The New Anatolian, Turkey
April 21 2007

Is there any cause to fear Christians?

Ilnur Cevik
21 April 2007
Font Size: default medium large

ilnurcevik@yahoo.com
If we have a mission to spread the good word of Islam and promote our
beloved religion throughout the world then we should be ready to
allow others to promote their own religion in our country.

It is no secret that Christian groups are active in Turkey and some
are trying hard to aggressively promote their religion. There are
Christian missionaries active in the heart of Anatolia. This is very
normal as they are active throughout the but it is nothing to be
feared. It is clear that Christianity is hardly making any headway in
the world today. While Islam is spreading and going strong Christians
are deeply concerned that they are on the decline and have to make a
great effort to cut down their losses. Thus missionaries have doubled
their efforts…

But Islam is so strong in Turkey and our people follow the Turkish
version of the Muslim faith which is based on realities, science and
pragmatism. Turks are never herded to mosques. There are no religious
pressures on our people to fulfill their religious duties. Everything
is voluntary in Turkey. Yet, Turks flock to Friday prayers and are
proud of their religious beliefs. So why fear Christianity or the
actions of the missionaries. Our beliefs are too strong for their
propaganda.

Turkey is a country where the population is predominantly Muslim. It
is a secular country but a majority of its citizens are devout
Muslims. Tolerance and goodwill is a part of our traditions. Our
Jewish and Christian citizens are as valuable as our Muslim brothers
in Turkey.

Turks have been tolerant to all religious and ethnic minorities. This
has been our strong point for centuries. Today the same traditions
should live yet we see with sadness that either zealots or
ultranationalist are misguiding our young people and are manipulating
them. The authorities should be alert and should not allow this.

However, let us not forget that Turkey has been facing systematic
provocations and plots as it moves close to the European Union. There
is a concerted effort by people who want to stall us who are
targeting our democracy and our stability. Is it a coincidence that
very ugly killings of a Christian priest, a journalist of Armenian
origin and three people working in a printing house publishing the
Bible have taken place one after another just as we head for the
presidential elections where some power circles are trying to create
the image that Islamists are trying to grab the seat of the head of
state?

Turkey is one of the bastions of early Christianity. Look at the
southeastern Mardin area, look at Midyat and then at various places
in eastern Turkey. Look at Cappadocia and some places like Selcuk
near Ephesus where Mother Mary is believed to be buried. These are
all holy places sacred to the Christian world and should be the bonds
between us and Christian Europe.

Turkey is a part of Europe and should remain so. But recent
developments show that we all need to put an extra effort into it.