Anyone Seen My Church?

[The White Coyote]

MOSCOW - Wanted: One missing Russian church. Last seen in July. Reward for its return. Orthodox officials in a central Russian region say an abandoned church building that was to be put back into use has been stolen by local villagers.
Orthodox priest Vitaly of the Ivanovo-Voskresenskaya diocese said officials last saw the two-story Church of Resurrection intact in late July. Sometime in early October, however, people from the nearby village of Komarovo, northeast of Moscow, dismantled the building, he said.
Villagers apparently sold it to a local businessman, one ruble (about 4 cents) per brick, Vitaly said. Orthodox priests use only one name.
"Of course, this is blasphemy," he said. "These people have to realize they committed a grave sin."
Vitaly said police were investigating the theft.
The 200-year-old building, which no longer had its icons and other religious valuables, was a school for disabled children during the Soviet era before it was closed down in 1998 and turned over to the church.
Vitaly said the diocese was thinking of reopening it for services.
The Orthodox church has experienced a major resurgence in Russia and has restored or built thousands of churches.
In poorer, rural regions, vandals or petty thieves regularly steal gilded icons or donations from churches and sell them for alcohol or drugs.

Well, at least the money went for a good cause!

[Ungodly]

WE need to get these villagers to print up some instruction manuals documenting their church dismantling techniques.  I can think of a few parcels of land in our local area that might be improved by the removal of certain structures.

In poorer, rural regions, vandals or petty thieves regularly steal gilded icons or donations from churches and sell them for alcohol or drugs

Well, at least the money went for a good cause!

Amen!  Better alcohol and drugs than the opiate of the people.

[The White Coyote]

"The 200-year-old building, which no longer had its icons and other religious valuables, was a school for disabled children during the Soviet era before it was closed down in 1998"

I find it somehow sad and ironic that the building was used for a good purpose when the godless commie Ruskys were in charge. How come the villagers didn't tear it apart then? Could it be because it had worth and value to the community? Then once they turned it back into a box store for jeebus, out come the pitchforks and torches!

[Ungodly]

The good part of this story is the end result, one church gone.

Sure, using a building that was formerly a church for a socially responsible purpose like education is good, but barring that option not having the building helps protect the villagers from the spread of destructive and harmful ancient superstitions.

If every church, mosque, temple and synagogue on the planet disappeared overnight the only harm would be the loss of some interesting architecture in some cases.

Anything that reduces the influence of idiotic belief systems serves to advance the cause of humanity.

[The White Coyote]

Wouldn't it have been fun to watch a church slowly disappear, one brick at a time? I would love to see a time lapse of that!

                  "click, clunk, click click clunk, click click, clunk clunk  . . POOF!"   ALL GONE!

[Ungodly]

I'd guess that it would be a big hit on YouTube

[Storybook]

The Orthodox church has experienced a major resurgence in Russia

Is Russia starting to become filled with religious idiots like the USA?  I wonder what the reason is for the change...

[Ungodly]

Is Russia starting to become filled with religious idiots like the USA?  I wonder what the reason is for the change...

 

The downfall of the communist Soviet Union, I should think.   The government is no longer actively seeking to suppress religion.

I don't think government persecution of people who are suffering from religious delusions is a good thing, I'm opposed to it.  All forms of persecution are wrong, and the end does not justify the means.

The best treatment for religious delusions is education.  People who are cured of religion by adopting a reality-based Lifestyle Choice based on knowledge have a very low rate of recidivism.