Who is an Armenian?

[hipeter924]

Re: Who is an Armenian?

The Armenian Church can still be kept strong in a secular society, and even if many Armenian's didn't attend or if some turned to other faiths I still think that Armenian culture would survive as it did before the arrival of Christianity into Armenia. I think the dangerous scenario you are talking about could occur only if people forgot the Armenian Church's role in the history of Armenia (and how it kept Armenia alive through Stalin's terror and the USSR), personally I don't see the Armenian church ending anytime soon but if it did you would hope Armenia turned Agnostic Theist and/or Atheist and not Islam which is the faith of Armenia's worst enemies Azerbaijan and Turkey.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Who is an Armenian?

Nobody is Armenian, we're a bunch of lost wanderers who don't have a place in the world. We can't agree on our politics, our history, our culture or our time tested faith. At this rate, there will be more Armenian churches standing in the world than actual people who can associate themselves with being Armenian. I'm sure other people will enjoy using our establishments for their weddings and ceremonies seeing that many Armenians are abandoning their traditions.

[Alex deLarge]

Re: Who is an Armenian?

The Armenian Church can still be kept strong in a secular society, and even if many Armenian's didn't attend or if some turned to other faiths I still think that Armenian culture would survive as it did before the arrival of Christianity into Armenia. I think the dangerous scenario you are talking about could occur only if people forgot the Armenian Church's role in the history of Armenia (and how it kept Armenia alive through Stalin's terror and the USSR), personally I don't see the Armenian church ending anytime soon but if it did you would hope Armenia turned Agnostic Theist and/or Atheist and not Islam which is the faith of Armenia's worst enemies Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Although I understand your point, I have had the unfortunate experiences of meeting, what I would call former or ex, Armenians who have turned to religious cults such as Jehovah's witnesses in southern California. I have even met Armenians who allow their children to marry/date non-Armenians as long as they are Christians. It is this separation from the Armenian Church, which I am witnessing to a small extent in front of my own eyes, that I was referring to. If I had a say I'd like to see Armenians turn away from too much spirituality in general, in favor of the cultivation and progression of their culture and quality of life.

[Haykakan]

Re: Who is an Armenian?

It is funny that you guys conveniently forget that there were Armenians and armenian culture long before there was christianity. Christianity is just another religion and it is not the sole influence either, many of our pagan rituals and beliefs still persist and long predate christianity, things like matagh and the blue eye... Should christianity vanish somehow it will not mean the end of Armenian culture. In Armenia and in Artsagh the official armenian church pushes the governments there to pass laws which are in no uncertain terms discriminitory vs other religions. Armenia has too much homogeny and it needs more diversity not the other way around.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Who is an Armenian?

It is funny that you guys conveniently forget that there were Armenians and armenian culture long before there was christianity. Christianity is just another religion and it is not the sole influence either, many of our pagan rituals and beliefs still persist and long predate christianity, things like matagh and the blue eye... Should christianity vanish somehow it will not mean the end of Armenian culture. In Armenia and in Artsagh the official armenian church pushes the governments there to pass laws which are in no uncertain terms discriminitory vs other religions. Armenia has too much homogeny and it needs more diversity not the other way around.

So we can now be referred to the people formerly known as Armenians since we are no longer a homogenous group. Diversity is good for corporations and governments, not for people.

[Anoush]

Re: Who is an Armenian?

Although I understand your point, I have had the unfortunate experiences of meeting, what I would call former or ex, Armenians who have turned to religious cults such as Jehovah's witnesses in southern California. I have even met Armenians who allow their children to marry/date non-Armenians as long as they are Christians. It is this separation from the Armenian Church, which I am witnessing to a small extent in front of my own eyes, that I was referring to. If I had a say I'd like to see Armenians turn away from too much spirituality in general, in favor of the cultivation and progression of their culture and quality of life.

Hi Alex, I like your way of thinking for the consistency and the continuation of the Armenian race/nationality and culture. I agree with you 100% that just because we are and other nationalities are Christians as well we have to abandon our Armenianness and go and marry any other Christian. Nor do I believe or like Jehova's witnesses, despite the fact that I am very much Christian but never to the extent of abandoning my Armenianness to allow my offspring marry any other nationality. I have read that Jehova's witnesses are of Jewish origin and not the Christian faith as we know it. I follow the Armenian Apostolic Church and faith. ARMENIAN 100% or I'd like to believe that I am. Again I sympathise with you for the preservation of our nationality, as it is the super powers are trying to pull us apart (Armenia and the Diaspora), we certainly don't need any of the separations from within; be it in faith or otherwise.

[Anoush]

Re: Who is an Armenian?

So we can now be referred to the people formerly known as Armenians since we are no longer a homogenous group. Diversity is good for corporations and governments, not for people.

Yes I know KndHye jan, as it is we have too much diversity and separations from within, we do not need any more of it. You know of course that there are so many parties in Armenia alone; and in the Diaspora as we know it. One thing though, since the protocols I've noticed that the ARF, Henchagians and Ramgavar parties are agreeing together and sticking with each other about it. Let them agree more than separate, that's what I say.

[Anoush]

Re: Who is an Armenian?

I mean, I'm Christian Sip Jan. Before that I was Atheist. You can't disagree with it. I don't go to Church and I don't disagree with you either. You gotta respect Christianity and the first Armenian Churches because thats how we started out and thats what we fought for.

I love your avatar Pazook, who is the cute baby? Not yours, not yet, right?
Cute baby though.

[Armanen]

Re: Who is an Armenian?

It is funny that you guys conveniently forget that there were Armenians and armenian culture long before there was christianity. Christianity is just another religion and it is not the sole influence either, many of our pagan rituals and beliefs still persist and long predate christianity, things like matagh and the blue eye... Should christianity vanish somehow it will not mean the end of Armenian culture. In Armenia and in Artsagh the official armenian church pushes the governments there to pass laws which are in no uncertain terms discriminitory vs other religions. Armenia has too much homogeny and it needs more diversity not the other way around.

Christianity is and should continue to be given preeminence among the faiths practiced in Armenia. I don't know what hang up you have with Christianity but it shouldn't blind you from understanding that it is one of the pillars of modern Armenian identity, which isn't a bad thing at all. If reason and logic is all a person has to grasp on to then I pity him.

And what Armenia needs is more Armenians to populate its various marzer and cities/towns not otars. Enough with this globalist agenda.

[Catharsis]

Re: Who is an Armenian?

And what Armenia needs is more Armenians to populate its various marzer and cities/towns not otars. Enough with this globalist agenda.

I agree with you Armanen, right now with all the talk of border opening and the "welcoming" of Turkish and Kurdish "neighbors" we are going to get a taste of "diversity" in its negative sense as Armenian identity will be diluted with sheer numbers. Kars province today is also heavily populated by Azeri Turks who will now once again get a chance to monopolize the vegetable/fruit market in Armenia as they had done so before 1989-1990.