On Russian faith

[Justin-H.S.]

Watching this video about Orthodoxy in Russia makes you believe that Russia is this great, holy land of Orthodoxy, but I heard that it's not quite as romantic as the western Orthodox faithful make it out to be. I hear tell that Russia also has some of the highest abortion rates, and entreprenuers are given a hard time by established and connected mobsters posing as business owners.

Does this video only contain a small snippet of the otherwise nominal Orthodox Christians who attend out of obligation, or is Russia actually a hotbed of the Orthodox faith?

 

[Lukaris]

Re abortion: Despite a high rate, it has actually been declining for almost 20 years and the birth rate has actually increased. This has reversed the previous trend of abortion exceeding the birth rate.

Historical abortion statistics, Russia



Additionally, the homicide rate has been progressively dropping. Things should not be considered rosy but these are still substantial improvements.
Crime in Russia - Wikipedia

Note the stats I referenced are only through 2018.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I think Russia has a very idealized past since Orthodoxy because of how and when they embraced the Church, and how many saints the 20th century produced. but I suspect it has the same issues we all have.

 

[Justin-H.S.]

It's good that their numbers are going down, but Russia is still leading the world in abortions according to this: Abortion Rates by Country 2020. That's what's called a Paradox.

 

[Hermit76]

Remember that Russia came out of one of the most horrendous eras in history. I wouldn't try to reconcile the paradox without considering this.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

It's good that their numbers are going down, but Russia is still leading the world in abortions according to this: Abortion Rates by Country 2020. That's what's called a Paradox.

Likely still a hangover from Communism (atheism) as well as the collapse in morals that happened afterwards. The great faith of true Orthodox believers in Russia has always been there...but open Orthodoxy has increased since Communism fell.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

Watching this video about Orthodoxy in Russia makes you believe that Russia is this great, holy land of Orthodoxy, but I heard that it's not quite as romantic as the western Orthodox faithful make it out to be. I hear tell that Russia also has some of the highest abortion rates, and entreprenuers are given a hard time by established and connected mobsters posing as business owners.

Does this video only contain a small snippet of the otherwise nominal Orthodox Christians who attend out of obligation, or is Russia actually a hotbed of the Orthodox faith?

Careful of what they say in that video. It says that Orthodoxy separated from Catholicism 1000 years ago...that is not true. We ARE Catholic and we never separated from anything...Rome separated from us.

 

[Hermit76]

Careful of what they say in that video. It says that Orthodoxy separated from Catholicism 1000 years ago...that is not true. We ARE Catholic and we never separated from anything...Rome separated from us.

It really wasn't that clean. True Rome had the weighty issues. That's why I'm not RC. However there were missteps in Constantinople during that time. Though it's easy to judge from 1,000 years in the future.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

It really wasn't that clean. True Rome had the weighty issues. That's why I'm not RC. However there were missteps in Constantinople during that time. Though it's easy to judge 1,000 years in the future.

Nothing ever is...however I still stand by what I said

 

[Hermit76]

Nothing ever is...however I still stand by what I said

I wasn't disagreeing. (And I don't think you're doing this) I just hear a lot of Orthodox, especially new hyperdox folk, who make the schism sound as though Orthodoxy was somehow without blemish during the schism or any other time in history. Rome's course before and after the schism was one of theological innovation whereas Orthodoxy remained orthodox. So, you're right.