Moll quotes Verhuegen’s smug approval of Turkey’s “improving situation” and notes the testimony of a Greek Christian living in Turkey that: “Turkish membership in the EU will be the best guarantee for the future of this dwindling community.”
In no way do I wish to trivialize or downplay the significant persecution those Greek Christians have faced in a predominantly Muslim country, but somehow the vision of “Saddleback on the Black Sea” seems to demean the centuries old story of those Christians’ particular survival even more. Moll ends with an American missionary in Turkey who comments breezily that “we are relatively free and we are tolerated now.”
If this is the sum and substance of western missionary zeal these days–to be free and tolerated–(and I fear that all to often it is) then Christians have good reason to question the compromises with Liberalism they are wont to make.
Yep. Irreversibly open up the remnants of Christendom to mass migration of a culturally alien people in a time of dramatic population and cultural decline, all for the sake of the hope that Christians living in Turkey won't get beaten up when they go out for a carton of milk. Is this really a worthwhile exchange?
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As a dual citizen of the US and the EU, I should point out the reverse possibility for rebuilding Magna Graeca - those Greek lands now in Turkey. If Turkey joined the EU, then mass migration of Greeks into formerly Greek lands in Asia Minor could actually increase Orthodoxy in Turkey. The same could be said for Armenians and Chaldeans/Assyrians who may be willing to return to their ancestral homelands. This could be the Christian version of the Jewish 'return' to Israel that people undertake despite the danger and for the sake of their ethnic and religious heritage. Such 'replanting' was partly the cause of the resurgence of monasticism on Mt. Athos in Greece.>
The term "Magna Graecia" referred to southern Italy -- which in antiquity was largely Greek-speaking from Naples on south -- not to the east coast of Anatolia, which was Ionia.
Having said that, I think you make an excellent point. It is scandalous that the presence of Greek-speakers in Ionia, which dated to before the time of Homer, came to an end in the early 1920's.>
"Hear that Rod? Your religion isn't efficient any more. Better dump it and move on to something more applicable to your environment."
He just did that, didn't he?>
Remember that Turkey is a militantly secular state and vigorously persecutes Islam. Turkish Muslims are being radicalized by their own government, and fleeing to Western Europe where they can practice their faith in relative freedom.
Religious freedom in Turkey-- a prerequisite to EU membership-- would also serve to de-radicalize its persecuted religious majority, and make those dangerous Muslim immigrants... well, less dangerous.>
Remember that Turkey is a militantly secular state and vigorously persecutes Islam. Turkish Muslims are being radicalized by their own government, and fleeing to Western Europe where they can practice their faith in relative freedom.
Religious freedom in Turkey-- a prerequisite to EU membership-- would also serve to de-radicalize its persecuted religious majority, and make those dangerous Muslim immigrants... well, less dangerous.
***
I disagree. I think more religious freedom in Turkey would simply give radicals the opening they want to pursue their agenda. I doubt they would be de-radicalized.>
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