Pride, Symbols and Pluralism

There is something in the Russian soul that clings to darkness.

Even post "awakening" (via glasnost, perestroika, Providence, luck; your pick), it (a fatalistic flaw?) persists to this day.

For any watching the geopolitical scene, particularly as it involves that great land mass in repose; ever ready to pounce, it might just seem, literally, at moments that the image of recalcitrant, grumpy, and occasionally ominous "Russian bear" IS truly more personification (or self-fulfilling prophecy) than ever.

For now, however, the actual symbol of the Russian Federation remains (since the 1993 constitutional crisis) the double-headed eagle derived from medieval times and reminiscent of the Tsarist era.

Looking back at the origins of the double-headed eagle we find that it is a common symbol in heraldry (and its subset, vexillollogy) within that greater field of semiotics and subliminal (or archetypal) communications.

For Russians today, this story of origins or genesis should be of particular interest. If one religion is or has been the source of light, life and hope within the framework of a culture, then surely that religion itself must continually be examined, dissected; ever in the hunt or process of promoting and perpetuating "true" knowledge and understanding.

[But usurped by the "darkness"?  No.]

Beyond the gulags of "no religion" and "no God," there must be answers.

Some of them might even be "new" or "strange."
Some of them might be better.

The current Byzantine path of the Moscow Patriarchate and its recently reconciled (2007) counterpart, The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (or ROCOR) is little known outside of its 90 million plus adherents worldwide.

If the general (perceived) trend toward monolithism (not to be confused with monotheism and in the "unyielding" sense of that) is any indication, there is some need for concern.

There is, indeed, a need for greater openness (glasnost) and perhaps even restructuring (perestroika) from within the Russian Orthodox church (Moscow Patriarchate, in particular) itself.
[Ibid: all religions]

Pluralism (inside and out) is what has made prosperity, light, life and hope possible throughout centuries of war, conquest and inhumanity among and between nations, peoples and empires.

The United States of America has stood alone as a beacon for that great tool of God's great and good dispensation for some time.
Today, it no longer stands alone.

However, the question before the entire world, viewed as one body (it must be possible by now) is:

"Can WE continue to move forward into the Light?"

[and even more so, TOGETHER?]

Exchange marriages, or unions with conquered enemies, have historically brought human beings through crisis after crisis (often to greater prosperity) until the present day.

Today, we just call them cross-cultural, intercultural, or on occasion; hybrid.

Why can't religious belief (and life, generally), be similar?

In other words, as some within the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad are saying:

"Avoid self-isolation.
Avoid falling into extremism."

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 
~John 1:5(ESV)