On Russia's Babylonian Captivity Under Vladimir Putin

Vivificat - From Contemplation to Action ^ | 6 February 2015 | Teófilo de Jesús (@vivificat)

[Teófilo]

News Analysis

Brethren, Peace be with you.

I was listening with great interest to this news item at NPR, titled In 'Red Notice,' Success Draws Treachery, Tragedy In Putin's Russia. It is an interview of William Browder, the founder of Hermitage Capital Management, a company he started in Russia in 1996. That, he says, drew the attention and machinations of a corrupt group of Russian officials. It's also about Browder's new book, Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice, in which he tells the story of how it happened.

Brothers and sisters, I greatly respect, admire, and treasure Russian Orthodox spirituality and the greatly positive culture Orthodoxy created in Russia. However, this culture also has shadow sides. The shadow side showed itself during the recent Synod on the Family where Russian Orthodox prelates blamed the Eastern Rite Ukrainian Catholic Church as being a factor for the current war in Ukraine. In this instance, the Russian Orthodox Church demonstrated once again that her best role is to be chaplain to the czar, whoever he happens to be at the time. Putin was even able to bewitch Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, a man who I admire greatly and who, despite his stated admiration for Putin, never saw his dream of American-style grassroots democracy established in his country.

Within these shadows Vladimir Putin moves with great ease. Despite the grudgingly admiring tone I hear from some fellow Catholics -- and desperate moves to change the subject into matters of fundamental theology and social doctrine -- the truth is that Putin is a thug, a liar, a murderer, and a thief. He's the Godfather of the institutional mafia now ruling Russia. The defense of Russian culture and ethos is but a mere excuse in their quest to achieve and to maintain ultimate power in Russia at the expense of the welfare of Russia's people and world peace. Putin and his criminal gang have shown that if they can't buy their opposition into silence, they will kill them - as the murder of Alexander Litvinenko shows.

Browder's Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice is a timely book you all ought to read. Sadly, it is but the latest installment of evidence of the dismal state of affairs in Russia, and the Babylonian Captivity its great culture and heritage is undergoing thanks to the ministrations of tsar Vladimir Putin. Thanks to him, Russia's prophetic Orthodox spirituality is a casualty and an exile in her own land.

Read also these two great essays by George Weigel:

• Kowtowing to Moscow = Bad Ecumenism 

• Ecumenism and Russian State Power

[Teófilo]

Blunders. Typos. Mine.

[Teófilo]

PING!

[elhombrelibre]

Sadly, I hear too many FREEPERS accepting at face value Putin’s phony Christianity. Or they’ll bring up the irrelevant fact that Obama’s not a Christian. I don’t see either of them as conservative, Christian, or decent leaders or human beings.

[odds]

“never saw his dream of American-style grassroots democracy established in his country.”

Couple of points regarding the quote (not in defense of Putin).

Individuals can & should have dreams. They could also come to terms with the fact that “American style democracy” is quite unique to American culture, history & society.

To replicate that style in a much older country such as Russia, with a lot more baggage, is unlikely. At best it can take centuries & would be done superficially, if all other variables weren’t affecting the transformation or transition even.

[elhombrelibre]

I think we could leave out “democracy” entirely and go with the “rule of law” for Russia as a reasonable goal instead of Putin’s rule by ukase.

[Teófilo]

Yeah, I agree. I feel bad for Solzhenitsyn. May he rest in peace. May his dream somehow survives him.

~Theo

[Teófilo]

Agreed.

~Theo

[odds]

Yep, agree with that.

One thing I want to highlight is that the U.S. actually inherited (aspects of) the British common law, legal system, although with variants since. Culturally & historically, vis a vis Russia, that’s significant in shaping the U.S. since its formation.

[mac_truck]

Perhaps Catholics should spend more time examining the ‘shadowy sides’ of their own religion and less time criticizing others.

[Teófilo]

Analyzing our “shadow sides” has been a global sport since the Reformation and even before. It’s high time others look within and also deal with their own shadows.

~Theo

[Brian Kopp DPM]

Amen, brother.

[redgolum]

I don’t trust Putin.

I have read Dugan, I have talked with others in the area who have stated the current goal is to rebuild the old Russian empire.

I also don’t trust our current leadership in the West. Their goal is to replace Christianity with a pagan earth religion or islam.

We are in a bad spot, where there are no true good guys.

[Paid_Russian_Troll]

Bingo. It is not really hard to see issues with the Orthodox Church but you can easily find as much with Catholics.
Just look at societies dominated by them. They aren’t performing any better.

[Teófilo]

We can PRAY!

~Theo