TALLINN - In a world full of endless negative headlines we can look to Estonian church views on the crisis and whether people need to re-evaluate their lives.
Father Aleksander, a leading member of the Estonian Orthodox Church, whose parish is in central Tallinn, said negative perceptions of the current economic crisis were blindsiding many people.
"Crisis what crisis? I don't like the use of this word and I genuinely feel this ongoing negative commentary is a big part of the current problems," he said.
Father Aleksander offers a wider perspective as in addition to his parish duties he fulfills a role for the Estonian Defense League where he advises on religion, morals and ethics.
"I consider a starving man to have a crisis. If you have some money, relatives, friends and good health, then to characterize this as a crisis is wrong," he said.
The cynics amongst us might suggest this is a good time for the church and an opportunity to attract new members, a contention Father Aleksander strongly denies.
"I don't think it's the place of the church to exploit the current situation and behave like some sort of business. The church has a very long history and takes a calm view of the future. There may be some parishes that see this as an opportunity to recruit members, but this is not what I am doing and certainly it is not the wider strategy of the church," he said.
HELPING HAND
While current gloomy times haven't necessarily seen an increasing number of Estonians turn to God, the faithful have stepped up.
"There has not been a significant increase in attendees but there has been a change," Father Aleksander said.
"It is very noticeable that parishioners are becoming more active, they are more motivated and want to help individuals who are in need."
By any barometer Estonia is not a deeply religious society. Prior to the Second World War, the majority of the people considered themselves as Christians. However, after the Soviet occupation the 'new' Estonia was a country where religion was somewhat passive and typical estimates are that only 30 percent of the country is now Christian.
However, Father Aleksander believes the church still had an active role to play in troubled times and was capable of making a positive contribution with the ideas and activities that radiate from the church.
Happiness could still be achieved, he added by learning to appreciate the positives in life.
"It is important for society to help one another and I feel we can set an example," he said.
"Ultimately for people to be happy they need to change their view of the world. This is an opportunity to do this. If people just look at the sad past or believe happiness is only in the future then they will not see any improvement in their lives. They have to realize that happiness is here and now."
Asked when the current situation might improve Father Aleksander said the problems would likely drag on until 2012 or even 2013.
Ultimately change would have to come from the people; that is to say the ultimate solutions will not come from the top down.
Father Aleksander cited the recent 'Minu Eesti' (My Estonia) initiative, in which Estonians were asked to contribute their personal ideas to improving their environment and the country in general, as a positive example of this.
PEOPLE POWER
Tallinn is perhaps a microcosm of the current economic troubles. As the capital and economic center it is inevitable the decline there will be felt hardest.
Reet Riispap a committed parishioner of the Ambla-Maarja Kogudus part of the Lutheran Church, the largest church in Estonia, said the crisis had also helped bring people together.
"Within the church we too have seen a greater commitment from parishioners. I would not say the number of attendee's has increased much, but certainly our fellow church goers are becoming more active," she said.
"Well, we are organizing events that will either bring people together or help those in need. We are country people and traditionally, I think, we like to help one another," added Riispap, who lives with her husband in the rural community of Aravete in Jarvamaa.
She shares Father Aleksanders view that the present economic situation can also bring positive consequences.
"I believe that unfortunately something bad like this had to happen so that things could improve in the future. Estonians are not big religious believers or in general concerned about helping others. So I think people now will review their values and hopefully it will bring the country together," she said.
A good example of this was seen in Saaremaa recently. A young family had lost their home and belongings in a fire. People locally and across Estonia donated money to help them get back on their feet.
Sociologist and Professor of Tartu University Marju Lauristin said people had increasingly lost confidence in the economic success of Estonia.
According to Lauristin one of the biggest challenges facing people in Estonia today is how to start controlling developments fueled by external forces.
"We need to transform the fear of the unknown, into the readiness to change and then to gain energy for a brighter future," she said, adding the way out of the crisis rested with people and not the higher echelons of government.
"People's attitude rather than politicians is where the answers are. Since there is no hope that politicians will bring Estonia out of this mess, Estonians must become notably more active socially and get more involved in the country's matters."
"We cannot influence external economic developments, but we can do our best to stop being comfortable, lazy, greedy, power-hungry, envious and full of hatred and to do everything to make life better."
