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Why Russia Can't Be America's Ally: What Putin Doesn't Want You To Know
Providence Magazine: A Journal of Christianity and American Foreign Policy ^ | May 12, 2017 | George Barros

Posted on 11/11/2017 12:20:21 PM PST by GoldenState_Rose

"Perceptions that Russia is a defender of Christendom in an increasingly secular world are not based in reality. Any discussion concerning the relationship between Christianity and Russia cannot fail to take into consideration the Russian Orthodox Church, which dominates practically all aspects of Christianity in Russia. It is well known among Sovietologists that the ROC historically has been used by the Kremlin and serves as an extension of the Russian state and its intelligence services—it is no coincidence that the head of the Russian Orthodox Church is a decorated KGB agent. (This issue warrants a paper on its own, and I will write more on this topic later.)"

"Even within Christendom in Russia, Christians who do not completely recognize the authority of the Kremlin’s Moscow Patriciate are persecuted. There are several public examples of how the Russian State uses its power to defend the Russian Orthodox Church’s (and the Kremlin’s) monopoly on faith.

"Protestant missionaries usually suffer under Russian law and government authorities. Take for example the unfortunate case of Donald Ossewaarde, an American Baptist Missionary in Russia who, for hosting a Bible study in his home in violation of Russia’s Yarovaya Law[1], was arrested, fined 40,000 rubles, intimidated by Russian authorities, and forced to end his ministry."

"Just as Moscow supports “Christian” actors who serve Kremlin interests, Moscow supports Islamic actors who serve Kremlin interests. In fact, Putin stated that the Russian Orthodox Church has “much in common with Islam,” that “Islam is one of the traditional religions of Russia and deserves the support of the [Russian] government,” and that Russia will always be “a reliable ally” to the “Islamic world.” Perhaps Putin’s endorsement of Islam helps explain why the Kremlin has been supportive of a litany of radical Islamic regimes and tyrants."

(Excerpt) Read more at providencemag.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Russia
KEYWORDS: putin; russia; trump; trumprussia; ukraine
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To: GoldenState_Rose

It makes sense to help Russia and Ukraine work towards peace so that the beautiful women of both countries can walk through fields together.


41 posted on 11/11/2017 1:39:27 PM PST by Architect of Avalon
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To: GoldenState_Rose

*** “Is it any wonder that North Korea counts Russia and China among their two main allies? Soviet Russia created North Korea. China raised it” ***

So... Iran feeds it?


42 posted on 11/11/2017 1:42:03 PM PST by TexasTransplant (High quality, Low price, Speedy executionÂ…pick any two)
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To: GoldenState_Rose; Kalamata; All
Image result for orthodox church Stalin

Image result for orthodox church Stalin

Image result for orthodox church Stalin

Related image

43 posted on 11/11/2017 1:45:45 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: TexasTransplant

Sounds about right!

Soviet Russia created North Korea.
China raised it.
Iran feeds it.


44 posted on 11/11/2017 1:50:35 PM PST by GoldenState_Rose
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Image result for orthodox church Stalin
45 posted on 11/11/2017 1:51:33 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: GoldenState_Rose

*** “Sounds about right!, Soviet Russia created North Korea.
China raised it. Iran feeds it” ***

Poultry Logic
What I learned (experienced) when I had Chickens and Ducks, you need a minimum of 3 Roosters and 3 Drakes to protect the flock... if you only have 2 of either one will let the Hawk kill the other, if you have 3 they will all fight together to make sure they still have a chance. (Roosters and Drakes actually banded together for defense... House of Cards stuff but still... Poultry Logic)

Just my experience


46 posted on 11/11/2017 1:59:45 PM PST by TexasTransplant (High quality, Low price, Speedy executionÂ…pick any two)
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To: GoldenState_Rose

I like Putin. Here’s why.

https://youtu.be/Bee70unn9aM

I also like him for telling Erogdan of Turkey, that if he didn’t knock it off Istanbul would soon be Constantinople again.


47 posted on 11/11/2017 2:17:18 PM PST by TruthFactor (Hang em', Hang em' High.)
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To: TruthFactor

Wow your video has nearly 1 million views. Putin is two-faced. Erdogan and him go back and forth like feuding brothers.


48 posted on 11/11/2017 2:30:46 PM PST by GoldenState_Rose
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To: GoldenState_Rose
In fact, Putin stated that the Russian Orthodox Church has “much in common with Islam,” that “Islam is one of the traditional religions of Russia and deserves the support of the [Russian] government,” and that Russia will always be “a reliable ally” to the “Islamic world.”

“The difficulty in understanding the Russian is that we do not take cognizance of the fact that he is not a European, but an Asiatic, and therefore thinks deviously. We can no more understand a Russian than a Chinese or a Japanese, and from what I have seen of them, I have no particular desire to understand them except to ascertain how much lead or iron it takes to kill them. In addition to his other amiable characteristics, the Russian has no regard for human life and they are all out sons-of-bitches, barbarians, and chronic drunks."

—George S. Patton

49 posted on 11/11/2017 2:33:57 PM PST by Mr. Jeeves ([CTRL]-[GALT]-[DELETE])
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To: ETL

Your Stalin icon photo with the candle next to it is a photoshop.
Proof:

https://www.shiitman.ninja/2015/03/12/refleksii-po-povodu-ikony-stalina/

“drawn in photoshop by Comrade Muravedov”
I’m guessing the other one you posted with same URL on photo is photoshop too.

I’ve been orthodox many years, traveled extensively, never saw such an icon anywhere despite OPs claim they are “not uncommon in peoples homes”.

The only place it wouldn’t surprise me to see an “icon” like that would be in the tiny breakaway region of Ukraine, they do glorify communist and use orthodox symbols as a kind of ‘national’ identity. I have not been there myself.

I have seen people talking about silver linings of the soviet years, oddly mostly in ukraine. The people really glorifying it are overwhelmingly atheist from what I’ve seen.
In Ukraine I see widely different opinions within one family. I get the feeling their opinion is not cast in stone and that they are working things out.

I never saw anything glorifying communism from any church hierarch, some of them do speak out about the oppression and martydom from communists during soviet times.


50 posted on 11/11/2017 3:26:06 PM PST by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
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To: Mount Athos
Your Stalin icon photo with the candle next to it is a photoshop. ... I never saw anything glorifying communism from any church hierarch, some of them do speak out about the oppression and martydom from communists during soviet times.

Even if the lit candle part was faked, I just supplied you with a ton of evidence as to where the Russian Orthodox Church is coming from, including the fact that they are the largest member of the communist-supporting "World Council of Churches".

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

51 posted on 11/11/2017 3:45:23 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: ETL

Yup, the second stalin icon photo you posted from the same site is also photoshopped, by “teztigo”.

https://www.shiitman.ninja/act/ions/ikona-stalinaicon-of-stalin/

Here is the accompanying text, i guess this guy is a kind of counter culture anarchist mocking religion as is the website you sourced from:

“Group A.K.T. and a group of Stolen Bread visited the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, stole a brick there, were baptized in a concrete mixer, consecrated the icon of Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin, and put candles for Putin’s repose.”

The author of the website you are sourcing these photoshopped pics from describes himself as an anarchist.


52 posted on 11/11/2017 3:47:48 PM PST by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
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To: Mount Athos
RT = Russia Today, a state-run media/propaganda outlet...

Image result for orthodox church putin

WCC welcomes meeting of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill for unity and peace

12 February 2016

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), has issued a statement on behalf of the Council hailing the historic meeting of Pope Francis, pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, and Patriarch Kirill, primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The two leaders met on 12 February in Havana, Cuba.

The Russian Orthodox Church is the largest member church in the WCC..."

https://www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/wcc-welcomes-meeting-of-pope-francis-and-patriarch-kirill

_______________________________________________________

Got that? The Russian Orthodox Church is the largest member of the (far left) World Council of Churches!

That is all you need to know to understand that it is a sham operation. Reverend Wright’s fake church United Church of Christ (UCC) is also a member. In fact, his (communist) “Black Liberation Theology” was concocted by the KGB.

The Russians must laugh their behinds off at how easily westerners can be tricked and deceived. They are great chess players, thinking many moves ahead of their opponents, while most of us, unfortunately, have a difficult time at simple checkers.

The Russian Orthodox Church is a member of the (communist) World Council of Churches:
https://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/russian-orthodox-church
____________________________________

From David Horowitz's FrontPageMag.com/DiscoverTheNetworks.org:
Profile: WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES (WCC)


53 posted on 11/11/2017 3:55:01 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: GoldenState_Rose

This is a pretty strong propaganda effort on your part. Well done propaganda as well. But the facts remain that the US government tried to murder every Christain in Syria by arming Genocidal Sunni Mulsim groups including ISIS. US Christians did nothing about it. Putin’s “evil empire” came to their aid. Actions speak louder than words.

The story was the same in Iraq, Egypt(Muslim Brotherhood), Kosovo, and Bosnia. The US government enabled the extermination of Christians in favor of Muslims. If there’s an anti-christ empire in this world, it’s an American one. Trump wants to change that, but I’m less and less sure he’ll be president in a year.


54 posted on 11/11/2017 3:59:02 PM PST by JohnyBoy (The GOP Senate is intentionally trying to lose the majority.)
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To: Mount Athos
Image result for russia victory day 2017

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Russian president, Vladimir "KGB/FSB" Putin

55 posted on 11/11/2017 4:00:32 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: JohnyBoy
This is a pretty strong propaganda effort on your part. Well done propaganda as well. But the facts remain

You are either blind as a bat, or dumb as a rock.

56 posted on 11/11/2017 4:02:51 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: JohnyBoy

...or more likely, a Russian troll Putin butt kisser like quite a few others on the site.


57 posted on 11/11/2017 4:04:56 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: ETL

ETL, did the US govement enable the mass murder of Christians in Syria, Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia, and Egypt? Yes or no?


58 posted on 11/11/2017 4:05:26 PM PST by JohnyBoy (The GOP Senate is intentionally trying to lose the majority.)
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To: JohnyBoy

Trump is correcting our trajectory in Syria. Russia took advantage when we were weak.


59 posted on 11/11/2017 4:07:16 PM PST by GoldenState_Rose
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To: ETL

OK, so far I have discovered that you have posted two photoshopped icons of a stalin “icon” from an anarchist website.

In response, you posted a picture of an “icon” on a tank.

You tried to pretend that this is popular in the faith and sanctioned by the Russian Orthodox Church.

But a brief search proves you are again spreading misinformation, the truth is the opposite —

“Responding to the controversy, the Archdiocese of the Belgorod region slammed the painting, saying that the image cannot be counted as an icon, and verges on blasphemy:

“Although the painting is done in the style of an icon, for many reasons, it cannot be considered as such. Firstly, none of the depicted historical personalities are counted as canonized saints by the Russian Orthodox Church. Secondly, some of those pictured in the painting were persecutors of the Church.”

The Archdiocese suggested that the painting “serves as a manifesto and illustration of the idea of a ‘civil religion’, which is opposed to revealed religion and to the Orthodox Church.”

Pointing out that monk priest Athenogenes is not a member of the Belgorod Archdiocese, the Church’s statement also noted that participants in Thursday’s celebrations did not appreciate the painting’s presence, “expressing their confusion and frustration about the pseudo-religious views being imposed on them.”

This is not the first time in post-Soviet Russian history that lone religious figures and believers have attempted to fuse images of Stalin with those of Orthodox Christianity. A scandal blew up in St. Petersburg in 2008 surround a painting entitled ‘Matron and Stalin’, featuring the controversial leader’s alleged wartime meeting with the Blessed Eldress of Moscow, a canonized 20th century Orthodox Saint. The ‘icon’s’ presence in a local church led to the dismissal of the priest who had hung it up, despite the priests’ protestations that Stalin was a man of faith.

Stalin’s relations with the Russian Orthodox Church were complicated. On the one hand, the leader was responsible for the terrible persecution and near-destruction of the Church as a social entity during the 1930s, with tens of thousands of priests, monks and nuns dismissed, imprisoned or killed, and many churches shut down, destroyed or converted into museums and warehouses. On the other hand, relations with the Church improved dramatically during the Second World War, when it was revived as a patriotic organization, a relationship which continued until Nikita Khrushchev launched another wave of persecution, this time less brutal.


60 posted on 11/11/2017 4:08:41 PM PST by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
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