Posted on 10/06/2015 7:30:26 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Few Western foreign policy analysts have taken seriously Vladimir Putin's radical reorientation of Russia from communism back to Russian Orthodox Christianity.
Putin is perhaps uniquely qualified to discern that his nation's identity has been for centuries within a spiritual, distinctly Christian narrative and that a violent rending of Russia's historically religious roots led to utter disaster for the Russian peoples.
Son of a militant atheist and a pious mother, Putin lived through the collapse of the Soviet Union and the resurgence of capitalism as defined in Russian terms. Though raised a secularist, he is now a devout Christian in the Russian Orthodox tradition and has devoted himself to the advancement of Christianity and the repudiation of what he sees as Western decadence. While some may be dismissive of Putin's Christian beliefs, there is no doubt that Christianity informs the way he now chooses to shape his own narrative and the story of his country.
Putin's religious values are rooted in Russian Orthodoxy and personal religious experiences, including his wife's car accident in 1993 and a life-threatening house fire in 1996. Just before a diplomatic trip to Israel, his mother gave him a baptismal cross. He said of the occasion, "I put the cross around my neck. I have never taken it off since."
By his own testimony, Putin has had the personal conversion experience so often ridiculed by the communist regime in which he was embedded for so many years. He now is putting his recently found faith to work in Russia and abroad.
Perhaps nothing more powerfully symbolizes Putin's attempt to transition back to Russia's religious heritage than the recent installation of a huge bronze statue of Vladimir the Great on Borovitskaya Ploshchad, right next to the Kremlin and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Neither.
Putin eagerly proclaimed his Christianity in a NYT Op-Ed awhile back.
Putin also vocally decried Christian slaughter by Muzzies in Egypt and defended Egyptian President al-Sisi in his efforts to drive the Muslim Brotherhood out of Egyptian politics. Putin backed al-Sisi's vow to rebuild the 63 churches torched by Muzzies who rampaged over Christian homes and businesses.
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Putins impressive debut on the NYT op-ed page announced his personally-held beliefs thusly: "......when we ask for the Lord's blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal."
This is something every Christian believes---an article of faith for Christians.....and, not coincidentally, the bedrock of our constitutional republic........
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We, the people, know we will never hear Obama say anything even remotely religious.
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Some say that when Putin professes Jesus as the Son of God and kneels confessing Him as Lord of his life and Messiah of Israel, they will believe some of what he says.
Christ admonishes us not to judge others lest we be judged. No one knows what's in a person's heart.
Besides, we don't know that Putin hasn't professed Jesus as the Son of God and kneels to Him as his Lord.....he doesn't have to do this publicly.
Nobody is perfect. Ask the question this way: Do his virtues outweigh his imperfections?
Ask it about Putin, and then ask it about Obama.
The answers seem pretty clear to many.
snorkel...snorkel
C’mon...the dude looks like Santa!!!!!
Actually they are in a much happier place now.
trick question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we already KNOW who the destroyer IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Prince Vladimir, or Vladimir the Great, also known as Saint Vladimir, historically marks the era of Christianity after the era of paganism in Russia.
Putin. 0 works for the other side.
He cares, because caring about Christians in the Middle East is part of a Tsar's job description.
Whether Putin is a good Christian is important, but not vital to geopolitical matters. It is enough that he considers himself Christian, identifies with Christian concerns, and engages his country in support of Christians, in his country’s traditional sphere of influence.
Why is anyone even asking this?
Those concerned for the Middle East Christians are asking this.
My point is there is no possibility Obama will stand up for Christians so why ask this question. American Thinker is asking a question we all know the answer to.
Putin is a neo Soviet leader with an image team and a makeover. Elements of The Russian Orthodox Church want to cannonize Stalin as a saint.
When she was working in the government...but likely now sheltered somewhere in Europe as a stay at home mom...
What Middle East Christians? /s
RE: What Middle East Christians? /s
you mean there were none?
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