You can read the text of this talk at http://orthodoxtruth.org/uncategorized/orthodox-survival-course-class-55-recent-history-the-great-imposture-the-bolshevik-revolution-class-2/
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Today we are going to talk first about Marxist/Bolshevik revolution in itself, which is not something limited to Russia nor a thing of the past, but rather international and currently going on; and then we will discuss pre-Revolutionary Russia and its strengths and weaknesses. In conclusion today, we will discuss the apocalyptic, eschatological significance of Russia and her relationship to Orthodoxy.
Introduction - Bolshevik Revolution and the Orthodox Philosophy of History
A. Review of last class's introduction:
1. You need the big picture. Teleology of history.
2. The big picture is knowable.
3. Two reductionisms: "leave it to the experts" vs. arrogant ignorance
4. Ahistorical false spirituality
5. The right approach: Acquire the big picture, practice discernment
B. Christian Order vs. Anti-Christ Disorder
1. There is such a thing as Christian order of society. That's the whole lesson from the 1600 year history of the Constantinian period of history. There are more perfect, more Orthodox examples, but even the RC and Prot examples participate to a greater or lesser degree in the reality of Christian order. The age of revolution since 1789 is the open revolt against this order to replace it with Anti-Christ disorder.
2. Christian order is based on obedience to God. Human law reflects the divine law to a significant extent. God's rights are primary, human rights are derivative.
3. Anti-Christ order - or, rather, disorder - is based on disobedience to God. It is the rejection of the Logos. The motto of Lucifer is "I will not serve." The clenched fist salute symbolizes this. Since God's rights are not primary, or the source of human rights, the appeal to human rights is completely deceptive, because the only principle of action is the will to power, and therefore the entire system is inherently criminal.
4. There are both diabolical and human agencies at work. Defect of secular anti-communism is to look only for earthly explanations. Defect of falsely-spiritual approach is to say only demons are our enemies, and you should not try to comprehend the human aspect of the situation. This latter is not really pious, but is both childish and morally irresponsible, being an extreme of imprudence. We always pray to be delivered from enemies both visible and invisible. Prudence demands that we identify the visible enemies.
Today's topics: Marxism as a Philosophy vs. Marxist Action, Marxism as the Inversion of Value, The Future of Russia is the Future of the World
