Yulia Latinina, who hosts a political talk show on Ekho Moskvy radio, explains the religious views of many Orthodox Christians, whom she calls Homo Orthodoxus. They sound quite similar to fanatics in the US, Pakistan, Rome, northern Nigeria – you get the idea.
First, this belief holds that God does not forgive. A typical example: During a recent demonstration against Pussy Riot, an Orthodox activist screamed “God does not forgive, and to claim otherwise is blasphemy,” while beating a female supporter of the punk group.
And notice one other thing about that – it clearly includes the belief that the Self is authorized to assume it knows exactly what God does not forgive, and to punish people for that unforgivable thing. That’s a lot to assume! Even if the Orthodox activist were right about “God,” why would that justify the activist in beating someone up?
People so easily forget that the first does not lead to the second. “God does not forgive, so I get to beat you up.” No. That doesn’t follow.
The second belief of Homo Orthodoxus is that God bestows lavish material gifts on the church’s leadership: luxury apartments, fancy cars and expensive Swiss watches. For the Homo Orthodoxus, such perks are part of being close to the Godhead.
Vatican.
Third, this God does not make any moral demands on his chosen followers but gives them full authority to make such demands on everybody else.
Aha, there it is. I would love to know exactly how they convince themselves of that…Although I suppose they don’t, really, they just assume it. It’s such a dangerous belief.