Reposting this. Please also look up divorce rates in Russia: its double that of Western places. And mortality rates of Russian men due to alcoholism..do research on all the social crises I bring up if you are not planning on living there soon, or talk to native Russians yourself:
The narrative is a misnomer because its not as though Orthodox values are triumphing in Russia “more than” the West.
Russia and Eastern Europe have the highest abortion rates in Europe. Russia has the fastest growing HIV epidemic in Europe. Not to mention one of the lowest birth rates. Corruption levels in government are akin to third world dictatorships. Economic equality is among the worst in the world. Cheating and bribery are common practice including among clergy who came of age in Soviet auspices. There are more Muslims in Moscow than any other European city, and more entrenched Islamic republics in Russia than elsewhere in Europe. Russian-speakers make up the largest percentage of foreign ISIS recruits.
Western missionaries, who have had more luck drawing youth (including in the Russian Muslim republics in the Caucuses) to Christ than the Orthodox church can now be fined or jailed for proselytization under the new Yarovaya Law signed by Putin in 2016...so.
No. Lets get the narrative straight.