Atheism and being Armenian

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Atheism and being Armenian

Kanada, I don't think when people are talking about "preserving" the church, they are talking about the buildings. The discussion is around the concept of the church and not the physical manifestations.

Posters need to take a little bit more care and type "Church" when they mean the Armenian Church (or any other Christian denomination), and "church" when they mean a structure in which Christian worship takes, or took, place.

For example:

Armenian church

Incorrect capitalisation.

Yeah, I'm a Michigan Wolverine!!!

Correct capitalisation!

[KanadaHye]

Re: Atheism and being Armenian

Yes, I'm aware that our churches are being destroyed for that reason. Screaming doesn't illuminate what that has to do with *this* discussion.

It has EVERYTHING to do with this discussion.

Kanada, I don't think when people are talking about "preserving" the church, they are talking about the buildings. The discussion is around the concept of the church and not the physical manifestations.

When people are talking about "the concept of the church" they are most often referencing the onslaught that the media has created. Anyone that has grown up in and around the Armenian church should know that it's critical to Armenian community events and social gatherings which form the Armenian identity. Most Americanized Armenians will associate themselves with the college/university they attended as if it's their identity in the same way a sports fan will act like they are part of the team when their home town sports team is playing. Yeah, I'm a Michigan Wolverine!!!

[Sip]

Re: Atheism and being Armenian

Kanada, I don't think when people are talking about "preserving" the church, they are talking about the buildings. The discussion is around the concept of the church and not the physical manifestations.

[Siggie]

Re: Atheism and being Armenian

The point is they are THOUSANDS of years old and THEY GET DESTROYED BY NATURE UNLESS THEY ARE RESTORED. However, thousands of our Orthodox Churches were RECENTLY DESTROYED in hopes cover up OUR EXISTENCE AND LAYING CLAIM TO OUR GOD GIVEN LANDS.

Yes, I'm aware that our churches are being destroyed for that reason. Screaming doesn't illuminate what that has to do with *this* discussion.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Atheism and being Armenian

HUH? Comparing the architecture of the churches is not relevant. The point is that there is no need to destroy any of them. The only comparison I made was to point to these cultures as examples of ones where the national religion changed, but in the present day, they see no need to destroy things associated with the religion(s) of history.

The point is they are THOUSANDS of years old and THEY GET DESTROYED BY NATURE UNLESS THEY ARE RESTORED. However, thousands of our Orthodox Churches were RECENTLY DESTROYED in hopes of covering up OUR EXISTENCE AND LAYING CLAIM TO OUR GOD GIVEN LANDS.

[Sip]

Re: Atheism and being Armenian

The other problem with destroying things is that we are in danger of forgetting and repeating mistakes We should preserve, cherish, and learn from our churches. Much like we learn from anything else in history. Hopefully we can better ourselves.

[Siggie]

Re: Atheism and being Armenian

Here is a pic of Pagan architecture in Garni. Are you comparing this basic bird house with pillars to the highly complex mathematically calculated and detailed architecture of our Churches?

Do you actually read posts and think about a reply before posting a reply or do you just skim and blurt out the first thing that comes to mind? What in the world does this have to do with anything? This is even further off the mark than the original comment about destroying churches.

To illustrate the disconnect:

Kanada: Shoes are essential to being human.

Siggie: There were humans before shoes.

Kanada: xxxs and Muslims wear shoes. Why should we destroy our shoes?

Siggie: Who said anything about destroying them? I don't think we should destroy our shoes. They're part of our history and we should preserve them just as the Egyptians and Greeks continues to preserve their shoes even when they stopped wearing that style of shoe.

Kanada: Are you comparing this ugly poorly designed Greek footsack to this fine, complex, Armenian shoe?

---

HUH? Comparing the architecture of the churches is not relevant. The point is that there is no need to destroy any of them. The only comparison I made was to point to these cultures as examples of ones where the national religion changed, but in the present day, they see no need to destroy things associated with the religion(s) of history.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Atheism and being Armenian

Perhaps ... but I think Churches have done faaaaaaar more damage to "research" than we can even begin to imagine. I mean even to this day, 2000 years after Jesus you have people that are convinced the Earth is 5000 years old and there were dinosaurs on Noah' ship (or that there was a boat with 2 of each kind of animal in it!!!!). And the church keeps reinforcing this over and over. People still think Jesus is coming to save them! You still want to maintain this has helped "us"?

But even if that is the case and the Church has been soo amazing .. what possible reason do we have to keep it around now? Once the shoe is worn out, you throw it out and get a new one. Somehow we are hell bent on "preserving" this 2000 year old pair of slippers and we are trying to keep the same march to the same drum beat.

How many bomb shelters have been built because people are certain of nuclear war.... I bet the people in New Orleans wished they had an Ark or even a dingy when their city was flooded

[Sip]

Re: Atheism and being Armenian

The Armenian church remained a centre of research, culture, and heritage preservation.

Perhaps ... but I think Churches have done faaaaaaar more damage to "research" than we can even begin to imagine. I mean even to this day, 2000 years after Jesus you have people that are convinced the Earth is 5000 years old and there were dinosaurs on Noah' ship (or that there was a boat with 2 of each kind of animal in it!!!!). And the church keeps reinforcing this over and over. People still think Jesus is coming to save them! You still want to maintain this has helped "us"?

But even if that is the case and the Church has been soo amazing .. what possible reason do we have to keep it around now? Once the shoe is worn out, you throw it out and get a new one. Somehow we are hell bent on "preserving" this 2000 year old pair of slippers and we are trying to keep the same march to the same drum beat.

[Sip]

Re: Atheism and being Armenian

hehehe ... kanada, all I can say it I am glad you didn't leave the last time you got mad