If you had to choose between Christianity and being Armenian.

[SoyElTurco]

I know that Christianity is integral to being Armenian, but what takes precedence for you?

If you are a believer in Christianity, then you know that being Armenian isn't enough to save you in the afterlife.

Also, if you're familiar with neo-paganism (the re-emergence of pre-christianity pagan beliefs in europe right now). It affected Nazi ideology and Hitler tried to revive the old nordic religion out of nostalgia.

If Armenians didn't adopt Christianity, and retained their old religion - i'm assuming some form of paganism - would you consider that to be integral? Would you care less about Christianity? (and by the way, what were the pre-christian beliefs of Armenians?

[truAnatolian]

Re: If you had to choose between Christianity and being Armenian.

My religion is My Race.

There are athiest Armenians. The church does have a very important role though.
But even in the abscence of it there is still the language, alphabet, the Art, the history, the Architecture, these are perhaps influence by our religion but never the less, the are Armenian.

My religion is my race.

[jgk3]

Re: If you had to choose between Christianity and being Armenian.

I am very much for Armenians keeping their Christian religious structure today, it has kept us alive all this time.

The members of the community can go their own way and do their own thing, what counts in the end is that they are conscious of our civilization and work for its greater interests which in the end, have to do with helping the community. The Armenian Church provides us with a great foundation to do just this.

Armenian Christianity is part of our civilization and it is also something we have used to survive through all the chaos of our history whilst retaining our identity from becoming assimilated.

It has quite hard, if not impossible, to split Armenian identity from our Christian past.

I don't know SoyElTurco, favoring a particular stance by attempting to answer your original question just seems... wrong.

[Pazooki]

Re: If you had to choose between Christianity and being Armenian.

My religion is My Race.

Quoted for Truth.

[skhara]

Re: If you had to choose between Christianity and being Armenian.

I know that Christianity is integral to being Armenian, but what takes precedence for you?

I can tell you, that for many soviet products like myself, religion doesn't pay much of a role in their daily life. Christianity helped Armenians maintain their nation while under the islamic yoke hence I fully respect from that point -- but I wouldn't call it integral today.

Also, if you're familiar with neo-paganism (the re-emergence of pre-christianity pagan beliefs in europe right now). It affected Nazi ideology and Hitler tried to revive the old nordic religion out of nostalgia.

There are some groups in Armenia very interested in various neo-pagan beliefs.

If Armenians didn't adopt Christianity, and retained their old religion - i'm assuming some form of paganism - would you consider that to be integral?

Pretty silly question. Obviously it wasn't integral in adopting Christianity, but I am sure when falling under an alien yoke such as turks, it, amongst other things would have been "integral".

(and by the way, what were the pre-christian beliefs of Armenians?

Zoroastrianism.

[Mos]

Re: If you had to choose between Christianity and being Armenian.

Armenian Church has helped to keep much of Armenian culture, language, etc. throughout the hard times of invasion and war. Unlike other nationalities Armenian Orthodox religion is one of the most important factors in Armenian identity. Even the "rabiz" in Armenia will make sure to visit church during important holidays like Զատիկ (Easter).

[Stark Evade]

Re: If you had to choose between Christianity and being Armenian.

I hate religion so that would make it a no-brainer, I think.

[ara87]

Re: If you had to choose between Christianity and being Armenian.

already not a christian so....yeah, I'd rather be armenian.

[yerazhishda]

Re: If you had to choose between Christianity and being Armenian.

I hate religion so that would make it a no-brainer, I think.

You're not Armenian either so I guess it doesn't matter. Anyone who denigrates the name of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church is not Armenian in my book, regardless of whether you consider yourself Christian or not. I give Anonymouse credit for recognizing the enormous role the Church has played in the development of the Armenian language, literature, culture, music, etc. although he may not necessarily believe in its teachings.

And as a side note, why are you so obsessed with threads concerning religion and trying to 'prove' that the Christians here are absolutely wrong? Orthodox Christians are not fundamentalist protestants; we're not going to come burn you at the stake. I understand where you are coming from in terms of the whole "fundamentalist atheist" weltanschauung but why do you post only in religion threads and not in threads that concern the future of Armenia?

[Stark Evade]

Re: If you had to choose between Christianity and being Armenian.

You're not Armenian either so I guess it doesn't matter. Anyone who denigrates the name of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church is not Armenian in my book, regardless of whether you consider yourself Christian or not. I give Anonymouse credit for recognizing the enormous role the Church has played in the development of the Armenian language, literature, culture, music, etc. although he may not necessarily believe in its teachings.

And as a side note, why are you so obsessed with threads concerning religion and trying to 'prove' that the Christians here are absolutely wrong? Orthodox Christians are not fundamentalist protestants; we're not going to come burn you at the stake. I understand where you are coming from in terms of the whole "fundamentalist atheist" weltanschauung but why do you post only in religion threads and not in threads that concern the future of Armenia?

I don't care about your book. Chances are you're a crappy author.

I have a lot of cultural feelings and that's good enough for me.

Recognize the enormously destructive role religion in general has played in Armenian history.

All religions are wrong. Not just Christians. And I want to discuss it because I feel religion is a plague. A disgusting festering disease and a mockery of the potential of the human intellect. Ill logic at it's most disturbing. And for that reason it is very relevant from my point of view. And there is nothing wrong with that. One's contributions do not need to be all or nothing. There is no rule that says if you want to post you also have to post in every stupid happy birthday thread, what are you listening to thread, car thread, movie thread, relationship thread, or history thread, blah blah blah. I have chosen my level of involvement and it is this and it is for my own, perfectly legitimate reasons.

I don't contribute to much else because I just don't care about discussing crap for the sake of discussion with people on a forum. I read about what I do not know and I move on. I have no desire for a social dependence on forums and their members.

The only other contributions I make to which I feel compelled are information about events of significance to the culture of the contemporary Armenian diaspora, such as concerts with Armenian performers along with information about Armenians that are stepping into the public eye and could use all our support (i.e. famous or almost famous). I don't need to do anymore.

Maybe you should also write another self-aggrandizing and egotistical book called "How to be the Best Possible Forum Member According to Yerazhishda." I'm sure everyone cares.

And I'm not an atheist.