Religion

MineralMan

(149,280 posts)

21. I lived in Turkey for 15 months, courtesy of the USAF.

Fri Nov 2, 2018, 09:39 AM

Nov 2018

I quickly learned enough Turkish to be polite, carry on simple conversations, and to occasionally make a purchase on the local economy. Then, I set about learning more and exploring the area near the base where I was stationed.

In that process, I met many Turks, both urban and rural. I found them to be cautiously friendly, for the most part.

There was a mosque about 100 yards beyond a fence from my barracks room, so I got to hear the call to prayer five times a day for 15 months.

What I didn't ever encounter was any animosity towards me. Never. Curiosity, yes. Animosity, no. I enjoyed my time in Turkey, at least from the perspective of learning about a culture very different from mine. Discussions of religion were never involved.

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Is There Room for Discourse and Critical Thinking in Islam? [View all] guillaumeb Oct 2018 OP

I have the same response with prayers in Latin and Hindu chants gtar100 Oct 2018 #1

A nice point. guillaumeb Oct 2018 #6

If not edhopper Oct 2018 #2

Is there room for teh lulz in this attempt to stir shit up? Act_of_Reparation Oct 2018 #3

One of your more eloquent posts. guillaumeb Oct 2018 #7

Only if a particular believer allows it. trotsky Oct 2018 #4

It seems to me that this is really only an issue for Muslims. MineralMan Oct 2018 #5

We disagree. eom guillaumeb Oct 2018 #8

Why would a non-Muslim care what language a Muslim prays in? marylandblue Oct 2018 #9

I hope your question was rhetorical Major Nikon Oct 2018 #10

Seemed like a good question. He can answer anyway he likes. Or not. marylandblue Oct 2018 #11

Sometimes a non-answer provides more info Major Nikon Oct 2018 #12

Because of this: guillaumeb Nov 2018 #14

Well that's just putting a turtle on top of a turtle marylandblue Nov 2018 #16

Recitation in a language that one does not speak guillaumeb Nov 2018 #17

For some. For others it is spiritual magic, especially when chanted or sung. marylandblue Nov 2018 #18

Very true. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #19

The problem for religion is it has to be one or the other marylandblue Nov 2018 #22

One of the benefits of the Latin Mass was the teaching MineralMan Nov 2018 #23

I lived in moderate Turkish secular/ Muslim territories for many years Bretton Garcia Nov 2018 #13

Thank you for the personal insight about Turkey. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #15

Some Christians are superficially but not deeply rational on religion Bretton Garcia Nov 2018 #20

I lived in Turkey for 15 months, courtesy of the USAF. MineralMan Nov 2018 #21

Yup. Turkey was OK. I was in Izmir Bretton Garcia Nov 2018 #24

I was in Samsun. MineralMan Nov 2018 #25

Well now Turkey is in a long slide into Voltaire2 Nov 2018 #26

Islamic fundamentalism is a powerful agent. MineralMan Nov 2018 #27

Turkey's Erdogan headed into right wing religion Bretton Garcia Nov 2018 #31

I was in Turkey in '67, courtesy of the US Navy.. Permanut Nov 2018 #32

Samsun wasn't much like Istanbul. MineralMan Nov 2018 #35

In Pakinstan edhopper Nov 2018 #28

But, see...someone on the Patheos blog is being reasonable, maybe. MineralMan Nov 2018 #29

The Patheos blog is always pathetic Bretton Garcia Nov 2018 #30

It's not a frequent visiting place for me. MineralMan Nov 2018 #33

The sarcasm is far outweighed by the straw. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #36

But it makes a serviceable bed to lie in, straw does. MineralMan Nov 2018 #38

So you line your bed with straw for comfort? guillaumeb Nov 2018 #39

No, not as a rule. MineralMan Nov 2018 #40

We tried the memory foam but did not like it. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #41

I didn't like it at first, but changed my mind after MineralMan Nov 2018 #42

When you join a faith-based organization.. Permanut Nov 2018 #34

Not at all true. eom guillaumeb Nov 2018 #37