The Baptist Press has posted a focus story on Russia’s Udmurt people. Stricken with horrible poverty, a lack of jobs, and rising rates of alcoholism, suicide has become a common occurrence in Udmurtia.

“‘Young people want everything and they want it now,’ Leonid says, sitting at his kitchen table a few months later. ‘My son was that way. They watch TV and can’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality. With no work, all they do is drink.’ The gulf between soaring expectations and grim, jobless reality overwhelms some young Udmurts. They brood, drink, sniff glue, become depressed – sometimes suicidal.”

But instead of trying to help the Udmurt people with their huge social problems by looking into microfinance solutions, or better social programs, or governmental assistance, they feel that societal renewal will occur once the last vestiges of their pre-Christian heritage are eradicated.

“It was the third suicide of the year in the tiny Udmurt village of 30 families. Why? … Spiritual poverty … their skin-deep Christianity has mingled ever since with older, deeper layers of animism and nature worship … Traditionally, Udmurts revered sacred forests (they are known as “people of the woods”), the land, the sky, the sun, water, spirits, ancestors, their mythical creator “Inmar” and a host of lesser deities. They made sacrifices to their gods in forests and sacred barns, but they knew nothing of personal repentance or divine forgiveness. They saw their offerings as barter in exchange for a good crop, fertility and prosperity. How much do the old ways influence Udmurts today? Some say paganism has faded. Others see a direct link between pagan practice and the alcoholism and suicide that torment their people.”

These “others” who see a “direct link” between paganism and suicide aren’t named, but that hardly matters to these true believers. This claim isn’t new in evangelical-minded organizations, despite the utter lack of evidence for this correlation. Groups like these Baptists believe that once Christianity has taken root then all their other problems will naturally correct themselves, and if not, at least they get to go to heaven! This triumphal attitude carries over into their recommended prayers, only one of which touches on social problems (alcoholism).

“Prayers that can be voiced for the Udmurts include … breaking down strongholds of paganism, alcoholism, depression and suicide that oppress the Udmurts so they may see God through Jesus Christ … opening hundreds of Udmurt villages to showings of the “JESUS” film.”

In the end its pure arrogance, a unique kind of arrogance that manifests within a monotheist context. It reminds me of the old line of when your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Unfortunately “hammering” Christianity into these people won’t magically solve their problems, but it will destroy a piece of religious culture that has survived for centuries. Which seems to be simply adding another tragedy instead of solving the ones they already have.

Tags: Christianity, Paganism, Russia, Udmurt people