He talked with a large cross-section of the Orthodox Christian community on how they viewed the present situation in their country, and reported his findings in Frontier magazine in late 1987. Despite 70 years of cultural destruction and religious repression, many Russian Christians are still proud of their churches, he said. It is not hard to notice the colorful church architecture against the drab cityscape. Many of these churches were locked or abandoned, but where I found an open church the people were so excited to show me the beauty of their church. They attribute the release of some prisoners of conscience, the opening of a few churches, and some positive articles in the newspaper to pressure upon the Soviet government.
Some Christian activists believe their work is more urgent now than ever before.
Real change, they believe, will only be achieved through pressure applied to all levels of government. There are so many people still inside prison and psychiatric hospitals because of their faith. The government needs to allow the church to engage in charitable work, to organize religious education, and to open churches wherever they are wanted. The Russian Christians believe they have a role to play in their nation, Stark said. They believe the nation can only advance as it come to grips with its past.