2022: And What of the Orthodox Christians? Ukraine Tragedies

2022: And What of the Orthodox Christians?

(Drawn up as a seed article post August 4, 2022.)

    One thing that has not come up much in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the side actor of Belarus, is the fact that all three are traditionally Russian or Ukrainian Orthodox Christian. They should not be fighting and killing each other. Bu they are.

    During 2021 more and more intelligence agencies and countries were reporting on how Russia was amassing troops, vehicles, and materiel in the Ukrainian border, and all indications were assessed to be that Russia would go in. The winter passed, and February 24 of this year, 2022, it happened. Eight years after the Crimean War and annexation.

    So, now it has been over 150 days of intense fighting, some days and weeks more deadly and devastating than others. Financial and economic conditions have been wacky and hard to follow, but suffice it to say that things have been hard on the millions directly involved, and perhaps billions indirectly affected by the lack of the food supply and other products that should be flowing out of these regions. To include gas and oil for consumers in Europe and elsewhere.

    Terrible times for millions.

    We know that organized religion is supposed to ameliorate and mitigate hard times. Both countries were under a secular or atheistic Communist (with fascist undertones) political regime for generations, so Russians and Ukrainians are not as traditionally religious as they always have been for hundreds of years. Plus, in the 21st century, we all know that large numbers of people have decommitted from any religious belief, and have declared their non-affiliation to churches, temples, and mosques, and are "nones": those without any belief in a religion. Many are "spiritual", but not aligned with a specific group.

    This fact, at least that on the surface that the countries involved have similar beliefs, does not come up a lot in the dozens or hundreds of reports that I have perused on the war. Almost half a year into it.

    Has the Orthodox faith failed? In many ways, I assert yes. Religion has failed. For Vladimir Putin, I unquestionably declare yes. Although, arguably, he is a former Communist and ostensibly an atheist. For Volodymyr Zelensky, who is notably Jewish, perhaps he has taken on the role of victim, as Jewish peoples so often are. But stalwart and defiant, as Israel is known to be in the last 70 years. Jews are known to be resilient and resourceful.  Overall, survivors of existential peril. We study this in thousands of years of history in the Old Testament. And it continues today, two thousand years since the coming and going of Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish child from the Galilee that our calendars mark.

    Orthodox Christians, and Christians of all types, should not be killing and annexing each other. 

    Sad. Muslims should not kill Muslims. Or anyone. Christians should not target those of other faiths, or each other, for such awful experiences.

    I say that people have shown that religion is too often dismissed and/or accused for their breakdowns and problems, their scape goats. Ironic, the term "scape goat". A religious term and tradition.

    As a Christian, and a person who highly appreciates all religions, I hope and pray that the people of faith in Ukraine and Russia, Belarus and other neighbors, can overcome these terrible times of violence, murder, and malaise.

    We shall overcome. Someday.