Italian newspaper calls his visit to tomb of Saint Francis a 'spiritual perestroika.'
We've heard much from atheists about why they don't believe. Here's an interesting item about the spiritual journey of one of the world's best known disbelievers--Mikhail Gorbachev.
Gorbachev's visit to the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy this month has rekindled those questions about Gorbachev's faith. Was he denouncing atheism and affirming his faith in God? Was he a closet believer even during Soviet times?
Several European media outlets were quick to size up Gorbachev's half hour of silence at St. Francis' tomb as proof that the 77-year-old former leader of an atheistic superpower was, in fact, a Christian.
The Italian newspaper La Stampa called his visit a "spiritual perestroika." A story in the London Daily Telegraph's March 19 edition concluded Gorbachev "has acknowledged his Christian faith for the first time."
The paper quoted the former Soviet leader as saying that the saint's "story fascinates me and has played a fundamental role in my life." But Gorbachev subsequently told the Russian news agency Interfax, "Let me say that I have been and remain an atheist."
Wherever the truth lies, the discussion reminds me of a passage in Paul Kengor's book, God and Ronald Reagan, describing the beginning of Reagan's May-June 1988 mission to Moscow:
[Reagan] finished his remarks by pausing, looking up, and delivering this direct, closing salutation to the general secretary and his comrades: "Thank you and God bless you." As the words left his lips and were translated into Russian, the hardened Kremlin atheists visibly blanched. Gorbachev's translator said that Reagan's words rang like blasphemy to the Soviet officials present, and they reacted with wry expressions. "The heretofore impregnable edifice of Communist atheism was being assaulted before their very eyes by [Reagan]." the translator recorded in his notes.
Much has happened in the two decades that separate us from that simple, yet defiant statement asking for God's blessing on the Soviet leaders. Mr. Gorbachev was friendlier than his predecessors to the role of religion in society. Perhaps that's all this flap over his visit to the tomb of Saint Francis signifies. I'm an optimist, however, and will be looking for more.
God, bless Mikhail Gorbachev.
Posted by Stan Guthrie on March 25, 2008 12:17PM
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Also from the Chicago Tribune, here is a fuller account of Gorbachev's comments:
"Over the last few days some media have been disseminating fantasies—I can't use any other word—about my secret Catholicism, citing my visit to the Sacro Convento friary, where the remains of St. Francis of Assisi lie," Gorbachev told the Russian news agency Interfax. "To sum up and avoid any misunderstandings, let me say that I have been and remain an atheist."
Gorbachev, who was baptized Russian Orthodox, said his visit to the tomb was as a tourist, not a pilgrim. He acknowledged the vital role that religion plays in society and said he has eagerly visited Orthodox churches in Russia, Catholic and Protestant churches in the U.S. and Europe, synagogues in Israel and mosques in the Arab world.
"But all these years, it has never occurred to anyone to list me among followers of any faith on that basis," Gorbachev said.
Christians have a long history of claiming deathbed conversions for various well-known atheists, agnostics and freethinkers (Hume, Darwin and Lincoln spring to mind). It is best to wait and make those claims after the person has died lest they make a public statement like Gorbachev.
Posted by: ex-preacher at March 26, 2008
As I recall, Gorbachev's mother was in fact an Orthodox believer.
Posted by: John Johnson at March 26, 2008
As I recall, during the Gorbachev era, a photograph of his wife [Raesa(?)]appeared on a major weekly magazine and the article insisde referred to her as a Christian. Perhaps her faith affected him more than he (and we) thought.
Posted by: John Olsen at March 26, 2008
It's interesting to note that all it took for people to believe that Mikhail Gorbachev is/was a closeted believer was for him to spend thirty minutes in silence at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy or for him to invoke the name of God during a speech in which Ronald Reagan was in attendance. Oddly enough, in the New Testament when the Apostle Paul spoke the Gospel of Christ, he was not immediately believed to be a believer and follower of Christ. Those who heard his message watched and examined his life closely and determined him to be a believer. Perhaps the death of his wife Raisa impacted the former Prime Minister so deeply that he may have had a spiritual rebirth but by his own words he contradicts that which we hope for him.
Posted by: Frank Iacono at March 27, 2008
Gorbachov's mother was a Christian. He made an annual visit to his mother during the Easter season - a very important season for the Orthodox - and his mother always baked the traditional Easter bread that had the equivalent of "Christ is risen" baked on the top. Regardless of his personal faith, we can only wonder at the influence the faith of his mother had on Gorbachov. Things could have been different in the world without his sensitivity to and acceptance of people of faith.
Posted by: William Hooper at March 28, 2008
Gorbachev has been a frequent visitor to Schuller's church and has used his pretense of embracing religion to cover his real motives. He is one of the founders of the One World Religion and is headquarted at the Presidio in San Francisco. Google it, and don't be fooled!
Posted by: anna jones at March 29, 2008
Gorbachev is sly as a fox! I got a reply the next day which stated that the reason that Gorbachev was at NorthEastern all the time was because the University was the new headquarters of the Gorbachev Foundation and as to my second question they said they could not answer that. Before this Foundation moved to Northeastern it was located at the Presidio ( A Former Military Base ) in San Francisco.
Gorbachev is generally thought of in a postive way. After all, didn't he end Communism and isn't he promoting democracy and the saving of the environment? Gorbachev is a very charismatic personality and has U.S. officials, along with the public, eating out of his hand. Let me share with you some of his quotes and plans for the future of the world.
The following is a quote from Gary Kah's book " The New World Religion". " Among those at the forefront of this movement( Globalization) there is one individual who stands out more than any other. Believed by many to have fallen from the political scene with the collapse of the Soviet Union, he currently wields more power and influence in shaping the future of the world than perhaps any diplomat of our generation. Yet strangely, most of us are not even aware of his influence, let alone that he has risen to the top of the one world movement. His keen sense of timing and political prowess has enabled him to forge alliances where others before him have failed. His friends include many of the world's most adept politicians, financial powerbrokers and religious leaders. The person of whom I am speaking is Mikhail Gorbachev.
http://www.rense.com/general12/gobie.htm
http://www.jeremiahproject.com/newworldorder/
Posted by: ruth pecorino at March 29, 2008
Is Mikhail Gorbachev a Christian? Scripture says NO.
Two quick proofs:
"Out of the mouth, the heart speaks." The other proof:
"If you deny Me before men, I will deny you before My angels in heaven." - Mr. Gorbachev may seem like a nice person but God says He judges the heart and men judge from outward appearance.
Posted by: Kay Pickett at April 1, 2008
Kay-
So St Peter is also not a Christian?
Posted by: Kenton at April 2, 2008
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