A new study by the Pew Research Center shows that religion has returned as an essential part of identity — both individual and national — in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. According to the study, there are now majorities in the countries of the region that profess a belief in God, while identifying with a particular faith tradition…
The Pew study found the return of religion to Eastern Europe has “played out differently in the predominantly Orthodox countries of Eastern Europe than it has among the heavily Catholic or mixed-religious populations further to the West.” While there has been a renewal of religious identity in Orthodox countries, levels of religious practice are comparatively low. “And Orthodox identity is tightly bound up with national identity, feelings of pride and cultural superiority, support for linkages between national churches and governments, and views of Russia as a bulwark against the West.”
In other findings in the report, the widely-held desire for a strong Russia may stem from a “perceived values gap with the West.” For example, people in Orthodox countries are more likely than those in Catholic-majority countries to agree with the statement, “There is a conflict between our country’s traditional values and those of the West.” Also, respondents who agree with that statement also are more likely than those who disagree to say a strong Russia is necessary to balance the influence of the West, the report said…
Most of the countries surveyed (with the notable exception of Ukraine) agreed that “a strong “Russia is necessary to balance the influence of the West.” The study found that even in NATO and EU-member Greece, 70 percent agree a strong Russia is needed to balance the West…
Russians generally accept the role of protector of Orthodox countries: 72 percent of Russians agree that their country has an obligation to protect Orthodox Christians outside of Russia. In addition, 77 percent of Russians believe that Russia has an obligation to protect ethnic Russians living outside of Russia. And clear majorities of ethnic Russians living outside of Russia identify as Orthodox and agree that Russia has a responsibility to protect them.
Regardless of whether you believe, you have the admit there is a clear advocacy of K-virtues in the Bible. Then there is the linkage between threat processing centers, and conservatism as well as religiosity, as well as the general observation that civilization and K-psychologies tend to embrace religion. K and religiosity are linked somehow, whether by mechanism, or something deeper.
The Renaissance produced tons of paintings featuring people, basking in a warm glow of love from above. Those were people in the throes of a religious awakening, and from the painting’s content, it would appear their awakening did not rely entirely on faith alone. I suspect many of them were experiencing something, and like a caveman drawing a hunt on a cave wall in chalk, they were trying to record it.
Religion is not just a fanciful story that masses of people have blindly been deluded by for no reason. There are those who believe the stories without any evidence, but there are also a lot of people in various communities who experience things. Those things help them to understand that faith is not entirely a blind leap into embracing an unknown. Some have their own experiences, while some trust experiencers, and believe in their loved ones and friend’s stories.
I know if you are an evidence-based personality I have no evidence that will make you believe. But let your trust for other K-strategists who believe keep the door open to belief. Someday you may see something. I have a strong suspicion that as earth begins to turn to Hell, God may give more of his warrior’s glimpses of truth, to help them get through their personal trials.
Keep your eyes and your mind open, because the second Renaissance is coming.
Spread r/K Theory, because all sorts of good things can come from Apocalypse