Religion and Geopolitics Review: Saturday, January 3

Religion and Geopolitics this week includes:

• The Chinese-backed Nicaragua Canal
• World's largest railway connects China and Spain
• Russia, 4-ex-Soviet nations finalize new alliance
• New Russian Military Doctrine Labels NATO as Main Threat
• Russians Rage Against America
• Growing Devotion To Santa Muerte In U.S. And Abroad

China relates to its near neighbors by military thrusts and counter-thrusts, but to the nations far away it has a decided emphasis on infrastructure over military power. Here are two projects that show the possibilities of foreign policy by infrastructure -- a strategy which should be natural for the US. This article is a little negative but is a good introduction to a new canal linking the oceans, this time in Nicaragua. They have also found time to build the longest railway in history from China to Spain -- the new silk road.

Like China, Russia is also at work on its foreign policy. An economic alliance between Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan formally came into existence on January 1 and has a combined economic output of $4.5 trillion. President Putin also recently approved a revision to Russia's military doctrine naming NATO as Russia's primary threat. This comes after an anti-Russian regime change in Ukraine and the drive to integrate Ukraine into NATO (such a move could see NATO troops permanently stationed a mere 286 miles from Moscow -- about the distance between New York and Washington DC). American involvement in Russia's geopolitical back yard, along with its bipartisan supported sanctions on the Russian economy has driven the relationship between the two nations to a post-Cold War low.

While America is concerned with matters abroad, a new manifestation of the demonic is arising much closer to home in the growing devotion to Santa Muerta - "Lady Death" in Mexico and the US. Depicted as a a skeleton in Marian attire, "Santa Muerta" is a demonic manifestation of an anti-Mary if there ever was one. According to her adherents, she answers the prayers of wicked and even those who seek her intercession know they ask for things they could never ask from an actual saint. She is particularly adored among drug dealers, prostitutes, and gays. She even accepts human sacrifice.