Cathedral of the Archangel, Moscow
I’ll keep this somewhat short, as I had to spend part of last night working on a customer’s machine trying to get it ready before the weekend, and I’m pretty much beat. I am out of energy, but when I look at the current situation in America, I’m struck by how weak and tired she looks as well.
ReligionNewsBlog today posted “Religion ‘not that important’ to growing number of Americans“.
1 in 5 Americans (21%) say religion does not play an important role in their lives, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. (emphasis theirs)
This amount is up from 14% polled in 1997, or 17 years ago — certainly less than a generation. They also cite a Harris poll conducted last year that said 74%, less than 3/4ths, of Americans believe in God.
It should be obvious that we as a nation are slowly turning our back on God, even as far as the faulty view of mainstream Christianity goes.
Interestingly, Russian religiosity seems to be on the incline, and Mara Kozelsky opens in The Washington Post article “Don’t underestimate importance of religion for understanding Russia’s actions in Crimea“:
As analysts debate Russia’s interests in Crimea, they must not underestimate the role of religion. Orthodox Christian nationalism has been on the rise in Russia from the collapse of the Soviet Union. The close relationship between Russian church and state is everywhere evident, from the persistent refusal to allow the pope onto Russian soil, the ejection of the Salvation Army from Moscow in 2001 and the subsequent restrictions placed on Protestant missions. Patriarch Kirill has inserted himself more visibly in Russian politics than his predecessor, Patriarch Aleksei. The prosecution of Pussy Riot for performing in an Orthodox church as well as dismaying anti-homosexual legislation reflects a new stage in the evolution of Russia’s deeply conservative Orthodox identity. As the so-called “Cradle of Russian Christianity,” Crimea fits into this trajectory too.
Now, I realize that Russian Orthodox Christianity is still based upon some false ideals, but could the strengthening of Russia have something to do with the revival of morality in a country otherwise dominated by greedy and corrupt politicians (and were once openly atheist at that)? Before we become too dismissive of this, let’s remember that Babylon was not even Hebrew and ultimately pagan in its beliefs when used to punish Judah.
I am not saying, however, that from Russia will come the future King of the North. Instead, Russia, China and Japan will most likely vie for power in the East (“kings of the east”), while Europe and the Middle East consolidate into a united power centers.
The United States, which has had an abundance of blessings from God, will be punished for her national sins and be subjugated to the other power centers of the world. And, that is the optimistic viewpoint!
Even in times of crises, though, God has led people who believe through them. Daniel and his three friends are excellent examples of what God can do even when we are surrounded by the enemy.