Choices that Led Kourdakov to Failure

Kourdakov was given a special assignment while he was serving in the Russian Navy.  His orders were to bring in two men who were leaders of the Christian Believers (those who believed in God) during a religious meeting.  They were considered hostile to the government because they were “poisoning the minds of the children.’  When Kourdakov and his men arrived at the small cabin where the meeting was taking place, they were politely invited in.  Kourdakov announced that he had the names of two men who needed to go with him.  The pastor asked why and Kourdakov replied that they were breaking the law.  The pastor informed him that they were not breaking the law according to the Constitution.  He even quoted part of it.  Kourdakov felt completely confused because he knew what the pastor said was true, but orders were orders and he had to follow them.  On his way out, the pastor asked everyone to pray for him.  Kourdakov took them to jail without any brutality.  Nikiforov, was furious that Kourdakov didn’t use force or brutality on the men.  On future assignments, Kourdakov fulfilled all his orders but always felt guilty afterwards and drank away his feelings.  His feelings towards the Believers changed and he stopped seeing them as criminals, but his drinking increased his aggression towards them as he fulfilled his assignments.