ya Law’s digital surveillance legislation. And they’ve had just as much an impact. That is
“MY CONCERN
to say: none. A LONELY MISSION
David Curry. “It affects our morals, our family
I S T H AT
So those kinds of laws, which say, ‘Keep your
PUTIN’S
Curry is the CEO of Open Doors USA, an
U LT I M AT E
Russia’s threat to religious freedom seriously.
GOAL IS TO N AT IO N A L I Z E
Nevertheless, the United States has largely kept mum on the subject. It’s an odd position for a country as famously protective of religious freedom as the U.S., both within its own borders and around the world. The U.S. sends
freedom ironically coincides with American opinions of Russia actually improving. A Pew
CHRISTIAN
tisan divide (34 percent of Republicans have
sia compared to just 19 percent in 2014. Much of that rise can be attributed to a par-
among their tier one “countries of concern”
like Iran and North Korea.
The lack of international awareness of
percent of the U.S. has a positive view of Rus-
threat to the spiritual health of the country.”
tors of religion freedom, alongside countries
Religious Freedom.
study in the summer of 2017 found that 29
in Russia,” Curry says. “And I see that as a great
on their annual list of the world’s worst viola-
more specialized agencies, like the bipartisan
THE
to nationalize the Christian movement entirely
International Religious Freedom listed Russia
contentious media narrative fell solely to
the Kremlin’s brazen roll-back of religious
“My concern is that Putin’s ultimate goal is
In 2016, the United States Commission on
All of this meant awareness of another
United States Commission on International
organization that advocates for persecuted Christians and is one of the few places taking
Russian legislation. Russian scandal on top of the already hotly
faith limited to ... ’ [are] the ultimate threat to freedom of a religion.”
Hillary Clinton was generally too busy shielding her own campaign from Julian Assange’s email leaks to pay much attention to
life, and you just can’t keep authentic Christian faith within the boundaries of a building.
the summer demurring on his opinion about what the Kremlin may have been up to.
“I think Jesus has been clear in Scripture that faith needs to be part of our social life,” says
to look overly partisan, and spent most of
a positive view of Putin, compared to just 13 percent of Democrats), but at least some of
MOVEMENT E N T I R E LY I N R U S S I A .”
it can also be chalked up to a general lack of information. With the White House currently toeing a fine line with the Kremlin and much of the U.S.’ attention focused on religious controversies at home, Americans tend to have a more favorable view of Putin’s actions than his actions warrant. “The urge to control is quite a strong part
by far the most missionaries to other coun-
of Putin’s approach,” says Kinahan. “He is,
tries (127,000 annually by the most recent
after all, a former secret policeman and such
estimate; Brazil is a distant second at 34,000).
people don’t normally become very keen on While religious freedom is a human right in
freedom in any kind of way.”
every country, few nations have made it a
And for people who are keen on religious
cornerstone of their national identity in the
freedom, Russia is trending in a truly worri-
same way the U.S. has.
some direction—and it shows no sign of slow-
Part of the reason the Yarovaya Law failed
ing down. Last August, Russia said Jehovah’s
to gain much attention in the U.S. was be-
Witnesses violated the country’s anti-extrem-
cause at the same time it was being passed,
ism laws, effectively outlawing the religion.
Russia was making U.S. headlines for differ-
“It certainly would be our view that based
ent reasons: hacking the 2016 U.S. presiden-
on the evidence that the trends of free be-
tial election.
lief for wider human rights in the region
News that U.S. intelligence believed Putin had masterminded an immense campaign to
are downwards,” Kinahan says. “[There is] a seemingly increasing climate of fear.”
sow chaos into American democracy paralyzed national politics and sucked all the media attention. Now-President Donald Trump was then trying to cast Russia as unfairly maligned, expressing admiration for Putin’s strongman tactics. Then-President Barack Obama was loathe
045
T YLER HUCK A BEE lives in Nashville and is a contributing editor at RELEVANT.
RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM