Putin is 'isolating' Russia and threatening its future says expert
More than three months have now passed since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has justified what it’s dubbed as a “special military operation” on the grounds of demilitarising it's ex-Soviet neighbour. However, there is now talk that President Putin’s fixation on religion could also be influencing his mind.
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Russia’s President was raised by a devout Christian mother and is known to have worn a crucifix around his neck for most of his life.
While President Putin, like most Russians, identifies himself as a follower of the Orthodox Church, the state is officially secular.
Russian Orthodoxy compared with Western religious ideals share significant differences.
Mark Tooley, President of The Institute on Religion and Democracy wrote in World Magazine that “Russia is a longtime nemesis to the West, precisely because of its version of Christianity”.
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He said: “Russian Orthodoxy for centuries saw itself as guardian of the true faith in contrast to Western Catholicism and Protestantism.
“Moscow, according to this lore, is the third Rome, the seat of the true Christendom, after Constantinople and the Roman Empire.”
Mr Tooley added that Russian Orthodoxy has nearly always been a “cheerleading nationalist subordinate to the state”.
The theological circumstances in Ukraine and Russia become increasingly concerning when it’s considered the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was granted autonomy from Russia just three years ago.
Although a portion of the Orthodox church in Kyiv still recognises Russian authority, the schism has grown.