Decorated outdoor stage in front of a public school entrance in Moscow
By Bruce Chapman, President of the Discovery Institute
There is no “War on Christmas” in Russia, apparently. That would be so “Communist era”--and Western secular! To get a whiff of old fashioned antagonism toward Christian social customs you have come to the U.S. and visit the offices of the ACLU, Citizens United for Separation of Church and State and various purblind government offices. Our Discovery colleague from Russia, Yuri Mamchur, who heads the Real Russia Project, is in Moscow this week and says that his old public high school now sports a “huge Christmas crèche” in front of the building. No problem. No complaints.
Since Russia is predominantly and increasingly Orthodox, of course, the celebration of the birth of Jesus isn’t emphasized there for another week and a half. Charles Ganske of Discovery Institute’s Real Russia Project, meanwhile, has this fascinating look at the reported rise of Christian sentiment in Russia since the fall of Communism. It is interesting on several counts, one being that an Orthodox revival has not generated discernible antagonism toward other faiths, even though the governmental bureaucracy is suspicious of new, proselytizing faiths to the point of harassment in some cases.
Overall, Americans will see the new surveys on religion as hopeful signs of the revival of mediating institutions in Russia. Many also will add Russia to the list of nations—notably China and sub-saharan Africa—where Christianity is gaining active believers in large numbers. Everyone is free to speculate on the possible implications for the world’s culture, politics and economy.
Comments
Bruce Chapman must be full of s----. Why would anyone in his position go out of his way to state that ACLU is an anti-Christian organization???? (wtf)
If we are looking for the anti-Christ we need only look to USG, and the rise of new fascism (aka neocons) that seeks to impose a false theocracy on America and the world. What this country was founded on was the concept of separation of Church and state. So, who is the traitor??? Its true that communism was ugly in its anti-spirituality, but certainly no more so than America is in its missionary crusade of hatred and its self- aggrandizing false spirituality.
The new-old spirituality of Russia is inclusive, borne of 80 years of sacrifice and repression and is therefore hopefuly wiser than our own, (i.e. not taking for granted its own infallibility.)
As to ortodoxy and dating of the holiday of the birth of Christ, why jive about it? So-called Christian churches of the west are probably less likely celebrating the date of Christ's birth, inasmuch as lambs are not born in December, generally. It is a likely fact that the Aryan heresy instituted Christmas's December date for pagan reasons and in order to take over pagan traditional holidays. What is spiritually superior about that?????
Lois DuPey
(a homeless person)
Posted by: Lois DuPey | January 3, 2007 8:48 AM
Now, now.
What's with the censorship at?
http://english.intelligent.ru
Been about a week since the above referenced site has been altered from viewing.
As per that site: checking the cache versions, of the archived Media, International Affairs and Current Affairs sections, as well as the Letters section, it appears that some aren't so keen on seeing some of the posted views made available. Especially upsetting for some, are the popularity of some of the views stated in the mentioned sections.
The kind of censorship which many on the not so Russia friendly and court appointed Russia friendly sides don't discuss.
As the charade continues.
Posted by: Michael Averko | January 16, 2007 2:51 AM
If anyone is interested in spending christmas in Russia - I can suggest this:
http://www.scandplus.ru/en/content/view/38/8/
Posted by: Russian traveller | April 18, 2007 2:36 PM