Talk Islam

Latest Updates: Orthodox RSS

• 

  johnpi 7:22 pm on December 20, 2009 | 4 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Muslim persecution of Christians (4), Orthodox, orthodox church (4), religious persecution (19), secular (5), secularism (38), Turkey (65)

  A feature segment on the US national news show ‘60 minutes’ tonight looked at the status of the Eastern Orthodox patriarch – the leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide – who is located at the headquarters for the worldwide church in Istanbul.

  The report left a devastating impression that Muslim Turkey is working to destroy the leadership of the church – or at least undermine the church’s continued existence in that country where it was founded 1700 years ago – by closing the seminary where all future leaders of the church are trained.

  The reporter visited an Orthodox monastery that contains a letter that was written by the Prophet Mohammed himself (pbuh) instructing Muslims to protect the Christians in the monastery and to respect their faith throughout the world. The authenticity of the letter is not denied by Muslim scholars.

  However, the written story on ‘60 Minutes’ website presents the problem with Turkish authorities as arising from the state’s secularism, rather than Islam.

  Bartholomew finds the letter ironic. “I have visited the prime minister, many ministers, submitting our problems…asking to help us,” he tells Simon. But no help has come his way from the Turkish government, which prides itself on being secular and fears any special treatment for Orthodox Christians could lead to inroads by other religions, especially Islam.

  Nothing was mentioned in the televised report about secularism. The different impression between the two is so far apart that they cannot both be true. Which is it: Is the Orthodox church being persecuted by intolerant Islam, or by militant secular policy?

   

  Reply Click here to cancel reply.

  Name (required)

  Email (required)

  Web Site

   
• 

  johnpi 11:26 pm on December 12, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Extremism (167), Orthodox, orthodox church (4), pagans, russia (44), violence (161)

  An attack on an Orthodox church in Russia that was initially blamed on Muslims is now being blamed on pagans.

  A suspect detained as part of the authorities’ investigation into an explosion inside an Orthodox church in Vladimir is believed to be a member of a pagan group that is in conflict with traditional faiths, a spokesman for the Russian Interior Ministry’s department for the fight against extremism told Interfax on Friday.

  An explosion occurred at the Sts Cyril and Methodius Church on the premises of the Vladimir State University on December 6, the spokesman said.

  A pamphlet that was written on behalf of the White Storm group and contained remarks “aimed at inciting ethnic and religious hatred” was found inside the church, he said.

  “A 28-year-old resident of Vladimir was detained for his suspected role in the crime. The information available to us suggests that he is an active member of a pagan group that is in conflict with traditional faiths,” the spokesman said.

   
• 

  abunoor 9:34 am on November 12, 2008 | 24 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: judaism (30), modernity (6), Muslim Reformation (2), Orthodox, Progressive Islam (13), Yasir Qadhi (8)

  Aziz and Razib have previously discussed whether there is value in using the analogy of Protestants and Catholics to discuss Shi’a/Sunni differences.

  I have to come down on what I think is Razib’s side of that debate, that I don’t find much value in the analogy, although maybe talking about the differences between Protestant and Catholic practices, structures, and beliefs is a way to start talking in general about the ways in which religious traditions can differ using examples with which people may be familiar.

  A much more common post-9/11 attempt to analogize Christian church history with Islam and Muslims is the oft stated call for Islam to have a reformation.  The underlying assumption here is that it was the reformation in Christianity that allowed Christians to adapt successfully to modernity.

  Again, I would have to say that this analogy is not very helpful, except in as much as it opens up the discussion to the various constituent components of the tension between modernity and traditional religion.

  However, I have always found it strange that there was not more discussion making the analogy which actually is useful although of course like any analogy limited.  The different possible approaches for a religious tradition in coming to terms with modernity are most easily understood by looking to the Jewish tradition of Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative approaches as well as all the various twists on those three main distinctions that have developed.

  The most important limitation on the analogy I see is that I think the fact that a Judaism is not a universal or proselytizing religion, but is in fact viewed in modern times as an “ethnic” or “national” group,  perhaps fundamentally changes some dynamics.

  However, and perhaps they know this very well, but I rarely see it articulated, those both within and without Islam that call for “reformation” are not really calling at all for anything like the Protestant reformation of Christianity but are in fact calling for a Reform Islam movement that would resemble Reform Judaism.

  Just one further side note, I know that Shaykh Yasir Qadhi, who I think will be a very important figure in the future intellectual development of Islam in America from one side (the Orthodox or Modern Orthodox one) of this discussion, I know has taken careful note of the intellectual and social evolution of the Jewish community, especially here in America and I know sees many important lessons for the Muslims.  As one symbolic indication of this, he has actively and consciously began adopting the using the term “Orthodox Muslim.”

  I think these concepts open up tons of interesting discussions.  Has anyone seen this analogy discussed in any detail.  Does anyone agree with me about how interesting it is?

   
• 

  Lawrence of Arabia 10:35 am on July 21, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Catholic (5), Gregorios III, Muslim (10), Orthodox

  Catholicism and Orthodoxy are collaborating to commemorate the 2000th birthday of St. Paul over the course of the next year. Damascus is the city where the conversion of Paul took place and will be the site of many of the activities. Damascus is also the place where the Melkite (Catholic) and Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch currently reside. The following is a pastoral letter from the Melkite Patriarch, Gregorios III, which, after a few paragraphs of formal platitudes, outlines some of the plans in Damascus. It also touches briefly on issues of Arab Christian and Muslim relations in the Middle East.