www.byzcath.org

Well, people are reluctant to have children - either more than one, or more than two, or at all. The reasons have more to do with life in the country today (a large number of issues) and what future these potential babies seem to be facing. Russia is a country of hard-core realists (aside from magical thinkers).

I agree with Mariya.

This has been and is presently going on in Greece as well. I also believe that most Americans do not have large families (more than 1 or 2 children) either--it is very difficult for parents who both have to work, do not have enough money for a nanny, do not have a parent close by, and who need to pay for life's basics such as food, utilites, rent or mortgage, health care, automobile, insurances, etc., to have more than two children.

Having more than two children (in ANY country) often indicates economic ease of the parents.

Thus, Russians are not the only realists.

I don't think that any one thinks that the 'grasser is greener' on the other side.

I do think that many Christians agree with the title of this thread and the backbone of going against the current American mores.

I support full separation of Church and State.

One becomes or remains a member of a church or any faith-based establishment of one's own free will and choice.

One becomes a citizen of a state, however, by virtue of being born (or naturalized) in it. The government's laws are obligatory for all - as opposed to various faith organizations.

The government has a duty of fair and equal treatment of all its citizens, including its homosexual citizens, its unwed mother citizens, and all kinds of "sinners."

For that to happen, there must first be rule of law. Russia is backing away rapidly even from the pretense of "rule of law", for law cannot be decided by the whim of or convenience for a single man.

Dear Mariya,

Fairness is different than condoning deviant sexual behaviors. No one should discriminate or hurt someone who is 'different' in their sexuality for whatever reason, however, the rest of society does not need to have their life style forced upon them as being 'normal'. Sorry...

When this current American agenda is fulfilled, which it is close to being, what will be next? I suppose that it will be polygamy, and then other deviances. Will religious institutions be forced to accept all this? Will individuals, as in the day of paganism? 'Accept the false idols or die'? The saints warn us of the false idols of today, and many of them are camouflaged into sexual issues which obsess today's culture.

It is definitely a difference in generational thinking here and a brainwashing of the past decades of what is 'fair' and 'righteous', but as Orthodox Christians we have the Church and the saints who tell us differently.

God did not condone the 'fairness' of Sodom and Gomorrah. Ofcourse today, we are confused and may think 'how enlightened' they were in their acceptance and enjoyment of all types of sexuality!!

Best regards,
Alice

Dear Alice,

everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Do you mean 250 live births for every abortion?

How much money is spent on production and distribution, and the amount spent purchasing / viewing porn. America is not a puritanical country when it comes to porn.

Yeah, and thank God only 60 million abortions have occurred in the United States since the 70s.

I do not believe in some kind of "fairy tale" of Holy Russia, but - I will say this - at least attempts to resist the evil of homosexual propaganda is being made by the Russian Orthodox Church, and with some (albeit) limited success. America as a society has openly embraced homosexuality and other forms of sexual perversion, even referring to such things as "rights."

Well, at least in the United States, there are such things as rights. In Russia, they are sorely lacking, as you would discover if you spent time there. I do not think you would prefer there to here, but then, there is no accounting for taste. I do find, though, that there is an inexplicable blind spot among some Orthodox Christians when it comes to traditionally Orthodox states and their behavior both internally and externally. Apparently, put a three bar cross over your capital, and you can get away with almost anything.

I think it would be lovely if we refrained from using such terms as above when referring to women, even if we disapprove of their fashion of making a living...

Also, Stuart, getting back to your earlier question,

Something else popped up in my memory today: I remember, my mother, when she was pregnant with my younger brother in 1988 and delivered at our local Moscow delivery hospital - they were so rude to her there, out right cursing at her, that she lost her breast milk for a while. Women everywhere complain of rudeness, cursing, horrible conditions, even today at delivery hospitals. And no one wants to go through that. People do not have the money to pay bribes so their child gets a spot at a day care center. Adequate housing for a family is very often an issue. People are concerned with what life will have in store for their children in today's Russia. There are plenty of stories from women I see who may even want a first or second child, but they do not go for it because of all the problems. And then there are many women who are simply single, who do not get pregnant "on accident" or "just for myself" but are responsible with their lives.

Instead of offering incentives, Mr. Putin may want to consider allowing Russia to be a democratic country, with presidents that are actually elected in fair and honest elections, for example. Then, people may begin to see Russia as a comfortable and attractive place to be.

I still believe Americans to be the kindest people on earth; genuinely kind...for that I am proud.

For the immorality we embrace, celebrate and export, I am not.

Precisely... I'm not sure how people could be so ignorant just to vote for someone based on popularity, this country can't just think of politicians as if it were American Idol or something. For that, I think we failed to make everyone realize who they are really voting in Washington.

I will dutifully amend my Bible to reflect this sensitivity.

Do not make the error of elevating outliers to the norm. Hollywood and television are not America.