Easy Chair No. 152, August 5, 1987 - Gary Mose Behind the Iron Curtain

Gary Mose recounts his two trips behind the Iron Curtain, particularly to Romania, to support persecuted Christians and observe the reality of life under Communist rule. He describes Romania as devastated—materially, spiritually, and socially—with extreme poverty, shortages of basic goods, oppressive surveillance, and a stark divide between the ruling elite and ordinary citizens. Despite these hardships, he witnessed strong Christian communities providing mutual aid and inspiring loyalty even among some non-Christians. Mose contrasts his observations with misleading Western reports and visits by prominent figures, such as Billy Graham, who portrayed a false impression of religious freedom. He explains that Soviet and Eastern Bloc propaganda, including phrases like “spiritual needs” or “coexistence,” actually serve communist ideology, advancing Leninism and humanistic morality rather than true faith. Rushdoony and Scott emphasize that communism is fundamentally anti-Christian and Satanic, and any cooperation or flattery from Western churchmen supports that system. Mose warns that the West must recognize the deception and ideological nature of Leninism, which uses propaganda to maintain control while masquerading as openness or tolerance, and contrasts this with true Christian dominion, which submits all authority to Christ."