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Under the Byzantine Empire, the church was united with the state, just as it was under pagan Rome. However, it didn't take long before corruption crept in and the old ways of Rome came back. When the Byzantine Empire finally did collapse from its corruption – a new Roman theocracy was in place. In fact, theocratic states lasted into the early 1900's. Even in the new secular state, America, there were (until the 60's) strong theocratic influences. The resulting inherited view, among Christians (especially the Orthodox), was that the government was not for them. They didn't see the politics that were going on around them – even in the church.

Currently, the orthodox can be described by their influences; the Orthodox (pre 1900), the new orthodox (post 1900), and the catholic orthodox (post 1980). Prior to 1900, the Orthodox church was under oppression from the theocratic European powers. However, as the 20th century dawned, the Anglican theocratic interest, went through an identity crisis and looked toward the Orthodox for a solution. This open door changed the environment that the Orthodox church existed in, and a new orthodox church emerged. However, it would take another 60 years to see where this new orthodox church would be headed. In the 1960's, as the world became more secular, the old theocracies of Europe disappeared in to meaningless symbolism – and the new orthodox would be going with them. The new direction of the new orthodox church, was unity – Christian unity. However, by the 1980's it became clear that this unity – was to be a unity under the Pope. Hence, the new orthodox church now became the catholic orthodox or more accurately – Roman orthodox.

All of these events, which were political in nature, occurred without the knowledge of the orthodox people. Orthodox people, no matter the period they were in were, and are, told that they are Orthodox. However, the hierarchy really mean, orthodox* . Where the astrix means that its a user defined orthodoxy not a fundamental orthodoxy. All this change and fundamental changes in society, have left Christians very confused and apathetic. Good Christians, as they are told – do as they are told by their hierarchy. They are supposed to behave like sheep – even if they are about to be slaughtered. As this apathy took hold and grew, the world changed around them.

The safety and certainty of what existed prior to 1990, ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Prior to 1990, Christians in the North America were fairly safe. We didn't see the threats and the need to act. We didn't see the abuse, the arrests, the restrictions that were coming. However, they did exist. They existed in the new Europe, the anti-theocratic, socialist Europe. The political turbulence seen in the 1960's was the beginning of a new socialist movement – (really just a new manifestation of socialism). It culminated in a new free love, peace now, anti-war ideal. This new ideal was tolerant of everything. Differences, and different morals, were not something to be fear, but something embraced. The government was no longer, the oppressor, but now was the big brother, who took care of the infantile masses (Supposedly). The reality, whole new forms of oppression, in the name of preserving freedom and society, were developed. This included restrictions in religion – while allowing adult-child sexual relationship.

Today, in Europe, court reports and analysis from European academics, view adult-child sexual relations and pornography as common place. There are also tolerance drug use, pagan rituals (which includes sexual and sacrificial rite), all forms of sexual relationships and anything that can be called a view. However, the tolerance is really limit to anything that has no limits or restrictions. Views that have limits, restrictions, morals are view as egalitarian, elitist and anti-social.

This form of socialism, began to take hold in North America in the early 1990's with the elections of socially liberal governments in the United States and in Canada. Few Christians saw or see, their role in the elections. They also are equally ignorant about the political operations of their church. They don't understand, what Derwas Chitty and the Anglicans saw in the Orthodox church. The Orthodox church elected its priests and hierarchy from the people. The church was uniform, with all spiritually equal. The Pope claims his throne and himself, literally, as the Vicar (defined as, he who takes the place of) of Christ. This makes him sinless and perfect - infallible. This is why the Orthodox Saints viewed the Pope as the anti-christ. From this new invented authority (an imperial theocratic authority), the Pope created the hierarchy of the church (imposed on the church rather than elected from the church). This structure, subsequently, was passed to all churches that came from the Roman church – namely the Anglican and the Protestant.

This is what begins to define the new orthodox, as new orthodox, as they begin to adopt the structures of the Roman church. By 1990, each catholic orthodox jurisdiction had the fundamental structure of their Roman masters. The priests, and hierarchy, as many complain, were completely disconnected from the people. The key here is the synod (which is just a council of bishops and their people) becomes formal and legalistic – it's now a jurisdiction. The flaw in this argument was not to unify the church but to send it into complete anarchy. Now, any group who had a desire to form this legal jurisdiction, could. This has lead to hundreds of jurisdictions and denominations – each calling themselves true Christians.

However, what all of them fail to understand is that we have free will and God's mercy (and love) is infinite. This has meant that humans, as flawed as we are, are allowed to take the functions of the Church, and create the church. These functionaries (employees, clerics) assume that their positions imply more power than they are allowed (which is a sin). However, God doesn't force us to change our ways or our sins - just to love him and all will be forgiven. From this, with His Love, we can improve (reduce our sins). However, we will never be sinless - only God is sinless, perfect. This is the sin, (the blasphemy), of the Pope. However, this is not the point here, the point that there is no (in the Christian world) divine right to rule. There is equality for all and we (anyone) can assume the offices of government.

This understanding is actually the base that forms the American constitution and American democracy. American democracy, is really Orthodox democracy and has its origins in the Orthodox church – specifically the British Orthodox church. The drafting of the Magna Carte was a look back to the pre-feudal days, when the British Ilse were Orthodox. Next, as taught in American history, the Magna Carta form the base for the American constitution and American democracy. What this means for Christians, specifically the orthodox, is that we ca be the Senators and Caesars.

This is specifically important in the face of the new global socialist revolution, currently, underway. The condition of the church and the collapse of the theocracies, was in the face of the new post-modern socialism that took root in the early 1990's and has been growing ever since. The concern is that as socialism took hold of Europe in the 1960's and 1970, many old European Christians came to North America. This new wave of immigration came of age in the 1980's with a North American (the US and Canada) swing to the Republicans. Canada, which was (essentially) a part of the United States, followed in step with the political directions of the US. The American view was a more traditional view of less government, less taxes, more individual rights, conservative Christian morals, and anti-socialism. We, in the US and Canada, saw the threats of socialism clearly in the threat of the USSR.

However, in 1990, with the end of the Soviet Union – the visible threat of socialism disappeared. As the political environment of the US changed, so did Canada. Canada, began a movement away from the political sphere of the US toward the socialist welfare state of Europe. As both drifted toward socialist Europe, the moral values changed as well. Including an accepted increase in European sexual morality. The typical Christian view was quite Augustan – wall yourself of (preferably in a monastery) and wait for the end of the world. In 2000, one group of Christian had decides to take matters into theirown hands and became a political force to be reckoned with. They succeed in electing a president – George W. Bush. This election, swung the US political environment back to the conservative positions of the 1980s.

However, it was not quite the same – this time, there was no Soviet Union. The socialist threat now comes from within. Further, Canada has now decidedly moved into the European socialist sphere. Now political struggle is no longer nation, its between ideals and beliefs – with no geographic boundaries. This is were the concept (the ideal) of Orthodox democracy became a global move – just like global socialism. Democratic Earth (http://democratic-earth.org) is the embodiment of Orthodox democracy – Global American Democracy. It provides a venue for Christians, including the Orthodox, to make a difference. The Orthodox must stand up and protect their rights (non-violently) in the political and legal system, while they still can. There will be no excuse if we just sit by and let persecution become the norm. Anyone reading this, who believes in Christian morals should step forward and become a global American citizen (http://court.democratic-earth.org/citizenship).