I am so sorry for your (temporary) loss of the brave, brilliant & beautiful Daria. But she is in good hands now. I once believed that death was The End. Now I understand that it is merely a transition where the husk of the seed falls away so that the plant can spring forth.
Your argument, which I understand to be that we don't know (when they are alive) who the heroes are because, while living, they may turn and become evil; is interesting. Is that a tenant of the Russian Orthodox Faith?
It is alien to Protestant Christian theology - and doesn't seem to me to be right. We are all sinners; but those who are saved would NEVER sell out to evil. And I know YOU wouldn't either. You & I might both eat a 2nd bowl of ice cream & more cookies when we shouldn't; but we'd die rather than get in involved in trafficking children; trafficking drugs, betraying innocents, etc.
Joanna, thank you for the distinction between Protestant and Orthodox theology. Although I am not qualified to address it, it rings true for me. I think that "turn and become evil" might also be a Protestant framing, since the whole essence of Professor Dugin's statement is that the struggle continues over the entire course of a person's lifetime. So nobody can become purely evil – even if their motives appear as such, they may still work out God's will in spite of that.
All I "know" of Russian Orthodox theology was obtained from Dostoevsky's novels and from some Russian movies! And that Russian Orthodox Churches are incredibly beautiful.
A saved person struggles throughout his life against his own character flaws (alcoholism, laziness, self-centeredness, weak faith, impatience, etc.); but the direction he is headed is set in concrete.
During 1977, I drove thru the former Soviet Union and was sickened to see the desecrated Russian Orthodox churches. From a great distance (in the flat grasslands through which we were driving), we could see onion domes arising ahead- but when we arrived, we saw that the buildings were partially destroyed, with rubble lying about, and graffiti painted on the walls. Happily, Saint Basil's church in Moscow at Red Square was in excellent condition. It is encouraging that the Communists were not able to eradicate Christianity!
Yes, that is the Calvinist doctrine of predetermination. I am familiar with it due to my first wife having been raised as a Protestant. I think that there cannot be any common ground between Protestant and Orthodox theology on this issue. As for myself, while not a member of any Christian denomination, I definitely incline towards the Orthodox interpretation. As such, I particularly appreciate Dugin's point here and I am glad you clarified it. It seems to me that, even if predestination were true, we would still have no way of knowing who was "elect" and who was not (including ourselves). So then the question becomes not whether it is "true" but whether it is "useful". Still, perhaps there can be some kind of common ground in the idea of works aimed not at securing salvation for oneself but simply glorifying God?
During the late 19th century, the philosophy of Pragmatism (William James, Charles Saunders Peirce, John Dewey) arose. It rejected the concept of an Objective Reality with its Timeless Truths. Instead of concerning oneself with the question of whether something is “True”, the pragmatist asks, “What difference will it make in my life whether I believe it or don’t believe it?” So one looks to the “utility” of believing it or not believing it. If it has a good result for me, it is “true”. If it has a bad result for me, it is not “true”. What is “true” for me may not be “true” for you, so an idea can be “true” for some and not “true” for others. Furthermore, what is “true” for me today may not be “true” for me tomorrow, so “truth” evolves.
They tossed the concept of Objective Truth – Objective Reality – Fixed Principles & Standards – out the window.
That is from a paper I wrote some years ago to show how Americans abandoned the concept of "self-evident Truths" which was prevalent during our Founding Era (see Declaration of Independence).
Cultures arise on one belief system - and collapse on another belief system.
I attended a Calvinist church for a while; but left because of their obsession with the issue of election. One of my favorite writers, the Scottish theologian/novelist George MacDonald, wrote somewhere that instead of focusing on the doctrines of men [which is all any church I attended did - with each denomination teaching its own pet doctrines]; we should just read the Bible and do our best to obey God. So that's what I do!
And I don't fight over doctrines. It's horrifying to see "one of the Elect" slinging the "HERETIC" word against anyone who doesn't believe exactly what they believe.
C'est très beau. Le geste de Prigojine (que vous qualifiez de héros particulier), de s'arrêter avant Moscou, me fait penser à David qui s'arrêta face à Saül :
« Lorsque Saül fut revenu de la poursuite des Philistins, on vint lui dire : Voici, David est dans le désert d'En-Guédi. Saül prit trois mille hommes d'élite de tout Israël et il alla chercher David et ses gens jusque sur les rochers des boucs sauvages. Il arriva à des parcs de brebis qui étaient près du chemin ; là se trouvait une caverne, où il entra pour se couvrir les pieds. David et ses gens étaient au fond de la caverne. Les gens de David lui dirent : Voici le jour où l'Éternel te dit : Je livre ton ennemi entre tes mains ; traite-le comme bon te semblera. David se leva et coupa doucement le pan du manteau de Saül. Après cela, son cœur battit, parce qu'il avait coupé le pan du manteau de Saül. Et il dit à ses gens : Que l'Éternel me garde de commettre contre mon seigneur, l'oint de l'Éternel, une action telle que de porter la main sur lui ! Car il est l'oint de l'Éternel. Par ces paroles, David arrêta ses gens et les empêcha de se jeter sur Saül. Puis Saül se leva pour sortir de la caverne et continua son chemin. » (1 Samuel 24)
Une pensée pour votre fille Dasha, notre grand modèle et notre héroïne dans notre lutte contre l'Antéchrist. Bien à vous, Alexandre Douguine. Cordialement, de France.
It’s very beautiful. The gesture of Prigozhin (whom you describe as a particular hero), to stop before Moscow, reminds me of David who stopped in front of Saul:
And it came to pass, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was said unto him, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi. Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek for David and his men even unto the rocks of wild goats. He arrived at some sheepparks that were near the path; there was a cave, where he entered to cover his feet. David and his people were at the back of the cave. And the servants of David said unto him, This is the day that the LORD said unto thee, I will deliver thine enemy into thy hand; do with them as seemeth good unto thee. David stood up and gently cut the skirt of Saul’s mantle. After that, his heart beat because he had cut the skirt of Saul’s mantle. And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing against my master, the anointed of the LORD, to lay hands on him. For he is the anointed of the LORD. By these words, David stopped his people and prevented them from falling on Saul. Then Saul got up to leave the cave and continued on his way." (1 Samuel 24)
A thought for your daughter Dasha, our great model and heroine in our fight against the Antichrist. Yours sincerely, Alexandre Douguine. Sincerely, from France.
I am so sorry for your (temporary) loss of the brave, brilliant & beautiful Daria. But she is in good hands now. I once believed that death was The End. Now I understand that it is merely a transition where the husk of the seed falls away so that the plant can spring forth.
Your argument, which I understand to be that we don't know (when they are alive) who the heroes are because, while living, they may turn and become evil; is interesting. Is that a tenant of the Russian Orthodox Faith?
It is alien to Protestant Christian theology - and doesn't seem to me to be right. We are all sinners; but those who are saved would NEVER sell out to evil. And I know YOU wouldn't either. You & I might both eat a 2nd bowl of ice cream & more cookies when we shouldn't; but we'd die rather than get in involved in trafficking children; trafficking drugs, betraying innocents, etc.
Joanna, thank you for the distinction between Protestant and Orthodox theology. Although I am not qualified to address it, it rings true for me. I think that "turn and become evil" might also be a Protestant framing, since the whole essence of Professor Dugin's statement is that the struggle continues over the entire course of a person's lifetime. So nobody can become purely evil – even if their motives appear as such, they may still work out God's will in spite of that.
All I "know" of Russian Orthodox theology was obtained from Dostoevsky's novels and from some Russian movies! And that Russian Orthodox Churches are incredibly beautiful.
A saved person struggles throughout his life against his own character flaws (alcoholism, laziness, self-centeredness, weak faith, impatience, etc.); but the direction he is headed is set in concrete.
During 1977, I drove thru the former Soviet Union and was sickened to see the desecrated Russian Orthodox churches. From a great distance (in the flat grasslands through which we were driving), we could see onion domes arising ahead- but when we arrived, we saw that the buildings were partially destroyed, with rubble lying about, and graffiti painted on the walls. Happily, Saint Basil's church in Moscow at Red Square was in excellent condition. It is encouraging that the Communists were not able to eradicate Christianity!
Yes, that is the Calvinist doctrine of predetermination. I am familiar with it due to my first wife having been raised as a Protestant. I think that there cannot be any common ground between Protestant and Orthodox theology on this issue. As for myself, while not a member of any Christian denomination, I definitely incline towards the Orthodox interpretation. As such, I particularly appreciate Dugin's point here and I am glad you clarified it. It seems to me that, even if predestination were true, we would still have no way of knowing who was "elect" and who was not (including ourselves). So then the question becomes not whether it is "true" but whether it is "useful". Still, perhaps there can be some kind of common ground in the idea of works aimed not at securing salvation for oneself but simply glorifying God?
Beware of the philosophy of Pragmatism!
During the late 19th century, the philosophy of Pragmatism (William James, Charles Saunders Peirce, John Dewey) arose. It rejected the concept of an Objective Reality with its Timeless Truths. Instead of concerning oneself with the question of whether something is “True”, the pragmatist asks, “What difference will it make in my life whether I believe it or don’t believe it?” So one looks to the “utility” of believing it or not believing it. If it has a good result for me, it is “true”. If it has a bad result for me, it is not “true”. What is “true” for me may not be “true” for you, so an idea can be “true” for some and not “true” for others. Furthermore, what is “true” for me today may not be “true” for me tomorrow, so “truth” evolves.
They tossed the concept of Objective Truth – Objective Reality – Fixed Principles & Standards – out the window.
That is from a paper I wrote some years ago to show how Americans abandoned the concept of "self-evident Truths" which was prevalent during our Founding Era (see Declaration of Independence).
Cultures arise on one belief system - and collapse on another belief system.
I attended a Calvinist church for a while; but left because of their obsession with the issue of election. One of my favorite writers, the Scottish theologian/novelist George MacDonald, wrote somewhere that instead of focusing on the doctrines of men [which is all any church I attended did - with each denomination teaching its own pet doctrines]; we should just read the Bible and do our best to obey God. So that's what I do!
And I don't fight over doctrines. It's horrifying to see "one of the Elect" slinging the "HERETIC" word against anyone who doesn't believe exactly what they believe.
Great story...I would say Prigozhin was the Patton of Russia
That is an amazing story. Thank you for sharing with us.
Endurance in our endeavours would be a testament to your daughter’s courage, tenacity, and zest for life.
As a father myself, I can only imagine the pain that has been visited upon your family as a result of such a monstrous act.
This was a terrific, inspirational read.
Thank you for sharing.
C'est très beau. Le geste de Prigojine (que vous qualifiez de héros particulier), de s'arrêter avant Moscou, me fait penser à David qui s'arrêta face à Saül :
« Lorsque Saül fut revenu de la poursuite des Philistins, on vint lui dire : Voici, David est dans le désert d'En-Guédi. Saül prit trois mille hommes d'élite de tout Israël et il alla chercher David et ses gens jusque sur les rochers des boucs sauvages. Il arriva à des parcs de brebis qui étaient près du chemin ; là se trouvait une caverne, où il entra pour se couvrir les pieds. David et ses gens étaient au fond de la caverne. Les gens de David lui dirent : Voici le jour où l'Éternel te dit : Je livre ton ennemi entre tes mains ; traite-le comme bon te semblera. David se leva et coupa doucement le pan du manteau de Saül. Après cela, son cœur battit, parce qu'il avait coupé le pan du manteau de Saül. Et il dit à ses gens : Que l'Éternel me garde de commettre contre mon seigneur, l'oint de l'Éternel, une action telle que de porter la main sur lui ! Car il est l'oint de l'Éternel. Par ces paroles, David arrêta ses gens et les empêcha de se jeter sur Saül. Puis Saül se leva pour sortir de la caverne et continua son chemin. » (1 Samuel 24)
Une pensée pour votre fille Dasha, notre grand modèle et notre héroïne dans notre lutte contre l'Antéchrist. Bien à vous, Alexandre Douguine. Cordialement, de France.
can I get this translated?
It’s very beautiful. The gesture of Prigozhin (whom you describe as a particular hero), to stop before Moscow, reminds me of David who stopped in front of Saul:
And it came to pass, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was said unto him, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi. Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek for David and his men even unto the rocks of wild goats. He arrived at some sheepparks that were near the path; there was a cave, where he entered to cover his feet. David and his people were at the back of the cave. And the servants of David said unto him, This is the day that the LORD said unto thee, I will deliver thine enemy into thy hand; do with them as seemeth good unto thee. David stood up and gently cut the skirt of Saul’s mantle. After that, his heart beat because he had cut the skirt of Saul’s mantle. And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing against my master, the anointed of the LORD, to lay hands on him. For he is the anointed of the LORD. By these words, David stopped his people and prevented them from falling on Saul. Then Saul got up to leave the cave and continued on his way." (1 Samuel 24)
A thought for your daughter Dasha, our great model and heroine in our fight against the Antichrist. Yours sincerely, Alexandre Douguine. Sincerely, from France.
thank you so much for the translation!