What are Russian women REALLY like?

[ML]

We also went for sacred water on a certain day ( I do not remember when, one day in winter), but it was viewed as  a social event rather than manifestation of piousness.   

It would be great if religious people admitted this.  i.e.  They go to church and church functions for the social aspects AND they are not really very good Christians in their actual actions on a daily basis.

If you ever have a flat tire or some such; better hope that a hard drinking, cussing, good ol boy comes along, and not a church goer.

[Gator]

It would be great if religious people admitted this.  i.e.  They go to church and church functions for the social aspects AND they are not really very good Christians in their actual actions on a daily basis.

Hypocrites do not bother me as much as the overbearing moralistic zealots.   Please go away. 
 

If you ever have a flat tire or some such; better hope that a hard drinking, cussing, good ol boy comes along, and not a church goer.

The church goer knows the Bible and Jesus's preachings,  and he fears stopping and becoming the robbed and beaten Jew left beside the road in the parable of the Good Samaritan.   

[Eduard]

Gator, I know you were joking about the sex part...but... I must admit that on average I enjoyed sex with RW more than with AW with a couple of exceptions. RW seem to be able to just let go and get into it a lot more than AW that I've been with. Again, it's a generalization and the one that strictly my own personal experience.

[jeancarlos_fer]

You have the whole rainbow - from the ugliest nightmare to the glorious sexy dream.
And as it happens with any woman, they become special in your eyes after you fall in love 

[Eduard]

I have noticed  in Russia and here in the US especially the more a person cries "I love Jesus" and persistently "preaches" the more that person is a religious fanatic with some kind of mental disorder or the biggest hypocrite I have ever seen.

I noticed that too! It never fails. The more they preach the more careful you have to be with them.

[Eduard]

You have the whole rainbow - from the ugliest nightmare to the glorious sexy dream.
And as it happens with any woman, they become special in your eyes after you fall in love 

Oh yes! I have met mu fare share of horrable and bitchy RW. Lucky for me I am a native Russian speaker and know the culture, so I've always quickly recognised those and stayed away. But it scary to read some of the train wreck stories on these RW forums, when WM couldn't or didn't want to bridge the language and cultural barrier and couldn't recognise the red flags, or simply ignored them... Got to make sure that you know who you are marrying, IMO.


Truth is there is a wide spectrum of different personalities, character and set of values among FSU women. You wouldn't say that all American women are one way or the other? Would you? I agree with Jeancarlos - it's a whole rainbow, so it's up to you to pick a good one.

[ECOCKS]

I noticed that too! It never fails. The more they preach the more careful you have to be with them.

And it's not restricted merely to those followers of Jesus.....

[JR]

Amazing Bitches.

[Eduard]

And it's not restricted merely to those followers of Jesus.....

true

[Eduard]

Кого я хочу найти:Протяну ноги в хорошие руки, грамотно сяду на шею))))
 Ищу самодостаточного мужчину, с чувством юмора, готового платить за образование в MBA )) и не только
and on top of that she is also married with children!   

[mendeleyev]

It would be great if religious people admitted this.  i.e.  They go to church and church functions for the social aspects AND they are not really very good Christians in their actual actions on a daily basis.

That is quite a broad and sweeping generalization. One could say the same kind of generalizations in reverse and neither would be true.

Individuals are individuals. I know lots of faithful who would give their last dime to someone in need. I also know some of the most unchurched people who are horrible human beings. I also know many of both in reverse.

Making a generalization seems pointless.

In the FSU you don't have Sunday School, After church coffee hours, Wednesday night sewing circles, etc. What "SOCIAL" aspects to faith in Russia? Very little of the same type activities in comparison to the West.

[mendeleyev]

Yes, Mendeleyev would but he sees Russia through the eyes of the orthodox

  And I see Russia thru the eyes of a Euro-centric white male (Dutch and American), the eyes of a father of daughters, the eyes of someone who loves Russian food, they eyes of a man who values legs more than breasts, the eyes of someone who drinks hot tea every night, the eyes of someone with a higher education, they eyes of a man who loves to take a four hour flight on some weekends to Amsterdam for the museums when possible, etc, etc.

So what? We all see Russia (and anything else) thru life as we experience it.

Ade, not to pick on you, but you see Russia thru the eyes as someone non-Orthodox. Does that colour your view? Of course it does.

I know that you don't like stats but when the President and the Prime Minister developed a budget for increasing the number of churches (seized during Soviet times) to be returned, and because they see the need to rebuild Mosques destroyed during the Soviet period; these are real numbers and not some make believe fantasies.

The facts that young adult Muslims across the Republics are wearing head coverings again and praying several times day and when young adult Slavs are half the congregation in many large city churches, we can't run and hide from those statistics. I've seen both and both in increasing numbers.

Statistics may challenge our assumptions, and sometimes that is what they are there to do.

Now does that mean that every young adult under 35 is headed off to Church on Sunday? Of course not, just as not every adult under 35 is in a bar on Friday night.

[calmissile]

they eyes of a man who values legs more than breasts,

Mendy,
It has taken a long time, but I finally found something we disagree on.   

[Boethius]

Here's an amusing ditty for you though; while walking through a large shop in Munich a week ago, my wife heard a RW telling her friend that it's much safer to go "sun bathing" and get a tan under the full moon. 

I think she is right.  The moon doesn't radiate to many UVA/UVB rays.

[Ade]

I think she is right.  The moon doesn't radiate to many UVA/UVB rays.

  Yes.

Statistics may challenge our assumptions, and sometimes that is what they are there to do.

I posted some gallup poll statistics in an earlier post in this thread that indicate the true Religious feelings of Russians. Out of the FSUW in my wife's "close" circle, only one could be termed "religious", perhaps another as a believer in a deity. I have to eat my words a little about superstition though; it's come out that apparently they all, except my wife thankfully, believe in ghosts. 


And yes, you are correct in that everything we perceive is coloured, to a greater or lesser extent, by our biases, preconceptions, and beliefs. It's almost impossible to be absolutely objective. But that's why polls and statistics were invented.

[mendeleyev]

I'm glad that this year's federal budget wasn't based on a foreign poll but rather on reality.  You are right--that is why statistics were invented. 

[Ade]

I'm glad that this year's federal budget wasn't based on a foreign poll but rather on reality.  You are right--that is why statistics were invented. 

You understand of course that religion is a wonderful way of controlling a population?


Oh, and here's another snapshot stat for you, FWIW; of all the customers of my MIL - she has her own seamstress business - only one, 1, o.n.e. is openly religious.

[mendeleyev]

Out of the FSUW in my wife's "close" circle, only one could be termed "religious", perhaps another as a believer in a deity

I'm unfortunate I guess that my circle of Russians is not that small. When around Moscow State I'm rubbing elbows with tons of young believers (Orthodox, Islam and Protestant) and at the same time older agnostics at best. When in the street you're rubbing shoulders with many of the same but never more than 30 seconds to a minute away from a little old Orthodox babushka or old Muslim man and of course a lot of non believers as well.

Spending so much time in Russia, I simply can't escape religious practice of some sort. At the same time, I simply can't escape the non religious either. Both are everywhere.

Regardless of which faith, I've found Russia (and by definition Ukraine and the other former Republics) to be very religious when compared to other countries in Europe. I can't think of another place in Europe, or the USA for that matter, where public schools can freely adopt a Lenten menu the 40 days prior to Easter and Christmas, where the federal and Republic governments do the same, and where popular restaurants often modify menus and/or offer a Lenten menu. Restaurants have to make money and if they do it, there is a reason why.

Ade, when the DUMA stops holding committee hearings on property return issues because of overcrowded churches, get back to me on that Galloping poll.

[mendeleyev]

You understand of course that religion is a wonderful way of controlling a population?

As is the lack of religion. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that the Soviets did just that for 70+ years.

The most wonderful thing about a religion is that its a choice. If you don't want one, don't adopt one. Pretty easy.

[mendeleyev]

Oh, and here's another snapshot stat for you, FWIW; of all the customers of my MIL - she has her own seamstress business - only one, 1, o.n.e. is openly religious.

Ade, please try harder.

You certainly must understand that in Russia one can pass thousands of seamstress businesses, some are in heavily Muslim areas, some next to active churches, and some next to nothing. Perhaps the Galloping folk can do a study on religion inside of seamstresses, or something.

[mendeleyev]

It has taken a long time, but I finally found something we disagree on.

Doug, we gotta talk dude. Legs are where it's at! 

[Ade]

As is the lack of religion. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that the Soviets did just that for 70+ years.

Yes. How did that work out for them?

[Ade]

Regardless of which faith, I've found Russia (and by definition Ukraine and the other former Republics) to be very religious when compared to other countries in Europe.

And this is why I think you see Russia through the eyes of the Russian orthodox. I'm sure my wife, her family, her friends, friends of friends, friends of her mother (besides one), her mother's clients (besides one) and the vast majority of the RW on the several forums my wife reads (there have been many threads and polls) would have a chuckle at your "Russia is religious" comments.


Don't get me wrong; I know religious people exist in Russia however, they are a loooong way from being any where near the majority. I'm a realist though and I understand the human need for religion and the ritualistic worship that comes with it so I'm sure, if it's promoted properly, it'll grow and in time, the majority will be practising.

[mendeleyev]

Just as you see Russia thru non-religious eyes. Neither is different in this regard.

would have a chuckle at your "Russia is religious" comments.

I don't mind someone laughing, as long as they're willing to admit to another view if so proven. I make a valid comparison with other European countries. Even after all the destruction from the Soviet period, few Euro states have as many ACTIVE churches/mosques and GROWTH per community as across the FSU.

I know religious people exist in Russia however, they are a loooong way from being any where near the majority.

Majority of what? I can't argue with Misha's comment on the percentage of baptised being 80% but if you're asking me if the majority of Russians are religious? Hmm, likely not...yet. That would be difficult to determine for either side of the argument because we'd have to first define what is "religious" and that would lead to questions about 2x a year versus 28x per year, fasting versus non fasting, etc.

I don't go around saying that a majority of Russians are religious in the sense that who can define the cutoff between practicing and non practicing. Now, if you wish to open a can of worms about integration of religion and culture then many might be tempted to argue that Russians are very religious although I'd personally likely disagree with that argument.

It would be just as baseless for someone to go around and say that Russians are not religious. Either is a over sweeping generalization.

The younger folk, combined Muslim and Orthodox, are who have influenced the federal budget and Duma committees on long term planning. It is difficult to argue with the actions of government planning and budgeting, so as you say there seems to be a trend.

What I find amazing, and it is the reason why I agreed to write a piece for Ed's website on the topic, is the number of WM who buy into the theory (and that is all it is) that Russia is a non religious place and gals don't care about religion. While for many that is true, for many that is also false. There is a reason why priests chuckle and call it a "blue strip" conversion. If it didn't happen so frequently, there would be nothing to chuckle about.

[calmissile]

It has taken a long time, but I finally found something we disagree on.
Doug, we gotta talk dude. Legs are where it's at!   

I hope someday I have the honor of meeting you in person.  I don't care if we are talking about legs, boobs, or politics,  I would consider it a great honor to meet you in person.