Then more often than not it’s Russian or Russian adjacent. The OCA (Orthodox Church in America) was compelled to declare it had nothing to do with Moscow in the 70s due to Cold War tension but I think most observers knew that was a fig leaf over many members’ and leaders’ Putin worship (Putin came later technically but he was raised on his tactics and philosophy during that phase so I’ll just leave that abbreviation there). They came in via Alaska via Russia in the 70s and have been distributing propaganda since. The Greeks keep a wide berth for a reason, as do many other national churches (a lot of the orthodox churches predate the concept of internationalism or globalism entirely, it just doesn’t mesh with their structure easily).
The incest between them (the OCA) and the evangelicals started not long after. Mafia, mob, Klan, Nazi, and militia connections are also right next door and many younger douches can’t distinguish and are taught not to mind the gaps because of the focus on whiteness (also possibly nicknamed “god’s light”). Add in the right wing southern strategy (semi recanted via the author when he totally wasn’t interrogated) and some fraternities and presto, a church and state back door link paired to the since-rebranded-USSR. In flows the dark money, spy-vs-spy comm networks, and so on, often shielded by church and charity opacity. They get very touchy when you look at their money too… particularly if state and local law enforcement is in their pocket courtesy of old money or family ties
Obviously the Catholics and Lutherans and Protestants etc all have their own influence backstories and alignments… but this isn’t about them except when they’ve merged with the Red/Orange Borg.
There is only one good excuse to stick around or study any of that voluntarily.
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