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RELIGION
The Russian Eastern Orthodox Church (REOC) was
established in Russia around 988 A.D. (*KEY*) It was the sole
stable governing body from this time until the Mongols arrived;
(*KEY*) afterward, it greatly strengthened during the Mongolian
occupation (1235-1460) as a compliant facilitator. At almost exactly
the same time as the end of Mongol occupation, 1462, The Greek
Eastern Orthodox Church, the originator of the faith, disappeared
with the fall of its capital Constantinople (now Istanbul) to the Turks.
This was a real heyday for the REOC, as now not only was it at the
height of its power in Russia but it then as well became the seat of
the ENTIRE religion, with its capital in Moscow. Its disproportionate
influence and power over the monarchy and its land ownership
grew unabated until Peter the Great reined in the Church in
considerably during his rule (1696-1725). After this, the Church and
the Monarchy coordinated together to adapt to societal changes yet
maintain control together. Things started to change in the 1860’s
for 4 reasons: 1. The freed serfs became land owners and thus a
bit more worldly and independent. 2. The basic tenets of populism
and socialism began to appeal to the few educated people,
regardless of class or social stature, especially those under 30. 3.
Writers like Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy were questioning the value of
faith with such: If God is so great, why do innocent children die? 4)
Darwinism and evolutionary theory. REO Christianity is an
intensely personal faith compared to Western Christianity, so these
things had more of an effect on those affected individuals. Here
we must back up to the reign of Catherine the Great (1762-1796)
and her land accumulations which gathered up well over 90% of
Europe’s Jewish population. This began a hate-hate relationship
between Russians and Jews that continues to this day. There were
lots of Polish Catholics in Catherine’s grouping as well, and the
most dissident of those were exiled to Siberia after uprisings in the
1830’and 1860’S. They have been almost universally been bred
into extinction, but churches still do exist there. Back to the mid-
late 1800’s and the colonization of Central Asia: Muslim territory.
Some Jews, Catholic Poles, and Muslims tried to assimilate but in
general, (*KEY*) Russians tend to be highly racially discriminatory.
Marxism erupts in the 1870’s. The industrial revolution’s growing
proletariat and urban masses were outpacing REOC expansion,
established in Russia around 988 A.D. (*KEY*) It was the sole
stable governing body from this time until the Mongols arrived;
(*KEY*) afterward, it greatly strengthened during the Mongolian
occupation (1235-1460) as a compliant facilitator. At almost exactly
the same time as the end of Mongol occupation, 1462, The Greek
Eastern Orthodox Church, the originator of the faith, disappeared
with the fall of its capital Constantinople (now Istanbul) to the Turks.
This was a real heyday for the REOC, as now not only was it at the
height of its power in Russia but it then as well became the seat of
the ENTIRE religion, with its capital in Moscow. Its disproportionate
influence and power over the monarchy and its land ownership
grew unabated until Peter the Great reined in the Church in
considerably during his rule (1696-1725). After this, the Church and
the Monarchy coordinated together to adapt to societal changes yet
maintain control together. Things started to change in the 1860’s
for 4 reasons: 1. The freed serfs became land owners and thus a
bit more worldly and independent. 2. The basic tenets of populism
and socialism began to appeal to the few educated people,
regardless of class or social stature, especially those under 30. 3.
Writers like Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy were questioning the value of
faith with such: If God is so great, why do innocent children die? 4)
Darwinism and evolutionary theory. REO Christianity is an
intensely personal faith compared to Western Christianity, so these
things had more of an effect on those affected individuals. Here
we must back up to the reign of Catherine the Great (1762-1796)
and her land accumulations which gathered up well over 90% of
Europe’s Jewish population. This began a hate-hate relationship
between Russians and Jews that continues to this day. There were
lots of Polish Catholics in Catherine’s grouping as well, and the
most dissident of those were exiled to Siberia after uprisings in the
1830’and 1860’S. They have been almost universally been bred
into extinction, but churches still do exist there. Back to the mid-
late 1800’s and the colonization of Central Asia: Muslim territory.
Some Jews, Catholic Poles, and Muslims tried to assimilate but in
general, (*KEY*) Russians tend to be highly racially discriminatory.
Marxism erupts in the 1870’s. The industrial revolution’s growing
proletariat and urban masses were outpacing REOC expansion,
while the close relationship between the REOC and the ever-more-detested
Monarchy weakened its bonds with the masses. Revolutionaries targeted the
REOC and the Tsar equally. Many Jews were instrumental in affecting the
Great Socialist Revolutions of 1905 and 1917-18, which abruptly and effectively
ended the REOC in Russia until 1991. Jewish people, maintaining a low profile,
have maintained their influence on Soviet society and beyond to this day,
though starting in the 1980’s many began immigrating to Israel and the U.S.A.
Muslims generally stayed in the lands of their ancestors until 1991, after when
many moved to The Russian Federation seeking migrant work. In 1991, many
REOC restoration drives were begun, with Church rebuilding being mostly being
funded by the new Russian Federation. What has been more difficult is getting
people to revisit the faith, since 3+ generations born since 1918 were denied
access to it. Many Russians now simply wear a chain/cross and visit church
periodically, stating belief in God in general. Even though the post-1991
governments have tried to position themselves as anti-socialist and pro-church,
very few people believe them. Chinese people are having the similar problems
with their government’s position on Buddhism. Regarding Serbia and its special
link to Russia: it is a very strong link, indeed, which predates REOC
completely, going back thousands of years to the times when agriculturists
drove hunter/gatherers off of the Western
European plains. Serbia is a high spot
geographically and has always been bridged
to Russia nationality-wise. The REOC only
makes the bond stronger: Their mutual Pan-
Slavism and the views regarding the
greatness of the Slavic race, oiled and
lubricated by the REOC, make the link that
much stronger. On Asian faiths, and Asians in
general: Russians and Asians hate each other
but this has nothing to do with religion, since
there are very few practitioners of Asian
faiths in Russia. This subject will be dealt with
in the Culture section. Note: There have
been many missionaries from many faiths in
Russia since 1991, but they have all failed.
Monarchy weakened its bonds with the masses. Revolutionaries targeted the
REOC and the Tsar equally. Many Jews were instrumental in affecting the
Great Socialist Revolutions of 1905 and 1917-18, which abruptly and effectively
ended the REOC in Russia until 1991. Jewish people, maintaining a low profile,
have maintained their influence on Soviet society and beyond to this day,
though starting in the 1980’s many began immigrating to Israel and the U.S.A.
Muslims generally stayed in the lands of their ancestors until 1991, after when
many moved to The Russian Federation seeking migrant work. In 1991, many
REOC restoration drives were begun, with Church rebuilding being mostly being
funded by the new Russian Federation. What has been more difficult is getting
people to revisit the faith, since 3+ generations born since 1918 were denied
access to it. Many Russians now simply wear a chain/cross and visit church
periodically, stating belief in God in general. Even though the post-1991
governments have tried to position themselves as anti-socialist and pro-church,
very few people believe them. Chinese people are having the similar problems
with their government’s position on Buddhism. Regarding Serbia and its special
link to Russia: it is a very strong link, indeed, which predates REOC
completely, going back thousands of years to the times when agriculturists
drove hunter/gatherers off of the Western
European plains. Serbia is a high spot
geographically and has always been bridged
to Russia nationality-wise. The REOC only
makes the bond stronger: Their mutual Pan-
Slavism and the views regarding the
greatness of the Slavic race, oiled and
lubricated by the REOC, make the link that
much stronger. On Asian faiths, and Asians in
general: Russians and Asians hate each other
but this has nothing to do with religion, since
there are very few practitioners of Asian
faiths in Russia. This subject will be dealt with
in the Culture section. Note: There have
been many missionaries from many faiths in
Russia since 1991, but they have all failed.
