www.talkcyprus.org

[depurple]

Let see boys if Turkey is really ready to be part of the EU with the Pope Visit to Ayia Sophia and Constantinople?
What will Erodgan do now?
I heard he wont even be there! He is leaving the country!
This is very interesting:
Everyone in the EU will be watching and so will I:
Where is freedom of Religion?
Where is freedom of Speech?
Imagine if the POPE asks Turkey to open Ayia Sophia again as a church?
YES my friends it is just another bitter pill that Turkey MUST swallow to be part of the EU:
BUT how many can Turkey swallow that is the question?
And will the Military be able to swallow theses pills?
So sit back and grab your popcorn and enjoy the SHOW!
I am sure that France and Germany will and the rest of the EU will be watching:
Turkey displayed some sensible civilized thinking during the Mohamed Cartoon thing BUT what about this NEW obstacle on the EU road:
What will come next?
Opening up an Armenian Embassy in Turkey?
Opening up a Cypriot Embassy in Turkey?
Opening up and Kurdish Embassy in Turkey?
Maybe it is one of Kissinger's new projects to TRY and make Turkey either BE European OR show its true colors OF wanting to be Part of the EU without having to do anything!
Cheers
PS One article I read in a new paper in Australia said:
Pope to visit Constantinople! Amazing Grace! or should I say AVA Maria!

[Birkibrisli]

To be fair to Erdogan, I must say that his overseas program was fixed long before the Pope's visit. Foreign Minister Gul is on the record for saying that Turkey tried to change the dates of the Pope's visit but without success.

As Head of the Vatican State the Pope will be met by president Sezer who is Turkey's head of state.

[brother]

I think Turkey is missing a trick or two and should re-open the Agia Sophia as a church for two reasons;

1) Out of respect to the christians of the world as this is their most holy place and we wouldn't like it if Mecca was currently used as a museum in a christian country.

2) Many tourists, faithful and believers would make the journey to visit there church and would be a very good source of free advertisement of Turkey and would also increase tourism into Istanbul.

[Xenos 2Fan]

brother wrote: I think Turkey is missing a trick or two and should re-open the Agia Sophia as a church for two reasons;

1) Out of respect to the christians of the world as this is their most holy place and we wouldn't like it if Mecca was currently used as a museum in a christian country.

2) Many tourists, faithful and believers would make the journey to visit there church and would be a very good source of free advertisement of Turkey and would also increase tourism into Istanbul.

I have always a proponent of your views my excellent brother. 8)

[bg_turk]

In order to reopen it as a church, you will have to pull down the minarets first. Are you willing to do that? Can you imagine the backlash from islamists, and even those who yesterday chained themselves there and shouted Allahu Vekber! to prevent the pope from entering? Otherwise I agree that turning it into a church may be a good step.

[brother]

bg_turk wrote: In order to reopen it as a church, you will have to pull down the minarets first. Are you willing to do that? Can you imagine the backlash from islamists, and even those who yesterday chained themselves there and shouted Allahu Vekber! to prevent the pope from entering? Otherwise I agree that turning it into a church may be a good step.

The islamists do not rule secular Turkey and wether they like it or not it is a church and if they can be dis-repectful to others faith they only represent a small minority and not the majority of turkish citizens.

For this to happen you only need a competent person to deliver it in the right way to the public and any islamists that decide to get crazy about it will be arrested by the police and within a few months all will be forgotten.

[bg_turk]

For as much as I hate it, Turkey does have a "soflty" Islamic government at the moment, which among other things has proposed adultery to be criminalized.

[Xenos 2Fan]

bg_turk wrote: In order to reopen it as a church, you will have to pull down the minarets first. Are you willing to do that? Can you imagine the backlash from islamists, and even those who yesterday chained themselves there and shouted Allahu Vekber! to prevent the pope from entering? Otherwise I agree that turning it into a church may be a good step.

From an architectural and a structural point of view it would be ill advised to remove the Minarets that I personally think complete the structure. One of the reasons the minarets were attached to the four corners of the building to keep it from collapsing. All the weight of the masonry and marble are pulling the weight inward and out of the four corners. In case the structure were reverted to a church I do not see any reason whatsoever to remove the minarets. It would be catastrophic. It is one of my favorite buildings in the world and I never tire of seeing it each time I am in Istanbul.

[Xenos 2Fan]

bg_turk wrote: For as much as I hate it, Turkey does have a "soflty" Islamic government at the moment, which among other things has proposed adultery to be criminalized.

Not that I plan on cheating on my wife but thank God the proposition failed. :lol:

[Mete]

brother wrote:
I think Turkey is missing a trick or two and should re-open the Agia Sophia as a church for two reasons;

I don't agree that Agia Sophia should be converted back to a church. It's been a mosque for hundreds of years and I don't see why a Muslim country like Turkey should feel obliged to convert a mosque back to a church. Conversions (from mosque to church and vice versa) are a fact of life and people should get over them.

[Birkibrisli]

Perhaps we could have it both ways...Why not leave it as is and open to worship to all religions,to conduct their special services there.Different faiths can book it in advance and come and celebrate in the house of God.
I am sure this can be achieved with some creative interior decoration.
And what a way to signal that all faiths are equally valid and respected by all... 8)

[depurple]

I am not allowed to say that it might be a conspiracy by the EU to Test Turkey against the rest of Europe BUT as I was told there are NO conspiracies by some on the forum SO I wont say it Cheers DP

[Birkibrisli]

depurple wrote: I am not allowed to say that it might be a conspiracy by the EU to Test Turkey against the rest of Europe BUT as I was told there are NO conspiracies by some on the forum SO I wont say it Cheers DP

It is nice to know that you know when to keep your mouth shut,Depurple.
Cheers :D

[SP]

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