Actually, Russia is experiencing population growth for the first time since 1995!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091230/wl_afp/russiapoliticspopulationputin
Putin is doing good work in Russia, economically, demographically, and culturally speaking.
And yes, Russia is more Christian than the United States today, I have been saying that for years now. It saddens me to see so many people still trapped in the cold war mindset, unable to see the thruth.
Putin with his government is doing well as oil and gas pipe manager and protector of oligarchic interests; all others goals are secondary ones. Destroyed by Yeltsin and his liberal democratic gang Soviet industry and agriculture left tens millions jobless while several dozens chosen persons became super rich, education system, science, and medicine is degrading, all economy evolves around selling natural resources. Free market and liberastic paradigm was deadly cure from Communism.