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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow US Evangelicals Fueled the Rise of Russia’s ‘Pro-Family’ Right
The irony is that it is the new conservative vanguardanti-gay, anti-abortion and protraditional familythat has most successfully cultivated the Wests financial and institutional support. Scott Lively, an extreme anti-gay campaigner, all but took credit for the new law, calling it one of the proudest achievements of my career, while Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, visited Moscow with much fanfare just before the new law was passed. But the language of Russias anti-gay and anti-abortion movement seems to borrow most heavily from mainstream evangelicals and conservative politicians in the United States and Europe. Referring to the anti-abortion bill passed in 2011, Lyubov Erofeeva, executive director of the Russian Association for Population and Development, a womens advocacy group, said: It was 100 percent clear that everything was copied from the experience of American fundamentalists and conservative circles of several European countries where abortion is forbidden or restricted severely.
The churchs close ties with American evangelicals reflect a shift in policy. For much of the post-Soviet period, the Russian Orthodox Church held evangelical denominations at arms length, fearing that they would compete for influence within Russia. But as the church has consolidated its power, it has come to view the evangelical community as a partner. The ROC realizes that the evangelical denominations are not their opponents but rather their allies in the relations between the church and the secular population, says Olga Kazmina, a professor of ethnology at Moscow State University.
Its a re-envisioned paradigm, says Father Leonid Kishkovsky, head of the Orthodox Church in Americas Department of External Affairs. In many ways, it makes sense, he adds: both religious groups share an ideological commitment and have grown disillusioned with the way mainline churches have dealt with issues like gay marriage and abortion. But what Im quite nervous about is the ideological core which actually motivates both sides, Kishkovsky says. Where is the motivating force? Is it in faith? Or is it in political ideology?
The Russian Orthodox Churchs chief emissary to the US evangelical community is Hilarion Alfeyev, a high-ranking bishop and chairman of the powerful Department of External Church Relations (the position previously held by Patriarch Kirill). In February 2011, the 47-year-old Alfeyev traveled to Washington, where he met with prominent evangelical and pro-family leaders; and then to Dallas, where he addressed thousands of members of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church and emphasized the importance of creat[ing] new alliances, especially around issues of marriage, abortion and the family. Alfeyev also visited the Dallas Theological Seminary and had an hour-long meeting with George W. Bush.
http://www.thenation.com/article/177823/how-us-evangelicals-fueled-rise-russias-pro-family-right
Nika
(546 posts)as first class hater and baiter.
defacto7
(13,485 posts)Jeanne d'Arc syndrome these days. The Pope, now this guy... "to march into hell for a heavenly cause" then get martyred by design. Though I don't think Scott Lively is the martyrdom type so leave him out.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)As far as I'm concerned, Scott Lively and his ilk are terrorists. And there seems to be no way to stop him.
markpkessinger
(8,392 posts)Wait until the sheep stealing starts up in earnest, then we'll see how highly regarded these new American 'partners' are!
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/scott-lively-crimes-against-humanity
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/pastor-scott-lively-on-trial-for-crimes-against-humanity-running-for-governor/politics/2013/12/16/80333#.Utu5eq8o6M8
http://oblogdeeoblogda.me/2013/11/07/schedule-set-for-historic-anti-gay-crimes-against-humanity-trial/
http://www.publiceye.org/publications/globalizing-the-culture-wars/index.php
http://www.scottlively.net/
starroute
(12,977 posts)It used to be the CIA doing this stuff -- these days it might be military or even private contractors. But there's a long history of the US covertly supporting the most conservative religious factions overseas as a way of countering communism, Arab nationalism, or anything else that didn't seem likely to want to play along with American corporate interests.
Basically, this stuff is borderline fascism -- and fascism is always good for business.