The Occult and Bread in Russia

I have highlighted this from time to time. Russians are into occult practices, cosmism, and other obscure matters. Whether it’s because of 70 years of officially not having a religion, however, we could argue communism was the state religion. Or they are just into matters on American society's fringes, which is a good question.

I suppose it’s one that sociologists will have fun with. And if Russia breaks apart, I can see the official return of more traditional belief systems in a post-Russian space. For the moment, this example is chilling:

The Russian propaganda channel Sputnik published an obituary for American Russell Bentley. Bentley went to Donbass to assist Russian propaganda, but made a grave mistake — he was mistaken for a foreign spy by three occupiers and was tortured to death by them, after which they tried to blow up the car with the American’s body to cover up the crime.

It is characteristic that Sputnik forgets to mention that Bentley was killed by Russian soldiers. This was pointed out by journalist and analyst Jimmy Rushton.

To be honest, it is very reminiscent of necromancy. Of course, in the historical sense of the word — various enterprising individuals offered relatives of the deceased to talk to the deceased through some magical rituals. The use of the dead in the media sphere is very…