Hagia Sophia to be turned back into a mosque

[Anesti33]

Anesti33:

“radical” and “extremist” are only negative in the hands of rhetoricians who seek to denigrate the other side.

My point is: that is the sense in which the terms are being used in this thread.

Well, is it an adequate description of Islam in rural areas? Or is it empty rhetoric?

 

[AlbMagno]

I would say it’s empty rhetoric. I doubt you would call a practising Catholic “extremist” in an ordinary conversation. In any case you would call him “devout”, so I ask you and the other posters who use this rhetoric to not use that term.

 

[Lucy_1]

I certainly am not attempting to denigrate Islam.

 

[MikeInVA]

When you take Christianity to its extreme you get Mother Theresa; when you take Islam to the extreme you get Osama bin Laden.

 

[vsedriver]

for anyone who loves art this is a tragedy. The church was decorated with stunning mosaics. When it was converted to a mosque the mosaics were damaged or covered up. When it was made a museum and world heritage site the art work was revealed again. Now that it is a mosque we will lose all that art again. They should have left it a museum.

 

[RhodesianSon]

The Catholic Church is true. Islam is a heresy. There’s no reason to treat the two as equals.

 

[RhodesianSon]

It should be a Christian church again.

 

[vsedriver]

It should be a Christian church again

it will be when all the Muslims convert to Christianity. In the mean time, preserving it is better than nothing. Turning it into a mosque won’t preserve it.

 

[AlbMagno]

As equal? No, but as better than irreligion? Absolutely.

What do you prefer, a world full of mosques, or a world full of museums promoting religion as “symbolism” and “mythology”? I prefer the second, it could be a starting point for a world full of Catholic chapels.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

As equal? No, but as better than irreligion? Absolutely.

I’d much rather be ruled by devout Muslims than militant atheists if I had to pick.

 

[GioG12]

They just started the first muslim prayers an hour ago and oh… my heart breaks. I just can’t believe what is happening. I can’t believe what’s happening to the greatest Church of
Christianity.

As the Ottoman ‘Conquest’ tradition, two green banners were hung on the pulpit of the mosque as a symbol of conquest and a sword was placed on the right entrance side of the pulpit. (As a sign of victory over Christianity?)

Today, this tradition was repeated in Hagia Sophia.
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The Muslim Prayer Leader holds a sword (a sign of conquest?)
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They have covered the mosaics with curtains.
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Lord Have Mercy! Christ Have Mercy! Lord Have Mercy! Most Holy Theotokos save us!

Here it is:

Best chant/song for today:
“Lament for Constantinople”

 

[Feanor2]

Should have stayed a museum- a place for everyone to enjoy- people of all faiths.

I join the Pope in his objection.