This BBC Video is a fair summary of the conflict between Georgia and Russia. Although certain words in it indicate a bias in favor of Georgia, one can get a general feel of the conflict as a whole, especially of its underlying causes.
One of the things which makes this conflict embarrassing for Christians is that Christians are fighting each other, and one of the primary reasons for the conflict is not justice, but nationalism. Russians and Georgians should listen to their respective Patriarchs (whose actions have been commended by the Orthodox Peace Fellowship). They have been working for peace and trying to bring an end to this conflict. Of course, nationalism isn’t a problem for Russians and Georgians alone. American Catholics used every nationalistic excuse they could find to justify themselves when they ignored Pope John Paul II’s rejection of the Iraq War.
Christians around the world would do well to read St Paulinus of Nola, and be reminded, “We ought not to put loyalties or fatherland or distinctions or riches before God, for Scripture says: ‘The fashion of this world passeth away.’ And those who love this world will also perish with it. This is why the Lord Himself speaks these words of the Gospel in witness: ‘He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And whoever doth not take his cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.’“
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