little evidence of his committment to the Faith, if indeed he has one.
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