www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Is the Vatican destined to become like the Phanar?

I have heard that the flag of Justinian is flown at the Phanar. Now, that--if it is true--must really..really..infuriate the Turkos.

Abdur

Dear Friends:

If re-union (and/or unity) is achieved between the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches, I am certain that the Vatican will request Turkey to repatriate all Christian Churches and properties, including the majestic Hagia Sophia, to the Eastern Church through the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

(Did you know that Turkey has requested, or in the process of requesting, the Vatican to support the former's admission to the European Union as the only Muslim member-country?)

Diplomacy has its own rewards.

AmdG

Abdur,

What do you mean when you say Christianity is dull compared to Islam? I ask this in all sincerity. I haven't had much experience with Islamic culture, but am interested in learning more about it.

In Christ,
Anthony

Abdur wrote:

"I suppose my main perplexity is wrapped around the experiential fact that--compared to Islam--orthodox or mainstream Christianity is so bloody dull. The churches are a real disappointment and shrines to mediocrity"

So many Muslims are full of zeal, even if it is misdirected. Even in those majority Muslim states that we usually identify as secular--Turkey, Bosnia, Albania,etc.,--there is a revival of interest in Islam, and even a commitment to it, especially among the young and young college students.

Also, Muslim converts are zealous in their desire to spread the faith of Islam--they preach on the streets where I live--but my experience is that most Christians have no desire to spread their faith, they even seem to be ashamed of it.

Well, that has been my personal experience.

It just seems the majority of Christians, of whatever church, have---as it says in scripture--"lost their first love."

Abdur

Thank you for the reply Abdur. I haven't had much contact with Muslims. I have worked with a few, and some have strongly kept up in their faith, while others have pretty much become completely secular with no religious beliefs. I have read of the revival of Islam in many of the traditional Islamic countries. There is a mosque not far from me that has been doing a lot to help the surrounding community. I hear they are very ecumenical at this particular mosque.

In Christ,
Anthony

Abdur wrote:

So many Muslims are full of zeal, even if it is misdirected. Even in those majority Muslim states that we usually identify as secular--Turkey, Bosnia, Albania,etc.,--there is a revival of interest in Islam, and even a commitment to it, especially among the young and young college students.

Also, Muslim converts are zealous in their desire to spread the faith of Islam--they preach on the streets where I live--but my experience is that most Christians have no desire to spread their faith, they even seem to be ashamed of it.

Well, that has been my personal experience.

It just seems the majority of Christians, of whatever church, have---as it says in scripture--"lost their first love."

Abdur

It will be interesting to see how firmly the upcoming generations of Muslims, living in the West, adhere to their heritage. There will be no "guardians of the faith" such as exist in Saudi Arabia, to make sure the faithful are not lured away by competing ideas and beliefs.

Khrystyna