don't know if this fits with my knowledge of Russian history. But then, my knowledge of Russian history isn't great. How do you mean? Peter the Great? — jamalrob

Peter and Catherine.

would think it's precisely because of its geography that its imperialism, defensive though it might significantly have been, has very much been part of its basic nature. Having said that, I don't know if it's useful to talk of a basic nature. — jamalrob

Russia was originally a mercantile based society, selling furs and timber to the south. When their trade routes to the south were cut off, they receded into feudalism, slavery appearing first as social welfare, then as an institution.

Russian history is kind of bizarre from a European perspective. Read about Ivan 4 and the crazy events that followed his death. Russia almost became the eastern part of Poland. It was saved by the church, which is another endlessly fascinating part of Russia.

You need to read some good histories. Some aspects of Russian literature, music, and visual art require understanding the smoldering identity crisis that plagues the Russian culture.

As it happens I also suspect it's wrong to see the Soviet Union as merely another Russian empire — jamalrob

There's a particular governmental style that has arisen three times now in Russia. It's like a wheel with powerful aristocrats, bureaucrats, or oligarchs as the spokes of the wheel and the czar, general secretary, or president as the center. Though the center is supposedly an absolute ruler, his or her role is actually as a kind of broker for the aristocrats. That's the continuity Russia now has with the USSR.

I think every time Russia has become imperialistic, it was because of European influence. Russia is actually really good at receding into itself and losing touch with the outside world.

It's a little counter to its basic nature to have to go out and conquer someone else, as you said, because of geography.

I’ve visited that one. — praxis

Me too. :cool:

On the other hand, those who say that Putin wants to rebuild the USSR might mean only that he wants to re-create an empire, not that he's any kind of communist. But even this is doubtful, and pretty much dismissed as an impossibility by all sides within Russia, even the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, I think. A sphere of influence is not the same thing as an empire. — jamalrob

I also read Russian comments to the effect that return to empire isn't possible in the short term, but they seemed to have the impression that that's Putin's goal. Do you think they're wrong about that?

Which one is that?

Notre Dame:

There are all sorts of worldviews. I’m claiming that religions always make metaphysical claims (ultimate truths) that require uncommon access. Those with uncommon access have authority, assuming there’s no higher authority, so it is always a top-down sort of thing. — praxis

It's still not clear to me how you're using "metaphysical claims" and "ultimate truths". The term "ultimate truth" comes directly from medieval Europe. It was part of the ideology behind Gothic cathedral architecture.

How are you using it? Give me an example.

Faith in religious authority, yes. You are paying attention — praxis

Christianity has clear religious authorities. I was kind of befuddled when I discovered that it's an oddity that way.

Worldviews just sort of arise. Maybe there's some natural selection involved, I don't know. But it's never just a top-down sort of thing.

It looks to me like you ditched my question. Excellent. — praxis

Was it about faith? Because the rest made no sense.

In many cases, religion and science are the same thing. That would be true for ancient Sumerian, Egyptian, Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Celtic, and yes all the old shamanic religions.

It kind of looks like you don't know what ontology is?

So we arrived in a ditch. Excellent.

Could you give an example of a metaphysical claim? (Because I think describing the nature of reality is metaphysical, so we're not on the same page.)

Let’s see, the Christ in Christianity refers to, well, Christ, and not the average Joe, no? AverageJoeianity would be funny religion though, and I thank you for inspiring the amusing thought. — praxis

I said esoteric Christianity has an ultimate, but it can't be spoken for.

Shamanism is about accessing what? — praxis

Shamanic religions usually have a sun god. What do you think they're trying to access?

What do you mean by ultimate?

Maybe one of these others would be a good example. — praxis

What's wrong with the examples I gave?

Sure. Shamanic religions don't have anything “ultimate“ in the sense I think you mean. And esoteric Christianity doesn't have an ultimate who could be 'spoken for.'

There are a lot of other examples.

This thread is a pig pen.

Anyone who can somehow convince others that they have experienced or speak for the ultimate. — praxis

Some religions are like that, yes.

Priests?

It refers to an ideology that relies on ultimate authority. — praxis

Whose authority?

How about Americanism. Is it better? We are told it is better like someone walking up to us and slapping us in the face. — FreeEmotion

That sounds like an unending drag. Who is presenting this to you? The company you work for? Your government?

What sort of thing is a concept? I think the notion quite problematic — Banno

The notion of a concept? Or the concept of a notion?

The Enlightenment ripped open a fissure in thought that poses religion against its opposite.

The OP article is explaining why that opposition isnt what it's often assumed to be, since religion, broadly speaking, doesn't have a specific opposite.

What's weird is that you're supposed to be wary of giving Russia or Ukraine bad advice. Like, they might take it and then you own the consequences.

That kind of communication is known as prayer.

suspect the real reason is more prosaic. If it is not for him to give them advice, it might be that the opposite is the case: they give him 'advice'. — Olivier5

Oh. Could be.

but you are afraid of advising the Russians. Strange that. — Olivier5

It's the old testament Father full of thunder and lightning. You can't reason with it. You just have to sacrifice your best stuff to calm it down.

For real.

And that would seem to be all. — Banno

Depends on your conception of divinity.

the southern unintelligible mumble--nobody knows what they are saying. — Bitter Crank

:lol:

How would a world in which God cared about all things equally differ from a world without God? — Banno

One has a God and the other doesn't.

I don't mean to argue for or against this idea but is novel (as far as I know) so I'm presenting it to see what others think of it. — Art48

The POE is a conflict between divine omnipotence and omnibenevolence. So the question would be: "Why can't God make all the creatures happy? Why do they have to make each other miserable?"

Your solution will work if you add Liebniz's solution: that we're in the best of all possible worlds. IOW, the world has to have these conflicting agendas: human vs virus, for instance. The world in which there is no conflict isn't possible, or it's not the best. Then you need to explain why.

We call it la Nouvelle Orléans. — Olivier5

Should it be Orleans Nouvelle?

If we could only manage to spend this much money on developing alternate energy sources.

Can't keep New Orleans down, although Nature keeps trying.

Interesting. There's a city in the US called New Orleans. It's always been pronounced new or-leenz' with emphasis on the last syllable. When a hurricane hit it, the media started calling it new or'-le-uns. Not sure why.

Budapest seems to be all turquoise and orange. Have you been to Ukraine?

:grin:

If you listen to a song called "Wonder" by Avoure and Hexlogic on Google music, it says "While you are listening to this track, my nation is dying under Russian attack"

:sad:

No public expression of joy. — Olivier5

Has that changed since the 1980s?

Because they might be arrested for speaking out in public?

Question answered. :up:

I think they can get to outside news via VPNs, but still, can you imagine trying to sort out the truth in that situation? With outside news sources saying your leader is straight lying about genocide and nazis. :grimace:

Well it's gone pretty badly if he had this in mind - having so many soldiers killed must be embarrasing.

At this point, I don't know what he may have in mind, with lowering population levels, a mismanaged economy, Russia does not look good. Having nukes is what sets them apart now. — Manuel

I don't know. I'm clueless about what Putin really thinks. I mean, we could guess that he didn't mean to lose 5 generals, but remember Stalin executed all of his most experienced generals before WW2. Russians are weird.

I haven't heard this mentioned too much, but I suspect that part of the reason why China is hesitant to call out Russia internationally, has to do with the issue of Taiwan.

If any issue sparked in that region of the world, Russia would back China as a thanks for this situation. — Manuel

Right. They're definitely best buds right now.

know and if they could do that significantly sooner, it might help, but they can't. I think this will be resolved far before year's end, thankfully — Baden

I don't think Russia will hold back oil from Germany because they need money. I think they'll make a deal.