FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Is Putin a Religious Man?
|
|
Given that all eyes are now on the Russia/Ukraine conflict (a euphemism for "war"), it's necessary to have a fuller understanding of the forces at work, especially those that derive from always-relevant worldviews.
An illuminating blog post from Dr. John Schindler (security expert, former NSA analyst, and intelligence officer) recently crossed our screen: Putin's Attack on Ukraine is a Religious War. Schindler explains that Putin is draping himself not just in the Russian (more accurately Soviet) flag, but also in the robes of the Russian Orthodox Church. Does anyone honestly believe that Putin's worldview is sincerely a Christian one? Or is it possible/likely that he's using the Christian worldview to undergird his patently nationalistic one?
Almost exactly three years ago, The Heritage Foundation published the column How Putin Uses Russian Orthodoxy to Grow His Empire. Therefore, this isn't a new observation, but one that has been consistently overlooked by the mainstream media - who usually avoid larger worldview issues in favor of quick and simplistic explanations. The author of this column writes:
As Putin seeks more influence over these nations [Eastern European], emphasizing traditional religion serves two of his goals. It establishes a common ground between Russia and Eastern Europe, and, more importantly, amplifies the differences that Eastern Europe may have with the West - especially as the Western world drifts further away from traditional values and religion.
|
|
Michael Novak (1933-2017), American Catholic philosopher, theologian, author,
Praxis Circle Contributor
|
"Supporting traditional values" has the added benefit for Putin of attracting some limited praise from Western religious leaders such as Franklin Graham and a few others.
But one of our most prominent Christian PC Contributors, Michael Novak, makes the crucial observation here that Christianity supersedes "tribal, ethnic group, nation, or a region," and that it is for "all nations" and the first historical expression of globalism.
This moment in time provides an excellent lesson in not just the general importance of worldviews, but in the paramount importance of individual leaders' worldviews and their ability to sometimes cynically espouse one particular worldview in order to disguise another.
Is Putin truly a religious - a Christian - man?
|
|
"Your assumptions are your windows on the world.
Scrub them off every once in a while,
or the light won't come in. "
Isaac Asimov
|
|
What We're Reading:
By now we have all heard about the response from President Zelensky of Ukraine to the U.S. government's offer of evacuation from Kyiv. According to Market Watch:
Zelensky said in response: “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,” according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation, who described Zelensky as upbeat.
Astonishingly in these times, McTague reintroduces, briefly but importantly, a forgotten concept - shame. And even further, he writes, "The West has killed off the idea of itself as good." It's heartening to read this acknowledgement of where we are, despite the potshots McTague takes at conservatives and Trump (which is now de rigueur). Well worth the quick read.
|
|
What (Else) We're Reading:
It's impossible to ignore the clashing of worldviews at this particular moment, so our reading has centered on various analyses of the Russia/Ukraine war. Also worth a read is the City Journal's article "Europe's Wakeup Call" by Andrew A. Michta.
Eastern vs. Western worldviews, Green ideology vs. practical energy solutions, Old World vs. New World geopolitics, and Christians vs. non-Christians (at least in Putin's eyes) are all threads that can be pulled and studied for their current relevance.
This article reveals that when leaders' worldviews are not clearly thought-out, expressed, and supported by a majority of a nation's people, another leader who does have a clear worldview (for ill or good) can take extreme measures to impose his or hers and affect the entire globe.
As events unfold over the next days and weeks, examining them through a worldview lens will make their causes and effects much clearer.
|
|
|
|
|
March 8: First Things presents their 2022 Washington, D.C. lecture given by Joshua Mitchell titled "By the Sweat of Your Brow You Shall Labor" focussing on identity politics. He is the author of American Awakening: Identity Politics and Other Afflictions of Our Time. Register here for this free event.
March 15, 2 PM: American Enterprise Institute offers a livestream book event with Steven F. Hayward discussing his biography of M. Stanton Evans, an "apostle of freedom." Register here for this free event.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
