Some days I wonder how many more times my heart can break - for others, not me personally - before there's nothing left to break. So sorry for the shock, betrayal, abandonment, etc. that millions here and around the world are experiencing right now b/c of the (to use JVL's label) wicked U.S voters.
Some days I wonder how many more times my heart can break - for others, not me personally - before there's nothing left to break. So sorry for the shock, betrayal, abandonment, etc. that millions here and around the world are experiencing right now b/c of the (to use JVL's label) wicked U.S voters.
As for the religious aspect, I've been anti-religion for decades b/c of the despicable church I was raised in; but for sincere people like you this has got to be beyond belief. The hypocrisy is truly off the charts. I see pick-ups around where I live w/ stickers in the back window of three crosses, and bumper stickers that say, "God, guns, and Trump." Wherever the soul of Jesus is these days, it would be fascinating to have a conversation w/ him about the atrocities being committed in his name. Hopefully you're familiar w/ Tim Alberta; I think of him often. His second book is one among many that has brought me solace in the sense of knowing there are still really good people out there who see the truth and aren't afraid to speak it.
I'm an Atlantic subscriber, so I'm familiar with Tim Alberta - and with Peter Wehner, as well. But my favorite is Tom Nichols, a fellow Eastern Orthodox Christian and Russia expert.
Just to be clear, the antichrist I was referring to was Putin, though I think the label probably fits Trump as well. Under Putin, the Russian Orthodox Church is working as closely with the FSB as it did with the KGB under the Soviets. In Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine, churches of the OCU are closed and their clergy arrested or worse. The Moscow Patriarchate is also at work around the world, stirring up the laity against their bishops, starting schismatic churches, and posing as "conservative" defenders of a fundamentalist (and non-traditional) interpretation of Orthodoxy. Victory in Ukraine would embolden the Russians to continue their worldwide troublemaking.
Ukrainians are literally ten times as religious as Russians. Russia cannot produce enough priests to staff its churches, so it has always imported priests from Ukraine. But Ukrainians no longer want to serve in Russia. Thus, Russia's war against Ukraine can only damage what survives of Russian Orthodox spirituality.
In American Orthodoxy, we are currently experiencing an overwhelming wave of inquirers. My old parish, which typically has 150 at Liturgy on Sunday, currently has around 50 inquirers and catechumens. Three years ago, in the wake of Covid, we had a lot of alt-right types visiting our churches, but now we seem to be getting people looking for spirituality, not politics. Since most of our bishops come from overseas, they tend not to be not deeply enmeshed in American politics.
Tom is one of my absolute favorite people in the world; they don't get any better IMO. I don't watch Charlie since he left TB; but Tom was on w/ him a couple of days ago and I'm halfway thru it. I don't know of anyone else w/ his combo of 100% accurate moral compass, brilliance, and kindness. Truth be told tho, he hooked me when he wrote the Atlantic article about how Carla saved him.
Sounds like your spiritual community is headed in a positive direction, which is heartening.
I did a quick search. Tim did a podcast episode with Russell Moore about a month ago, and he has give some public lectures. His bios always describe him as a writer for The Atlantic, in the present tense. Maybe he's doing research for something big - e.g., another book or a cover article.
His latest Atlantic article was published on November 2.
Some days I wonder how many more times my heart can break - for others, not me personally - before there's nothing left to break. So sorry for the shock, betrayal, abandonment, etc. that millions here and around the world are experiencing right now b/c of the (to use JVL's label) wicked U.S voters.
As for the religious aspect, I've been anti-religion for decades b/c of the despicable church I was raised in; but for sincere people like you this has got to be beyond belief. The hypocrisy is truly off the charts. I see pick-ups around where I live w/ stickers in the back window of three crosses, and bumper stickers that say, "God, guns, and Trump." Wherever the soul of Jesus is these days, it would be fascinating to have a conversation w/ him about the atrocities being committed in his name. Hopefully you're familiar w/ Tim Alberta; I think of him often. His second book is one among many that has brought me solace in the sense of knowing there are still really good people out there who see the truth and aren't afraid to speak it.
Best to you and thank you for your service.
I'm an Atlantic subscriber, so I'm familiar with Tim Alberta - and with Peter Wehner, as well. But my favorite is Tom Nichols, a fellow Eastern Orthodox Christian and Russia expert.
Just to be clear, the antichrist I was referring to was Putin, though I think the label probably fits Trump as well. Under Putin, the Russian Orthodox Church is working as closely with the FSB as it did with the KGB under the Soviets. In Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine, churches of the OCU are closed and their clergy arrested or worse. The Moscow Patriarchate is also at work around the world, stirring up the laity against their bishops, starting schismatic churches, and posing as "conservative" defenders of a fundamentalist (and non-traditional) interpretation of Orthodoxy. Victory in Ukraine would embolden the Russians to continue their worldwide troublemaking.
Ukrainians are literally ten times as religious as Russians. Russia cannot produce enough priests to staff its churches, so it has always imported priests from Ukraine. But Ukrainians no longer want to serve in Russia. Thus, Russia's war against Ukraine can only damage what survives of Russian Orthodox spirituality.
In American Orthodoxy, we are currently experiencing an overwhelming wave of inquirers. My old parish, which typically has 150 at Liturgy on Sunday, currently has around 50 inquirers and catechumens. Three years ago, in the wake of Covid, we had a lot of alt-right types visiting our churches, but now we seem to be getting people looking for spirituality, not politics. Since most of our bishops come from overseas, they tend not to be not deeply enmeshed in American politics.
Tom is one of my absolute favorite people in the world; they don't get any better IMO. I don't watch Charlie since he left TB; but Tom was on w/ him a couple of days ago and I'm halfway thru it. I don't know of anyone else w/ his combo of 100% accurate moral compass, brilliance, and kindness. Truth be told tho, he hooked me when he wrote the Atlantic article about how Carla saved him.
Sounds like your spiritual community is headed in a positive direction, which is heartening.
I did a quick search. Tim did a podcast episode with Russell Moore about a month ago, and he has give some public lectures. His bios always describe him as a writer for The Atlantic, in the present tense. Maybe he's doing research for something big - e.g., another book or a cover article.
His latest Atlantic article was published on November 2.
I rarely hear his name any more, and have wondered about him many times. I hope he didn't just get entirely dispirited.