I recall a book about the KGB (the one by readers digest) in which a KGB agent begged a Russian Orthodox priest to baptize his baby daughter although he knew the priest was himself a KGB agent. He did this knowing the priest would have power over him because of that discretion.
This agent was not a Christian, yet he somehow knew he wanted his baby to be one.
I do. Of course I hope that I am wrong. Trust but verify.
"I recall a book about the KGB (the one by readers digest) in which a KGB agent begged a Russian Orthodox priest to baptize his baby daughter although he knew the priest was himself a KGB agent. He did this knowing the priest would have power over him because of that discretion.
"This agent was not a Christian, yet he somehow knew he wanted his baby to be one."
Russia is at a crossroad (no pun intended). It is gravitating towards its pre-communist Christian roots, but eight decades of communism have ravaged the country. There is a lot of cynicism, a lot of corruption, and there are still old-line communists that long for the "good old days".
IMO the communists are attriting out, and their power -- along with their long range goals -- is rapidly fading.
However, if Russia is not able to make a fairly rapid transition to the West, "Ivan Sixpack" may vote the commies back into power. Remember, even in the pre-communist days, Russia had a siege mentality, partly because of Napoleon, partly because of geography and partly because of the arrogant European aristocracy. If they decide to go into hermit-mode, it won't be back to a czarist state this time, it'll be to a communist hellhole.
Bush seems to be taking the right course, the reverse of what clinton did. Clinton gave the country to China, and gave Russia the finger. Russia wants to be an ally, and China will continue to be an adversary.
I too think that Putin is sincere, but the flip side is that unless he's able to bring his country "into the fold", there's a risk that they'll revert to something very ugly.
When you compare the atmosphere in Russia today with that only a few decades ago, it's mind boggling. If you've ever read the book by "Brother Andrew" AKA "God's Smuggler" you know what it was like for Christians behind the Iron Curtain. Reagan toppled the Evil Empire, and hopefully Bush will do for the end of the cold war what the US did after WWII ended -- the two enemies we defeated were turned into two strong allies.