I got pretty deep into explaining the criminal and prisoner culture that dominated the first post-Soviet generation and the 90s in Russia. I failed to mention what happened to the criminals that survived the 90s and had to readjust to the Putin stability period that followed.
A corollary to gangsters seek indulgences might be - indulgence seeking (in the more general sense) is a sign of a criminal. Tell that to the FBI. Or the FSB.
I suppose at some point in everyone's life they re-examine what's been driving them, and simply look for a change. Men as you describe with such grand schemes always need to be planning. So, instead of going to bed planning the next bit of mayhem, why not go to bed visualizing the луковичная глава that you're going to discuss the next day with your architect. Besides, oligarchs are very much aware of the advatages of good PR; think of Andrew Carnegie in America.
Regardless of the conspiracies surrounding Mother Teresa, her comment "Doing something beautiful for God", has always been meaningful to me. I think, I will leave the church building to those who are more able to externalize and have a more commercial take to their spirituality. I'm not defending the Catholic church's commercialization of Mother Teresa. I'm just keeping it simple for myself.
I have read that many jihadists have been criminals before they turned to God and jihad. So what you say about bad people and criminals turning to religion to atone for their sins has certainly some truth to it.
A corollary to gangsters seek indulgences might be - indulgence seeking (in the more general sense) is a sign of a criminal. Tell that to the FBI. Or the FSB.
Reminds me of the trope of Italian Mafia unloading to the priest about their their murders in the confessional box.
I suppose at some point in everyone's life they re-examine what's been driving them, and simply look for a change. Men as you describe with such grand schemes always need to be planning. So, instead of going to bed planning the next bit of mayhem, why not go to bed visualizing the луковичная глава that you're going to discuss the next day with your architect. Besides, oligarchs are very much aware of the advatages of good PR; think of Andrew Carnegie in America.
Regardless of the conspiracies surrounding Mother Teresa, her comment "Doing something beautiful for God", has always been meaningful to me. I think, I will leave the church building to those who are more able to externalize and have a more commercial take to their spirituality. I'm not defending the Catholic church's commercialization of Mother Teresa. I'm just keeping it simple for myself.
I have read that many jihadists have been criminals before they turned to God and jihad. So what you say about bad people and criminals turning to religion to atone for their sins has certainly some truth to it.