If taxation is theft, then I am greatly concerned for borther Vladimire Putin

prodromos

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About Putin, I think he's the worst "person" to happen to the Russian OC since the Soviets. Building churches when most of the existing churches are practically empty and only a tiny percentage of the population ever goes to services is no service to the church and mocks God. Further, Putin's use of church services is calculated to make him into a god in the eyes of the poorly catechized populace. His apparent pro-OC campaign confuses what is Caesar's and what is God's, which seems to me not only not consistent with the Gospel, but antithetical to it.

Edit: plus he encourages phyletism, which is a heresy...
What are your sources regarding what you believe Putin is doing? Have you considered your sources may have an agenda?
 
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archer75

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I see no heresy promoted, just church-building, financial support, encouraging traditional morality, and repairing what the commie atheists tore apart. Putin is a convenient boogeyman in a world much more complicated than all that. The patriarch and most bishops seem extremely appreciative and supportive of President Putin.

With regard to patriotism, he seems to have it and support it in spades.

I think until one lives in Russia like Rusmeister or travels there frequently, Western CNN-like fake news filters and media bias make caricatures and sound bites.
Not that it makes me right, but I have lived in Russia, speak the lingo, have Russian friends with whom I keep up, have travelled there many times, and follow various Russian-language Orthodox outlets online. I don't use CNN for anything, really, certainly not this.
 
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archer75

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What are your sources regarding what you believe Putin is doing? Have you considered your sources may have an agenda?
Sorry, hadn't seen this when I made my last post, but I basically answered your question anyway. Make of my opinion what you will. It is indeed only an opinion, but it is mostly based on explicitly pro-Putin sources (including but not at all limited to his own speeches in Russian).
 
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It definitely makes you credible and worth listening to!

Not that it makes me right, but I have lived in Russia, speak the lingo, have Russian friends with whom I keep up, have travelled there many times, and follow various Russian-language Orthodox outlets online. I don't use CNN for anything, really, certainly not this.
 
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buzuxi02

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About Putin, I think he's the worst "person" to happen to the Russian OC since the Soviets. Building churches when most of the existing churches are practically empty and only a tiny percentage of the population ever goes to services is no service to the church and mocks God. Further, Putin's use of church services is calculated to make him into a god in the eyes of the poorly catechized populace. His apparent pro-OC campaign confuses what is Caesar's and what is God's, which seems to me not only not consistent with the Gospel, but antithetical to it.

Edit: plus he encourages phyletism, which is a heresy...

Russia has the highest Church attendance in Europe. Its about 6%, triple the average(and just slightly less than in america). The building of churches by political figures has always been an Orthodox custom starting with Constantine. Even in the OT people built altars in various places after divine encounters. How in the world does Putin encourage phyletism?
 
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buzuxi02

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If it is a sin to collect taxes by force, then Vladimir Putin would be committing a massive amount of sin every time he passes a budget. He seems like a nice guy, and I would gladly vote for him.
All sin can be forgiven if repented of, but can you repent of something while continuing to do it? If it is a sin to tax, then it must be better for any Christian to simply abstain from being a part of modern governments.

You live in the United States and your worried about Russia's tax policies??? I dont believe collecting taxes is a sin, at the same time I dont believe cheating on your taxes as a sin neither. And yes, I try to keep my involvement in government to a minimum and always have my passport up to date.
 
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ArmyMatt

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Dawnhammer

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let's not speculate.

Since we are going to see Putin’s accounts two weeks after hell freezes over informed speculation of corruption and misuse of country’s resources in current cleptocracy that is Russia is only way to talk about these things.
 
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buzuxi02

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Since we are going to see Putin’s accounts two weeks after hell freezes over informed speculation of corruption and misuse of country’s resources in current cleptocracy that is Russia is only way to talk about these things.

Were you this concerned with Russian finances when Yeltsin was in office? The fact is Putin is the greatest statesman of our generation. There is absolutely no politician in the entire west that is of his stature, not one of our buffoons has accomplished what he has.
 
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Dawnhammer

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There is absolutely no politician in the entire west that is of his stature, not one of our buffoons has accomplished what he has.

To be fair it is easier to get things accomplished in dictatorship when you can suppress the opposition and free press, control the media, kill your enemies, occupy foreign countries and rule uninterrupted for 17 years so far while pretending to be prime minister now and then.

Whatever that makes you a statesman or not depends on your viewpoint.
 
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Dawnhammer

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Well I was mainly thinking of annexation of Crimea from Ukraine after they gave up their nukes after guarantee from Russia to respect their borders.

Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances - Wikipedia

So much for Russian security assurances. Not worth a paper they were printed on.
 
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~Anastasia~

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Folks, I'm not sure where the discussion is going. And it's not my intent to shut it down, but I'm not sure it is going to be in topic for TAW. maybe St. Justin's in a new thread is a better place to discuss this?
 
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archer75

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Folks, I'm not sure where the discussion is going. And it's not my intent to shut it down, but I'm not sure it is going to be in topic for TAW. maybe St. Justin's in a new thread is a better place to discuss this?
I was preparing a response to the question about phyletism. Happy to bring it to St Justin's, though.
 
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~Anastasia~

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I was preparing a response to the question about phyletism. Happy to bring it to St Justin's, though.
Maybe post a link here and folks can follow it to there? Thanks. :)
 
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ArmyMatt

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