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Who Will Save Middle East Christians: Obama or Putin?
American Thinker ^ | 10/06/2015 | Fay Voshell

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: china; christians; obama; putin; syria
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To: SeekAndFind

Neither.


21 posted on 10/06/2015 8:01:30 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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To: SeekAndFind
I don't know about Orthodox Christian teachings on marriage, but I doubt they look favorably on Putin dumping his wife of 30 years, while at the same time keeping a 20-something Russian gymnast as a mistress (who has now bore him a child, some reports say).


22 posted on 10/06/2015 8:10:02 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: All
Hard to believe---but Putin is a devout Christian.
As reported above, Putin carries a cross given to him by his mother.

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.

==============================================

Putin’s 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........

==============================================

We, the people, know we will never hear Obama say anything even remotely religious.

===========================================

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.

23 posted on 10/06/2015 8:13:29 AM PDT by Liz
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To: PGR88

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.


24 posted on 10/06/2015 8:15:58 AM PDT by Cincinnatus.45-70 (What do DemocRats enjoy more than a truckload of dead babies? Unloading them with a pitchfork!)
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To: SeekAndFind
Santa, I would like a feckless leadership group in the West that wets their underalls at the first sign of islamonazis....a puppy...and a Playstation 4.

snorkel...snorkel

C’mon...the dude looks like Santa!!!!!

25 posted on 10/06/2015 8:16:55 AM PDT by JEDI4S (I don't mean to cause trouble...it just happens naturally through the Force!)
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To: PGR88
My thoughts just completely went away from politics!

Actually they are in a much happier place now.

26 posted on 10/06/2015 8:19:32 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...)
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To: SeekAndFind

trick question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

we already KNOW who the destroyer IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


27 posted on 10/06/2015 8:24:25 AM PDT by gunnyg ("A Constitution changed from Freedom, can never be restored; Liberty, once lost, is lost forever...)
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To: All
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.

Prince Vladimir, or Vladimir the Great, also known as Saint Vladimir, historically marks the era of Christianity after the era of paganism in Russia.

28 posted on 10/06/2015 8:37:27 AM PDT by Liz
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To: SeekAndFind

29 posted on 10/06/2015 8:47:38 AM PDT by Bobalu (Russians.... not ashamed of being white!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Putin. 0 works for the other side.


30 posted on 10/06/2015 9:19:11 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Media: completely irresponsible. Complicit in the destruction of this country)
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To: PGR88
I doubt he cares about Christians elsewhere

He cares, because caring about Christians in the Middle East is part of a Tsar's job description.

31 posted on 10/06/2015 9:21:53 AM PDT by Romulus
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To: PGR88

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.


32 posted on 10/06/2015 9:26:05 AM PDT by Romulus
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To: SeekAndFind

Why is anyone even asking this?


33 posted on 10/06/2015 9:26:29 AM PDT by Calpublican (Republican Party Now Stands for Nothing!!!!!(Except Conniving))
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To: Calpublican

Those concerned for the Middle East Christians are asking this.


34 posted on 10/06/2015 9:32:30 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

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.


35 posted on 10/06/2015 9:36:20 AM PDT by Calpublican (Republican Party Now Stands for Nothing!!!!!(Except Conniving))
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To: SeekAndFind

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.


36 posted on 10/06/2015 9:50:03 AM PDT by Thunder90 (All posts soley represent my own opinion.)
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To: PGR88
Let's get real....Putin's mistress isn't 19 anymore....She's well into her 30's with the full figure Russian body going on....but of course Putin's enjoying her.

When she was working in the government...but likely now sheltered somewhere in Europe as a stay at home mom...


37 posted on 10/06/2015 10:31:22 AM PDT by caww
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To: SeekAndFind

What Middle East Christians? /s


38 posted on 10/06/2015 12:38:15 PM PDT by stocksthatgoup
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To: stocksthatgoup

RE: What Middle East Christians? /s

you mean there were none?


39 posted on 10/06/2015 12:58:41 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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