Interfaith problem

[alice24]

Thank you for this post.

 

[CatholicTurk]

Although i understand that it sounds as ignorance, it’s not mine… But i made the comment as such particularly due to the long established religious position and stance of Turkey among all of the other Muslim Middle Eastern countries. In other words, i was pointing out to the exact opposite of a monolith. Let me elaborate: Turkey is the least liked Muslim nation on earth among all of the Muslim world due to its very liberal and far from the orthodox Muslim ways of living and life-style. It has always been criticized harshly for being such a Westernized; only a nominal Muslim nation. It’s even the ultimate sales pitch of our current president who is trying to give the country a true Muslim character which is quite scary for most of the Western-Turkey populace. (Elections tomorrow! ) He has been trying to steer it in that concerningly religious direction! Honor killing and all kinds of such backwards-minded behavior are also very repulsive to not only me and my surroundings, but also to 99% of Turkey. HOWEVER, it still happens in the Eastern Turkey every once in a while. Therefore - simple argument - if it happens in the most liberal and westernized Muslim Middle Eastern nation and culture on earth, how much more one could expect it to happen elsewhere? That is my point… Just like you cannot keep the whole Muslim world responsible, say, for the 9/11 attacks, you cannot label a country/culture for honor-killing, either, simply because of a few medieval minded, uneducated (NOT always!) populace. I get that and i agree with it. But it still doesn’t change the fact that when such tragedy happens, it only takes one person, one family, one example, one reference… just like 9/11.

 

[Angel_Gabriel]

Turkey is the least liked Muslim nation on earth among all of the Muslim world due to its very liberal and far from the orthodox Muslim ways of living and life-style. It has always been criticized harshly for being such a Westernized; only a nominal Muslim nation. It’s even the ultimate sales pitch of our current president who is trying to give the country a true Muslim character which is quite scary for most of the Western-Turkey populace. (Elections tomorrow! )

Slightly off topic but I love Turkish pop music and the Turkish language! Also, since having been introduced to it several years ago, I’ve done lots of reading on Turkey and it does seem incredibly westernized. It’s scary to think that the extremists out there could swing things back in favor of Sharia law… you and your country have my prayers for certain!

Last year I read a few books about how life is like in Saudi Arabia written from the perspective of a Saudi princess…it’s like a gilded cage…and that’s putting it mildly. Not sure where the OP is but she has my prayers as well.

 

[CatholicTurk]

CatholicTurk:

Turkey is the least liked Muslim nation on earth among all of the Muslim world due to its very liberal and far from the orthodox Muslim ways of living and life-style. It has always been criticized harshly for being such a Westernized; only a nominal Muslim nation. It’s even the ultimate sales pitch of our current president who is trying to give the country a true Muslim character which is quite scary for most of the Western-Turkey populace. (Elections tomorrow! )

Slightly off topic but I love Turkish pop music and the Turkish language! Also, since having been introduced to it several years ago, I’ve done lots of reading on Turkey and it does seem incredibly westernized. It’s scary to think that the extremists out there could swing things back in favor of Sharia law… you and your country have my prayers for certain!

Last year I read a few books about how life is like in Saudi Arabia written from the perspective of a Saudi princess…it’s like a gilded cage…and that’s putting it mildly. Not sure where the OP is but she has my prayers as well.

Thank you very much for your nice comments, but even more so for your much-needed prayers for Turkey, as we are in a very critical moment in our political history. If Erdogan wins this first election of the brand new - severely distorted - constitution, that means Turkey could easily do (progressively and gradually, of course, as is his way…) transition into something like Iran at worst, and Venezuela at best. I think you get the picture lol

 

[Angel_Gabriel]

Dualarımdasın ( I hope I said that right lol!)

 

[CatholicTurk]

Dualarımdasın ( I hope I said that right lol!)

Well done!

 

[alice24]

I don´t get why “westernized” is in any way more positive than “oriental”. There are oriental christians who would never call themselves western and this is perfectly fine. The uprising muslim fundamentalism is another problem and nothing “oriental”.

 

[friardchips]

Hi Holly. Although the topic is interesting, this sounds as if it is quite an urgent appeal for advice. I am not a Muslim and have not lived in a predominantly Muslim country and neither have I had to deal with such a scary situation. So, my only addition is one from a Catholic viewpoint, based on faith.

You mentioned that the Church has become your ‘second home’. First, I would say that something amazing has happened to you, in that you have received the grace of conversion, and from this miracle, now have an intimate knowledge of who God is, and personal identification with Him. In the Catholic faith, one’s first acknowledgement is to God, and so your first home is with Him, through the faith you have been called to, and so, your first home ought to be considered: the Church.

Put it this way, if you have been called, then God knew of your concerns, the dangers, your situation; He knows you. There were immense dangers in the Gospel of St. Luke, although the personal circumstances were not the same, and yet one thing was clear, that one does everything one can, for one’s faith. That’s all I believe.

Practical advice given so far: getting in contact with a priest (representative of the Church), gaining trustworthy help from someone you know (incl. the possibility of more diplomatic means) and social support (if that is available), continuous prayer, and also asking people to pray for you here and at other places, could all be considered ways and means of doing everything that you can.

God bless.

 

[Pup7]

Thank you very much for your nice comments, but even more so for your much-needed prayers for Turkey, as we are in a very critical moment in our political history. If Erdogan wins this first election of the brand new - severely distorted - constitution, that means Turkey could easily do (progressively and gradually, of course, as is his way…) transition into something like Iran at worst, and Venezuela at best. I think you get the picture lol

I have been on temporary assignment with the US Air Force to Turkey, several years ago. Loved my time there.

Your nation is in my prayers.

 

[CatholicTurk]

I don´t get why “westernized” is in any way more positive than “oriental”. There are oriental christians who would never call themselves western and this is perfectly fine. The uprising muslim fundamentalism is another problem and nothing “oriental”.

Hi Alice… I lived almost 15 years in the US, and so i enjoyed my Christian faith there for the most part, but i have always enjoyed it even more in Turkey, exactly because of that oriental vibe (yes, even in a Latin Catholic Church, because it’s simply our culture which reflects) The problem is not being “oriental” at all, it is about Islam per se and its way of life that is imposed on people. By the term westernized we mean mostly in a developed and a progressive sense. Put all the extremist groups aside, i cannot blame Iran or Saudi Arabia or any other full-throttle Islamic countries for having laws that enforce the Sharia. The problem is their religion and their book that they believe in. So in a way, they are correct and right to hate on the Turks for being so liberal and for not following the Quran as true Muslims should.

 

[CatholicTurk]

CatholicTurk:

Thank you very much for your nice comments, but even more so for your much-needed prayers for Turkey, as we are in a very critical moment in our political history. If Erdogan wins this first election of the brand new - severely distorted - constitution, that means Turkey could easily do (progressively and gradually, of course, as is his way…) transition into something like Iran at worst, and Venezuela at best. I think you get the picture lol

I have been on temporary assignment with the US Air Force to Turkey, several years ago. Loved my time there.

Your nation is in my prayers.

Thank you, Pup7, much needed now more than ever!

 

[tgGodsway]

Hello Holly,

I am not in the Catholic tradition but I am a follower of Christ in His body. Sally Fields made a movie back in 1991about this very subject called, “Not without my daughter.”
I think you can U-tube it for free. But the movie reminds me of your story. Please please, find this movie and glean from it.

Pray that God will remove the blinders from your children’s spiritual eyes. I will join you in that prayer. Never submit to Islam at any level.

I pray God’s rich protection upon your life and of your Children.
In Christ,

tgGodsway

 

[Sedona]

Good evening Holly: I am new to the forum and in addition to that, I have no qualifications to give you advice. But I am a practical person and I do have some advice from a practical perspective. Firstly, in considering where you live, I think you should be very careful to keep what you post secure from prying eyes, as it’s my understanding that this sort of talk may not be well tolerated by the society you live in. That said, I have seen some advice in this thread suggesting that you leave your situation, but my sense is that it’s not that easy since there are children involved, and you probably don’t want to leave them. So I’ll bet it’s a lot more complicated for you that it appears at first glance. With regard to the contentions between your beliefs and theirs, I wonder if the answer might involve a more long-term approach. From what you’ve said, it sounds as though your family (husband and children) are aware of your faith. I can imagine that you might be able to serve as an emissary for what you believe in their daily lives through your love and your care and the simple things you do and say day in and day out. Most religions boil down to how we conduct our affairs here on the ground in the reality of a world that appears imperfect to us. So, if I were in your situation, one thing I might give some thought to is how I might let my love and care and actions toward others and my family serve as an example of my faith. You could liken it to showing someone a sermon rather than telling them a sermon. That’s what people remember in the end. They don’t remember a lot of what we say, but they can usually give a good account of what we do, and this has tremendous influence on people. Probably a lot more influence than telling them that Christianity is right and Islam is wrong. Those sorts of encounters seldom change anyone’s minds (and you can see evidence of that on most religious forums), but our admiration for people who live as an example is usually pretty profound. So, while I sense that you may have limited options, I would offer that there may be some subtle yet profound things you can do. And while it may be hurtful to have someone throw away the trappings of your religion such as books, rosaries and such, those things are not your religion. Sacred as they may be, I would offer the idea that you are where the things you believe become an observable reality in this world. These are just some thoughts, and I’m sure they fall far short of accounting for the many complications that attend your situation, but they may be a seed for some ideas you can come up with as you try and work this out. Good luck and all the best.

 

[jlhargus]

Praying for you and yours Holly.