Let's not talk about "heaven in the Christian sense" if we don't understand anything about it... Christians don't have a clear idea of heaven (unlike Muslims), but this is just a minor point in the fight against what is essentially off-topic, anti-Christian propaganda. Let's look at the facts instead. Our financial situation is better than in the last years of the USSR – the overall standard of living is higher, and there is significant economic growth. Currently, very few cases are being prosecuted under the law on extremism; most of them involve (usually, those who claim to be "suffering" from this ban are openly provoking the authorities, i.e., simply provoking the government); in Soviet times, millions were repressed for political reasons. Both statistics and the memories of former prisoners tell us that there were several times more political prisoners (and let's not forget all the purges in the government and the repression in science). Now, I can freely criticize Putin in the press, on television (watch the news on Ren-TV if you need more criticism of the current regime), on forums, and even in the street; this was not allowed in Soviet times. The phrase "bureaucrats in the regions knew how to get what they needed from Moscow" really bothered me. So, you think that resources should be pumped out of Moscow, right? This is a very egocentric and selfish position; it's the view of some disgruntled provincial: "They live well in Moscow, let's give them a hard time, take everything away from them, and divide it!" I would be very happy if you told me that I am wrong... In Soviet times, there were many people who did not like the new regime – read, for example, Ilf and Petrov's notebook, remember people like Bulgakov. In Soviet times, they were not given a voice; they were shot and sent to labor camps, but now they can do anything – even occupy the president's office... But, of course, I don't think that modern Russia is a very good place. In my opinion, it is a dying country that is rapidly losing its cultural heritage, and only a miracle can save it... You have interesting views, Alexei. It's such a mix of Soviet and current Western propaganda...