De-Christianization in the West is a real threat. But Putinism isn’t the answer.

America Magazine ^ | 2017 | S. Ahmari

[CondoleezzaProtege]

As globalization blurs boundaries (both national and sexual), and as social media and American-style consumerism flatten cultural differences, the thinking goes, Russia and her church stand for sovereignty, authenticity and Christian vigor.

No thanks. Even if you, like me, concur in the underlying diagnosis—that the West has becomeunmoored from its Judeo-Christian foundations, that liberalism has gone too far in eroding traditional authority and moral precepts—the Putin Option is no cure. And it entails hazards that could prove ruinous to the cause of reversing the West’s spiritual fortunes.

Despair over the cultural left’s stridency and triumphalism in recent years should not cloud Christian judgment about the fundamental differences between free and unfree societies, between democracy and dictatorship.

For all its flaws, liberal order still affords Christians the chance to persuade fellow citizens, to change their governments, to bring suits before fair and independent tribunals, and to bring the good news and the riches of tradition to the democratic public square. Under Putinism, by contrast, Christianity is at the mercy of the strongman and his ruling clique.

The question for those who see Moscow as a great protector of faith then becomes whether Putinism is good for Russian Christianity. And a follow-up: Is the rules-based, liberal-democratic order really so irredeemable that Western Christians might look for an alternative in Moscow, warts and all? The answer is no, on both counts. And if past is precedent, K.G.B.-style authoritarianism dressed in Orthodox garb is likely to undermine both church authority and Russia’s spiritual welfare in the long term...

[Bryanw92]

At least he’s trying. In the rest of Western Civilization, we let the Humanists set the agenda and then we try to fit in.

[rrrod]

This will not sit well with the Russia worshippers...lol

[Bishop_Malachi]

This will not sit well with the Russia worshippers...lol

_______________________________________________________

It sure will with the Neo-Con chickenhawks though...lol.

[Secret Agent Man]

Nor is islam.

[BBell]

No one else is making a go at it but Putin. Pretty sad.

[ameribbean expat]

“For all its flaws, liberal order still affords Christians the chance to persuade fellow citizens, to change their governments, to bring suits before fair and independent tribunals, and to bring the good news and the riches of tradition to the democratic public square. “

Christians, historically speaking, made room for others in America. That really hasn’t worked out particularly well for them. Whoever wrote this article lacks historical context and is ignorant as to the composition of the Colorado human rights tribunal that nice little Christian cake baker faced.

[ameribbean expat]

To answer my own question: the author works for the Wall Street Journal. In its London bureau. The article was published by America: The Jesuit Review, whose editorial staff includes one Fr. James Martin, whose most recent stellar contribution to remaining moored to the Judeo-Christian tradition appeared in an earlier post:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3665876/posts

[Telepathic Intruder]

Russia has been Christian for longer than Saudi Arabia has been Islamic. It’s not called “Putinism”. “Liberal order” is nothing short of communism when it is fully realized. Stalin, Pol Pot, and Mao were all leftists. So was Hitler.

[Truthoverpower]

Whatever loser
Putin is 1000 times the man of any euroweenie
Except the new Italian guy ;)
And Russia is definitely getting more Christian by the day
Only way to beat Islam is Christ

[otness_e]

Don’t be so sure about Russia becoming more Christian by the day. I heard that Putin is using the church much like Stalin did during World War II, and that the current patriarch is an unrepentant KGB agent. And Angela Merkel’s actually considering forging an alliance with Putin to stop Trump, just an FYI, and how she’s running Germany definitely wouldn’t have been considered good.

And for the record, we’ve got a lot of right wingers and nationalists spreading across Europe. I wouldn’t be surprised if within a few years from now, even Germany and France have right-wing leaders (truly right-wing leaders, at that).