Churches Providing Military Training Clubs For Children

[Ferd]

So I open this up expecting to see something about American churches arming. imigaine my surprise when I see its the Russian Government working thru its institutions.... including Russian churches....

hmm...


Here is the thing about Russia, over the last decade or so there has been an increase in Russian Nationalism. Putin is pushing an ideology that drives this.

[hakkarin]

Originally Posted by NVplumber

This isn't really anything new, for Russia. They've been indoctrinating young people in this "patriotic duty" mindset for a LONG time. Loyalty to the State, sacrifice for the Motherland, etc. Its a way of life for them. This is hardly shocking news. Russia is indoctrinating its young people?! No! Say it isn't so! Lol, the only difference in this story, is the use of churches. In times past, it would have been done via the Communist Party Youth Organization, or some such thing.

If I may ask, why is it more moral to tell people to not give a **** about the defense of their country? The west actually use to have conscription until people got soft and started to only care about themselves. Do you think the allied armies who fought in WW1 and WW2 were volunteer only armies? Imagine if WW2 had happened today: "Well I know Hitler is mean and all, but **** this ****. I want to watch American Idol! Find somebody else stupid enough to go to war!"

Yea, that would have turned out well...

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by TheDusty

Oh Russia...

I'm not against the military. I oppose the industrial war complex, like most sensible people, but understand and respect the reasons why our military exists and have a great deal of admiration for those who at least think they're fighting for freedom. But mandatory military training doesn't sit well with me. So you can imagine that I'm not to happy about Russian children being trained in this way. And in churches, of all places. Not sure what they think Jesus is like, but not they're doing it wrong either way.

I gather that the churches are hosting them as clubs for now, that is, it's a choice whether to join and the churches provide the space. They are not the ones actually doing the military training. The reason that they multiplied is because the kids like them. The values teachers may be the church people. Just a guess.

[2nd trick op]

Russian nationalism, as expressed in westward expansion and a desire for better access to the Baltic and the Black Sea, to cite the most prominent example, is nothing new. It can be traced at least as far back as the days of Catherine the Great -- might even be compared to the doctrine of "manifest destiny" which was popular in the United States around the turn of the Twentieth Century. And so long as this is expressed in non-coercive measures (expansion of trade rather than direct territorial conquest) I don't see much harm. "Financial diplomacy" is essentially self-regulating.

It's only when it's coupled with a pursuit of military power -- access to the nation-state's monopoly on the use of coercive force -- that economic expansion becomes a threat. So the real question is; "Who's behind this new manifestation and concentration of power?" If it really is a neutral group linked to the resurgence of religious belief in Russia, then no problem exists. But if it's one more facet of a general power-grab on the part of Putin or his followers, then it's best to tread carefully,