We are considered from a position of times past, but this is, of course, not Russia’s problem

Interfax ^ | 14 November 2005

[jb6]

As far as I can see, the authors of this report realized the situation with respect to providing for the freedom of religion in Russia was improving. This is clearly written in regards to all traditional religions – Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism – as well as regarding an array of other religious groups and communities. The report recognized the existence of 21,664 officially registered religious organizations in Russia, belonging to more than 260 religions and confessions. Altogether, the authors conveyed that only 11,525 out of these organizations belonged to the Russian Orthodox Church. The document states that legal regulations permitting the ban of religious organizations is being applied extremely rarely, even with respect to those churches and sects that experience problems with local authorities: it is thus stated that the Jehovah's Witnesses, which has been denied registration in Moscow, nevertheless has 397 branches in other regions; and 50 Mormons' organizations have also been registered. The report also emphasized that religious organizations are benefiting from tax reductions.

***snip*** The report also underlines positive changes regarding the restitution of property to religious communities in Russia, providing examples of property being transferred back to Buddhists, Catholics and other relatively small religious groups. The report places a special emphasis on the cooperation of Russian authorities in returning former Synagogues to Jewish communities.

[Hill of Tara]

Putin and his administration should be commended for their commitment to religious tolerance, as far as Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism are concerned, but I think he's trying a little to hard to please the Muslims.

Does Russia really want to be a member of the Muslim League or whatever its called? I would imagine that the idea of being considered a Muslim country is repulsive to most Russians, who are Orthodox Christian. Putin should withdraw the application to become a member of the Muslim League.

[x5452]

Putin didn't officially say so but Russia basically told Muslims complaining about St George being on the Russian flag to go pound sand. Not exactly bending over to please Muslims.

Here the'd have repalced the American flag with a large red cresent in the same circumstances.

[x5452]

Rusia is not in a Muslim League.

The are an observer of the International Islamic conference but they are not a member state.

[Hill of Tara]

"Putin didn't officially say so but Russia basically told Muslims complaining about St George being on the Russian flag to go pound sand. Not exactly bending over to please Muslims. "

That's good to hear. He should stand firm against the Muslims, who dont belong in Russia anyway. If they get too uppity, he can always give them a kick back to Islamistan, the sooner the better.

[Hill of Tara]

Oh. I thought that Russia was applying to become a full member?

[x5452]

Despite a couple of freepers certain that Putin kneels on a prayer mat at lunch time here's the official situation:

From Wiki:
Full members
State Year
Afghanistan 1969
Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of 1969
Chad, Republic of 1969
Egypt, Arab Republic of 1969
Guinea, Republic of 1969
Indonesia, Republic of 1969
Iran, Islamic Republic of 1969
Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of 1969
Kuwait, State of 1969
Lebanon, Republic of 1969
Libya, Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 1969
Malaysia 1969
Mali, Republic of 1969
Mauritania, Islamic Republic of 1969
Morocco, Kingdom of 1969
Niger, Republic of 1969
Pakistan, Islamic Republic of 1969
Palestine, State of 1969
Yemen, Republic of 1969
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of 1969
Senegal, Republic of 1969
Sudan, Republic of the 1969
Somalia, Democratic Republic of 1969
Tunisia, Republic of 1969
Turkey, Republic of 1969
Bahrain, State of 1970
Oman, Sultanate of 1970
Qatar, State of 1970
Syrian Arab Republic 1970
United Arab Emirates, State of 1970
Sierra Leone, Republic of 1972
Bangladesh, People's Republic of 1974
Gabon, Republic of 1974
Gambia, Republic of the 1974
Guinea-Bissau, Republic of 1974
Uganda, Republic of 1974
Burkina Faso 1975
Cameroon, Republic of 1975
Comoros, Federal Islamic Republic of the 1976
Iraq, Republic of 1976
Maldives, Republic of 1976
Djibouti, Republic of 1978
Benin, Republic of 1982
Brunei Darussalam, Sultanate of 1984
Nigeria, Federal Republic of 1986
Azerbaijan, Republic of 1991
Albania, Republic of 1992
Kyrgyzstan, Republic of 1992
Tajikistan, Republic of 1992
Turkmenistan, Republic of 1992
Mozambique, Republic of 1994
Kazakhstan, Republic of 1995
Uzbekistan, Republic of 1995
Surinam, Republic of the 1996
Togo, Republic of 1997
Guyana, Republic of 1998
Côte d'Ivoire, Republic of 2001
Observer States
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of 1994
Central African Republic 1997
Thailand, Kingdom of 1998
Russian Federation 2005
Observer Muslim Organizations and Communities
Moro National Liberation Front 1977
Turkish Cypriot State 1979
Observer International Organizations
League of Arab States 1975
United Nations 1976
Non-Aligned Movement 1977
Organization of African Unity 1977
Economic Cooperation Organization 1995

[tet68]

For example, the Public Prosecutor's Office has just ordered a ban on the so-called 'Tserkov Belovodye' (the 'Whitewater' Church). Why? It appears that this sect was not only practicing sadism and orgies, but that they also promoted, under the guise of religion, elements of the Nazi ideology.

Whitewater eh.

[Hill of Tara]

Wow I didnt know suriname was muslim, though i guess they're everywhere these days.

I cant imagine why Russia would even want to be an observer.

[x5452]

Because they have 40% of the world's oil and Muslims control just about all the rest of it? Plus here are a fair amount of Muslims in places like Tataria (Kazan)

(not exactly radical Muslims mind you, I've been there. You can sometimes hear the call to prayer, but I saw extremely few women covering their heads and wearing Muslim gaurd even in Kazan the former Tatar empire capital.

[Hill of Tara]

that makes sense.

[Cronos]

They are an observer of the International Islamic conference

And quite right that is too. This way they can keep watch on what the slammies are doing and the OIC can't pass resolutions to condemn Russia.

[Cronos]

He should stand firm against the Muslims, who dont belong in Russia anyway

That's the problem -- places like Chechnya and Dagestan and Tatarstan have peoples who have lived there historically -- in the case of the Chechnyans, they have lived there for millenia. They were converted to Isslam only in the 18th and 19th centuries. They DO belong there. They should be converted to Russian Orthodox, but they cannot be chased out of their land -- even the Russians agree on the latter statement

[Cronos]

The Tatars are a symbol of the failure of Christianity to convert the Mongols and Turkic peoples in the middle ages -- if we had managed to do that, imagine. Hulagu Khan destroyed Baghdad so thoroughly in the 13th century that it never really rose up to prominence again. The Ilkhanate ruled Persia and the Timurids ruled over central asia and the Turks, well, you know about them

[x5452]

It is sad more haven't converted. :(

[x5452]

I do get the impression that of late there is a bigger movement to convert these peoples. Also speaking from my experience in former Tataria it seems these are not Muslim diehards, they seem easy enough to convert. A Muslim girl I met in on my trip to Russia followed none of the Muslim rules and had even attended a church to see if she wanted to convert (certainly frowned on in Muslim circles).

As an Orthodox Christian myself I definitly hope these folks are converted to Christianity be it Orthodox or some other confession.

[Cronos]

I think we need to push it more. It's pretty simple: just show them the real meaning of the Koran (most just memorise it or block out the meaning and the innumerable mistakes). Tatarstan has the advantage that there's no Mulla waiting to behead the converted

[jb6]

It's the Orgies that got Reverand Mother Clinton all worked up for a "revival".

[jb6]

Those British Third Way socialists who made the stink last week need to go pound sand.