What the proper way for a Catholic to show their love for the Turkish culture?

[inJESUS]

Hello Aydan. I googled hijab because I wasn’t certain what it was. I found this website that shows women wearing different hijabs and they are just beautiful. youtube.com/watch?v=WmeRG6WIoKQ&feature=related

very beautiful indeed.

Yet Aydan, putting a veil or covering the head does not mean it is a hijab. Islamically, the hijab must be put in proper way…not all head covering is called hijab and the link provided, i don’t know how many can be actually be called proper hijab…since first, it must be put in a defined way, and second, it must not be too attractive or too colourful ecc…the idea behind a hijab is NOT to be noticed.

So you can wear any beautiful Turkish scarf or veil .

 

[ljahns]

well to put it mildly many Catholics are offended because of course it is most often associated with Islam rather than Christianity naturally so it causes much strife because some Catholics say that it will lead to a scandal in the church soit’s not even worth doing it. I’d rather find another way to doing that is not so offensive or confusing for everyone. Anyway Thanks.

You know, sometimes politically correct can be taken too far. Wearing the hajib at church can also show that Christianity is in fact catholic (small c meaning universal). If some people don’t like it well too bad. At some point we all have to make a stand on issues, even little ones. I don’t understand why this particular form of dress is being singled out as the sign of Islamic repression. They bhurka(?correct spelling?) is understandable because that is just torture. But a hijab? come on people get a grip.

Modest dress and wearing a head covering in church has always been a sign of repect. We have seem to have lost sight of that fact.

 

[Aydan]

very beautiful indeed.

Yet Aydan, putting a veil or covering the head does not mean it is a hijab. Islamically, the hijab must be put in proper way…not all head covering is called hijab and the link provided, i don’t know how many can be actually be called proper hijab…since first, it must be put in a defined way, and second, it must not be too attractive or too colourful ecc…the idea behind a hijab is NOT to be noticed.

So you can wear any beautiful Turkish scarf or veil .

you see that’s the real reason I want to wear it I want to be noticed. The only reason I wore it during Ramadan last year was because my original reason for wearing it I was going to visit the mosque with one of my friends. When I actually wore it I loved it but you know why I loved it it wasn’t because I was trying to represent Islam or convert people quite the opposite in Catholicism you know what we say when we baptized people we tell them you have put on Christ. So I not only saw the head covering as a way of reminding myself of my own baptism and that I put on Christ but it was also a feminine way for me to say look at me I’m a proud woman who knows she is made in the image of God and is thankful to him for giving me the gift to know the Turkish culture and to speak the language. I never did that because I wanted to represent Islam at all. My only purpose for asking if it was offensive to Muslims was because I knew Turkey was 99% Muslim I never wanted to represent Islam at all. I just assumed that they all were hijabs I just assumed that that was the Arabic word for head covering which of course let’s face it is most often associated with Muslims. But that’s why I was doing it not because of Islam. I think people are confusing my respect for the religion with my love for Turkey. But I just want some way that I can he faithful to Jesus but yet allows me to show my love for Turkey I don’t wanna have to separate my Catholicism from my love of Turkey.

 

[Aydan]

I’ve been looking into that. I already carry two evil eyes with me all the time on my backpack. The evil eye is a tradition in Turkey and several other countries. The evil eye is said to ward off jealousy and bring good luck. Hey it works for me

Hello Aydan. I googled hijab because I wasn’t certain what it was. I found this website that shows women wearing different hijabs and they are just beautiful. youtube.com/watch?v=WmeRG6WIoKQ&feature=related

Funny, in my younger days when my date would show up with a convertable, I would wear a scarf just like that. I just didn’t know I was wearing a hijab. What about a bracelet or pendant so you can fool all those who judge a person by how they are dressed?

 

[Aydan]

That’s not fair, not any more than saying to someone who wanted to show their love for and appreciation of American culture in some way, “America permits the slaughter of 1.6 million babies per year through abortion, is that what you want to show love for?”

There are serious problems in Turkey vis-a-vis religious freedom and discrimination,and many other issue, just as there are in many countries. This does not mean that Turkish culture is evil, or that its culture is without any value at all.
I completely agree! Let me make this abundantly clear I love the country and its culture but that does not mean that I love the actions or agree with its government or any of the human rights abuses that occur in Turkey for that matter. I love my country the United States too but that does not mean that I agree with everything that our government does.
To Aydan: have you explored any of the cultural expressions of Turkey’s native Christian minority? What are some of their traditions and cultural expressions? How do they reconcile their Christianity and Turkishness? I don’t have any information about these things, but perhaps you could start there?
Well there’s the problem because 99% of Turkey is Muslim and there is of a lot of violence in Turkey right now so I am fearful of asking a Turk that type of question because it could endanger them and I wouldn’t want to do that
inJESUS do you know of any traditions that Christians have in Arabic countries? I was thinking that because so many traditions have come into Turkey from Arabic countries that Christian customs in those countries could suffice in this case.

 

[inJESUS]

inJESUS do you know of any traditions that Christians have in Arabic countries? I was thinking that because so many traditions have come into Turkey from Arabic countries that Christian customs in those countries could suffice in this case.

both cultures took from each other…i can only remember food and coffee though am not sure who took it from who.

 

[inJESUS]

I’ve been looking into that. I already carry two evil eyes with me all the time on my backpack. The evil eye is a tradition in Turkey and several other countries. The evil eye is said to ward off jealousy and bring good luck. Hey it works for me

i’d say stick to veils, scarf, food ecc…evil eye is mmmm

 

[puzzleannie]

Is there some reason you cannot simply be proud of your Turkish heritage, or admire whatever it is you do about Turkish culture, without feeling the need to advertise these sentiments through you clothing, bumper stickers or any other form of self-advertising?

 

[ljahns]

Is there some reason you cannot simply be proud of your Turkish heritage, or admire whatever it is you do about Turkish culture, without feeling the need to advertise these sentiments through you clothing, bumper stickers or any other form of self-advertising?

Why don’t we take away all self-expression?

 

[Aydan]

uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh nothat’s like saying we shouldn’t make the signof the cross because then we are advertising ourselves as Catholic you wouldn’t stop doing that would you

Is there some reason you cannot simply be proud of your Turkish heritage, or admire whatever it is you do about Turkish culture, without feeling the need to advertise these sentiments through you clothing, bumper stickers or any other form of self-advertising?

 

[Aydan]

oh yes of course we wouldn’t want to express our Catholic heritage by making the sign of the cross because that would be self advertising.

Why don’t we take away all self-expression?

 

[Aydan]

i’d say stick to veils, scarf, food ecc…evil eye is mmmm

You sound like my friend he doesn’t believe in evil eye either but he keeps one in the car so that he can joke with his Turkish friends that that’s his proof of insurance. That’s all right if the evil eye superstition fails I have St. Christopher and St. Michael as my patron saints I’m not worried.

 

[water]

What can I wear to the Catholic Church that would be acceptable and not offend other Catholics but at the same time would allow me to express my love for the Turkish culture? After the discussion on the board I know the hijab is not the way to do that so I will no longer be wearing it at all. But I would especially like to ask those of you were so critical of me what can I wear there would be acceptable and still allow me to show my pride for the Turkish culture?

why would you ask those who you think criticizing you? I don’t get it.

Aydan, I noticed that anyone who gave you advice and it doesn’t sound right to your ear, you got offended. While calling others criticizing you, you need to look at how you responded back to those who were trying to help you - it’s been like this since your other post.

One of the proper ways for a Catholic to show their love is to show their true humility.

 

[inJESUS]

You sound like my friend he doesn’t believe in evil eye either but he keeps one in the car so that he can joke with his Turkish friends that that’s his proof of insurance. That’s all right if the evil eye superstition fails I have St. Christopher and St. Michael as my patron saints I’m not worried.

well the last time i was invited to a baptism, the priest asked the family of the baby to remove it* from her neck and keep the cross saying : either Jesus or superstition…and the father immediately removed it…

here where culture comes in, but is not fitting all the time…

• it was a small egg shaped blue thing

 

[Aydan]

well the last time i was invited to a baptism, the priest asked the family of the baby to remove it* from her neck and keep the cross saying : either Jesus or superstition…and the father immediately removed it…

here where culture comes in, but is not fitting all the time…

• it was a small egg shaped blue thing

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm I didn’t realize that to me it is nothing more than a silly superstition that means nothing is like a joke if it comes down to that I’m taking them off right now

 

[inJESUS]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm I didn’t realize that to me it is nothing more than a silly superstition that means nothing is like a joke if it comes down to that I’m taking them off right now

that’s why i suggested you stick to things that show your love for Turkish culture but not superstition

 

[ljahns]

oh yes of course we wouldn’t want to express our Catholic heritage by making the sign of the cross because that would be self advertising.

I have a celtic cross tattoo’d on the back of my neck. I wear my hair short so it is prominently displayed. I got this for several reasons.

1. as a testament to my celtic ancestors who came over from Ireland during the potato famine.
2. that Jesus connects faith (the heart) and reason (the brain) the same way the neck bridges these two parts of the body
3. I have an affinity with our Blessed Mother who’s eternal yes always and forever points to Jesus. According to our faith Mary is a bridge taking us straight to Jesus.

All of this is symbolism I express through an art form that is permanently imbedded in my body, like my faith!!!

That is why I see no reason for you to not express yourself in a form that is pleasing and respectful ie the hajib &.

 

[Aydan]

[why? Because I wanted to see if the people that were so quick to to put me down in question my faith could offer any suggestions on how to do it right instead of the wrong way. I did listen to you I’m not wearing its at all in church or out of it so I want you guys to tell me what is the right way instead of telling me the wrong one. But just so you know I’m going to make sure and get a different scarf so there is no way I can mistaken for a Muslim and I know if it passes your criticism it will pass anyone so that’s why I specifically asking those of you that were so quick to criticize because I know if it passes your scrutiny it’ll pass anyone.beQUOTE=water;3885614]why would you ask those who you think criticizing you? I don’t get it.

Aydan, I noticed that anyone who gave you advice and it doesn’t sound right to your ear, you got offended. While calling others criticizing you, you need to look at how you responded back to those who were trying to help you - it’s been like this since your other post.

One of the proper ways for a Catholic to show their love is to show their true humility.

 

[Aydan]

I’m not going to be wearing any kind of hijab or anything else that cause somebody to mistakenly think I’m Muslim I’m specifically talking about wearing modern Turkish jewelry that women in Turkey where themselves by scarf I mean ones worn on the neck or shoulders not the head. As I said before I believed mistakenly a head scarf was the best way but now I realized that there is much better way to do this without offending anyone or more importantly without wearing the hijab at all.

I have a celtic cross tattoo’d on the back of my neck. I wear my hair short so it is prominently displayed. I got this for several reasons.

1. as a testament to my celtic ancestors who came over from Ireland during the potato famine.
2. that Jesus connects faith (the heart) and reason (the brain) the same way the neck bridges these two parts of the body
3. I have an affinity with our Blessed Mother who’s eternal yes always and forever points to Jesus. According to our faith Mary is a bridge taking us straight to Jesus.

All of this is symbolism I express through an art form that is permanently imbedded in my body, like my faith!!!

That is why I see no reason for you to not express yourself in a form that is pleasing and respectful ie the hajib &.

 

[snhs]

How about a Turkish flag pin? Americans seem to quite like those for expressing national pride.

Really the whole Hijab thing isn’t Islamic at all, it’s a cultural practice which was adopted by the religion. Now it’s very much associated with Islam but it was common across the Middle East. Is it covering your hair/head that you like? You could just go with a Chapel Veil or something similar, or you could wear a scarf as others have suggested.

I really don’t see why you’d want to be advertising to all and sundry that you like Turkish culture, what is it you actually want to derive from it? Are you looking for attention or is it just a fashion thing or something else? If you’re looking for attention then it is entirely inappropriate for wearing to Mass, the focus at that time isn’t meant to be on you, or any affiliation you may want to create with other countries.

I think the best thing you could do is start a group, Turkish Cultural Appreciation Club or something, have dinners with traditional Turkish food, talk about the history music etc, speak the language etc. You could maybe even get it put in the Church bulletin in case anyone else is interested. The other thing you could think about is going to an Eastern Catholic Parish if there are any in your area.