Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev made clear this past weekend that he is an atheist after European news agencies last week claimed that he had confirmed his Christian faith during a visit to the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy.
Gorbachev, the last communist leader of the Soviet Union, confronted speculations that he had been a closeted Christian during an interview with the Russian news agency Interfax.
"Over the last few days some media have been disseminating fantasies – I can't use any other word – about my secret Catholicism, citing my visit to the Sacro Convento friary, where the remains of St. Francis of Assisi lie," Gorbachev said, according to an Interfax article posted Friday.
"To sum up and avoid any misunderstandings, let me say that I have been and remain an atheist,” he stated.
Rumors for decades had circulated that Gorbachev was a Christian after he moved to loosen restrictions on religious worship and expressed to a party congress a year before the communist state dissolved that “spiritual rebirth is as essential to society as oxygen,” according to the Chicago Tribune.
As a result, media agencies had jumped to conclusions when Gorbachev visited St. Francis’ tomb last Wednesday and was seen kneeling for half an hour in silence at the tomb.
But Gorbachev, who was baptized Russian Orthodox as a child, explained that his visit to the tomb was as a tourist and not a pilgrim. He acknowledged the important role religion plays in society and said he looks forward to visiting Orthodox churches in Russia, Catholic and Protestant churches in the United States and Europe, synagogues in Israel and mosques in the Arab world, according to Interfax.
"But all these years, it has never occurred to anyone to list me among followers of any faith on that basis," Gorbachev noted.
Back in Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church seemed unimpressed with Gorbachev’s visit to St. Francis’ tomb.
"In Italy, he spoke in emotional terms, rather than in terms of faith," a spokesman for the Russian Orthodox patriarch Alexei II told the Russian media.
"He is still on his way to Christianity. If he arrives, we will welcome him."
Notice how the Christian spokesperson can't accept what Gorbachev says himself. He's not an Atheist, he's "on his way to Christianity". This is intolerance (AGAIN), and we should not be open to such BS. If you say you're a Christian, do we say "you're on your way to Atheism"? No. We ACCEPT your choice, instead of assuming you're lying.
If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator
But it's all cool, because Warren (and many others) will get their pink slips when the Aztlan nation rises
Rumors for decades had circulated that Gorbachev was a Christian after he moved to loosen restrictions on religious worship and expressed to a party congress a year before the communist state dissolved that “spiritual rebirth is as essential to society as oxygen,” according to the Chicago Tribune.
Rumors for decades had circulated that Gorbachev was a Christian after he moved to loosen restrictions on religious worship and expressed to a party congress a year before the communist state dissolved that “spiritual rebirth is as essential to society as oxygen,” according to the Chicago Tribune.
He acknowledged the important role religion plays in society and said he looks forward to visiting Orthodox churches in Russia, Catholic and Protestant churches in the United States and Europe, synagogues in Israel and mosques in the Arab world, according to Interfax.
Now, what good little atheist would make such claims...?
We will obtain the land through birth rate and birth right, and just vote the anglo politicians out of office.I some of what Salvy is smok'n.
He acknowledged the important role religion plays in society....
Now, what good little atheist would make such claims...?
After all, we've just learned that talk is cheap. He may "claim" to be an atheist in much the same way Dave "claimed" AA has gone after Jew's and Muslims...
I guess it's just some of those high moral standards developed by those without a foundational belief system...
So it could be that the correlation only appears in the USA because there are more religious people here. In other words, atheists are less happy in the USA because we're surrounded by idiots, but the same correlation doesn't show up as much in less religious places.Flying Weasel also makes an excellent point about the overstated happiness of xians. Where are antidepressants prescribed at the highest rate? Utah! - by a factor of 2. Antidepressant use is certainly an objective measure.
You seem to be arguing that Gorbachev wasn't really an atheist, but then two paragraphs later you chastise him for not having a foundational belief system.
Funny how you all
Now, what good little atheist would make such claims...?
After all, we've just learned that talk is cheap. He may "claim" to be an atheist in much the same way Dave "claimed" AA has gone after Jew's and Muslims...
I guess it's just some of those high moral standards developed by those without a foundational belief system...
If you asked a world war II vet coming home from winning Japan in 1945, do you think the US is going to be a marjority hispanic by 2020.You had better hope that it doesn't or it will become a shit hole like Mexico.
Though personally I think you're just lying about referring to Dave in order to save face (not that you have any credibility worth saving).
After all, we've just learned that talk is cheap. He may "claim" to be an atheist in much the same way Dave "claimed" AA has gone after Jew's and Muslims...
Gee Phreedm, I thought the original thread was about me PERSONALLY showing favoritism to Jews, but alas, we have digressed. We have tons of legal activity, including Muslim foot-baths at public schools and a Hebrew public school in NY that gets public funds.
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