Russian President Vladimir Putin is making headlines with an extraordinary claim: that Russia is engaged in a broader war, not just geopolitical, but spiritual and psychological.
He says forces tied to Satanism, the occult, and sorcery are being used to confuse people, pull them into darkness, and ultimately erode human morale and the human psyche.
“We need to fight against it,” Putin stated, “but do so carefully.”
Supporters see it as a warning about cultural and moral decay. Critics call it ideological rhetoric with dangerous implications.
Either way, the message is clear: This conflict, in his view, goes far beyond tanks and territory.
Russia is a great example of 'Christian Nationalism' where a particular (and perverted) form of Christianity has embraced politics and the highly autocratic political leader has embraced a sycophantic 'church'. Putin is regularly seen in Russian Orthodox church services because they know which side their bread is buttered having seen what happened when the Revolution more-or-less shut them down.
