Russian TV's weekly news review shows Putin on Mount Athos on "honored throne..used by Byzantine emperors" pic.twitter.com/BysvwpPO3X— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) May 29, 2016
Posted on 05/28/2016 4:36:08 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
Trolling.
That's the word you're trying for.
Redecorating?
Putin may be a defender of Christians in the Middle East, but not in Ukraine. There were reports at the time of his invasion of Crimea that his government did not recognize the Ukrainian Catholic Church as legitimate (as opposed to the Ukrainian Orthodox) and I would guess that the situation would be the same for any Ukrainian Catholics in the Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine, but I haven’t heard any recent news about their treatment.
Yes, according to Herodotus (6.44):
"The fleet crossed over from Thasos to the mainland, where it hugged the coast and sailed up to Acanthus. From Acanthus they set out to round the headland at Athos, but they were caught there in a northerly gale against which it proved impossible to make headway. The storm wrought havoc with them and wrecked a large number of ships on Athos. It is said that about three hundred ships were destroyed, and over twenty thousand men. The men died in various ways: some were seized by the sharks that infest the sea around Mount Athos, others were dashed on to the rocks, others drowned because they did not know how to swim, and others died because of cold."
I should have written “When he visited W in Crawford, Texas, Putin said he was an atheist”. Oh, wait. Did I just say that Putin said W was an atheist?
How’s this? “Putin said he was an atheist when he visited W. in....” Nope. He’s still calling W an atheist.
“Putin said he was an atheist. He once visited W in Crawford, Texas.” Will that work?
Putin said he WAS an atheist but I don’t know what he is now.
Thanks.
It’s world turned upside down when the President of Russia is morally superior and cares more for his country than our (quote unquote) president.
Russian TV's weekly news review shows Putin on Mount Athos on "honored throne..used by Byzantine emperors" pic.twitter.com/BysvwpPO3X— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) May 29, 2016
Yes, it is.
Even if we believe that Putin is mostly interested in using the Russian Orthodox Church for political purposes, that is a HUGE development. For most of the last millennium of Russian history (and for that matter, the last millennium and a half of European history) monarchs have regarded Christianity as a useful way to get people to control themselves and act in orderly ways so the government wouldn't have to impose order.
Go take a look at this thread as another example of the rising role of Russian Orthodoxy in modern post-Communist Russia: http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3434424/posts
I am not Eastern Orthodox. I have reasons for not being Eastern Orthodox. Religiously-tinged nationalism has very major problems, and subjecting both the church and the faith to the purposes of nationalistic leaders has been the pattern of Eastern Orthodoxy for much of its history, but that pattern is far better than godless atheism which actively promotes gross immorality.
Even if Putin still thinks religion is the opiate of the people, he seems to understand the ability of religion to unify the Russian spirit.
That would make Putin far better than too many American politicians.
And if Putin really is a believer — well, the Eastern Orthodox certainly understand the ability of someone like Constantine, at the helm of an empire, to completely change the course of world history. America has no eternal promise of divine favor, but we do have a promise that God will hold accountable those to whom much has been given, and will severely rebuke those who turn away from Him. God is just as capable of raising up a Russian president for His purposes as He is of severely rebuking Americans by sending us the sort of leaders we deserve for our deliberate rebellion against Him.
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.