Quote:
Originally Posted by RedGlitter
That's very cool, Jester. 
I raised an eyebrow when I got to this point:
On local television last month, the city’s chief Russian Orthodox priest, who is a confidant of the region’s most powerful politicians, gave a sermon that was repeated every few hours. His theme: Protestant heretics.
“We deplore those who are led astray — those Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baptists, evangelicals, Pentecostals and many others who cut Christ’s robes like bandits, who are like the soldiers who crucified Christ, who ripped apart Christ’s holy coat,” declared the priest, the Rev. Aleksei D. Zorin.
I really had no idea there was such a hatred for those religions in Russia. I tend to think of various other countries when I think of religious intolerance.
I was curious if Scrat might see this and have something to say about it too. |
We also have to consider that the russians for the most part are fairly conservative people in thier day to day understanding of right and wrong, some of the most powerful denominations in the US that have the clout and money to go to russia are also some of the most liberal US denominations, it may very well be that the russian orthodox church, which happens ot be very very conservative and traditional in its idea of biblical right and wrong are viewing this flood of US liberal churches as a threat not just to them but to true christinanity as they view it.
Although one side is using this as a political tool, some of its warranted on the religious side.
I sent an email to my cousin and asked him about the russian trip he took and what its like now, he said the ministry he went with is having no problems with the political structure or the orthodox church. The leader of that group was instrumental in writing the religious freedom section of the new russian constitution under Yeltsin, he and his ministry although he hasnt been immuned from some persecution he still has been a welcomed friend of the Russian poeple for many years now.